How to clear your browsers Cache

Hi everyone and welcome back to another blog by

Hussey Coding

 

This week we continue our series looking at the Cache. If you missed out on the first blog "What is Caching?" then you can catch up HERE.

Today, as the graphic suggests, we're going to be telling you how to clear the Cache on 3 of the most popular web browsers used today being Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, but first, let's remind our selves why clearing the cash is sometimes a good idea. Firstly, the Cache can take up a lot of valuable space secondly, sometimes the Cached files can become corrupted making the request's response invalid, distorted or buggy and thirdly, there are times when old responses can get stuck in the Cache and this can again interfere with the running of the site. The most common way to fix these issues is to clear your web browsers cache, which brings us full circle to today's topic, how to clear the Cache.

Google Chrome

Firstly you need to open your Chrome browser.

 

At the top right of the screen, click on the 3 magic dots to open up your browser's menu.

 

Go down and click on "MORE TOOLS." Then, go across to "CLEAR BROWSING DATA."

 

This will take you to another window giving you 3 options

 - Browsing history.

 - Cookies and other site files.

 - Cached images and files.

 

You can use the "TIME RANGE" drop-down menu to determine how much of the Cache you want to delete.

 

For this example, we're going with "ALL TIME". Now just check or uncheck the boxes to indicate what you want to be deleted and click "CLEAR DATA".

Congratulations, your Cache is now empty and waiting to be filled again. Do remember to close down your browser once you have clicked "CLEAR DATA".

 

Firefox

Firstly open up your Firefox browser

In the top right corner, click on the 3 lines to open up the FF settings menu, go down until you see "PREFERENCES" and click on it.

This will open up a new window. On the left click "PRIVACY AND SECURITY."

Scroll down until you come to "COOKIES AND SITE DATA" and click on "CLEAR DATA."

This will open up a smaller window with 2 options

 - Cookies and site data

 - Cached web content

Just check the boxes you want to be deleted and click "CLEAR".

You have now successfully cleared your Firefox cache but don't forget to shut down your browser when you're done.

Safari

Note, Apple won't let you download Safari unless you're running IOS. At the time of writing this blog I can't show you any images of how to clear the Cache since, as you may have guessed, I don't own a Mac. However, I know a guy so, as soon as I can upload some images I will.

For now, here is a step by step written guide on how to clear your Safari Cache.

 - Firstly open up Safari

 

 - On the top left of your screen, click on "SAFARI."

 

 - In the drop-down menu, click on "PREFERENCES."

 

 - In the new window click "ADVANCED", located on the far right

 

 - On the bottom of that window, check the box that says "SHOW DEVELOP MENU IN MENU BAR" and then close the window.

 

 - The "DEVELOP" option should then appear on your menu bar at the top of your screen. Click on it.

 

 - In the drop-down menu you'll see "EMPTY CACHES" about halfway down, click on it, that should delete all of your Cached files.

Thank you again for joining us today, next week we'll be taking a look at how to clear the Cache on your handheld devices but until then keep those Caches clean, stay safe and have a great day.

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