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Why Clear Your Browser's Cache and Cookies?
Clearing your browser's cache and cookies does more than just free up some space on your device. It's a simple action with several significant benefits:
- Enhances Privacy: Regularly clearing your cache and cookies helps protect your personal information from unwanted access.
- Improves Performance: Cache and cookies can accumulate and slow down your browsing experience. Clearing them helps speed up the loading times of web pages.
- Troubleshooting: If you're experiencing issues with websites loading or if you can't sign in after a password change, clearing your cache and cookies can often resolve these problems. At GBIT Service Desk, we've found that most sign-in issues are resolved just by taking this step.
NOTE: Whether it's for enhancing your privacy, improving your browser's performance, or troubleshooting login issues, clearing your browser's cache and cookies is a beneficial practice. However, it's important to understand that this action might log you out of websites, reset website preferences, and necessitate the re-entry of login information. While clearing cache and cookies can be effective for privacy and technical reasons, users should be aware that it could result in some temporary inconveniences as personalized settings on websites are cleared. Proceed with this action knowing these effects to ensure a smoother online experience.
Desktop Browsers
Clearing cache and cookies on desktop browsers can improve your browsing experience. Below are the instructions for the most popular browsers:
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Google Chrome (Version 123)
- Open Chrome, click the menu button "⋮" at the top right corner > "Clear browsing data."
- Set "Time range" to "All time."
- Ensure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are selected.
- Click "Clear data."
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Microsoft Edge (Version 123)
- Open Edge, click the menu button "⋯" > "Settings" > "Privacy, search, and services."
- Under "Delete browsing data," select "Choose what to clear."
- Set "Time range" to "All time."
- Ensure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are selected.
- Click "Clear now."
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Apple Safari (Version 17)
- Open Safari > "Safari" in the top menu > "Preferences" > "Advanced" tab.
- Check "Show Develop menu in menu bar" then close the Preferences menu.
- From the menu bar, select "Develop" > "Empty Caches."
- (Optional) For full history clear, select "History" > "Clear History..." > "All history."
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Mozilla Firefox (Version 124)
- Click the menu button " ☰ " > "Settings."
- Navigate to "Privacy & Security" > Scroll to "Cookies and Site Data" > "Clear Data."
- Ensure "Cached Web Content" is selected.
- Click "Clear."
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Opera (Version 109)
- Open Opera, click the menu button > "Settings" (ALT+P) > "Privacy & security" > "Clear browsing data."
- Opera Menu Button:
- Set "Time range" to "All time."
- Ensure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are selected.
- Click "Clear data."
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Brave (Version 1.6)
- Open Brave, click the menu button " ☰ " > "Settings" > "Privacy and security" > "Clear browsing data."
- In the "Basic" tab, set "Time range" to "All time."
- Ensure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are selected.
- Click "Clear data."
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Mobile Browsers
Clearing cache and cookies on mobile devices can also help with performance and privacy.
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Google Chrome (Android 14)
- Open the Chrome app, tap the menu button "⋮" > "Clear browsing data."
- Set "Time range" to "All time."
- Ensure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are selected.
- Tap "Clear data."
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Apple Safari (iOS 17)
- Go to Settings > Safari.
- Tap "Clear History and Website Data."
- Confirm by tapping "Clear History and Data."
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Other Browsers and Privacy-Focused Options
While we've covered some of the most widely used browsers above, there are numerous other browsers available, each with its own method for clearing cache and cookies. Here are some general tips and information for various browsers:
General Instructions for Clearing Cache and Cookies in Various Browsers:
- Open the browser menu, often represented by three dots or lines in the corner of the browser window.
- Look for options labeled "Clear browsing data," "Clear cache and cookies," or similar variations.
- Ensure that options for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are selected.
- Select the appropriate time range, usually "All time."
- Confirm by clicking the clear or delete button.
Privacy-Focused Browsers:
Certain browsers, such as those developed with a focus on privacy, might handle data differently from more mainstream options. For instance, some browsers are designed to not save browsing history, cookies, site data, or cache, thereby reducing the need for manual clearing.
- DuckDuckGo: Notably, DuckDuckGo, while primarily known as a search engine that prioritizes user privacy by not tracking search history, doesn't have its own browser that saves or caches data to be cleared later. When using DuckDuckGo in any browser, it inherently does not track your searches or link them to your personal information. For users prioritizing privacy, using DuckDuckGo as your search engine in any browser's private mode can enhance your data privacy.
Note: Remember, even when using privacy-focused browsers or private browsing modes, your online activities can still be visible to websites you visit, your employer or school, and your internet service provider. Private browsing is beneficial for protecting your information on your device, not for anonymizing your online activities entirely.
Need Further Assistance?
If you encounter any issues or have questions about clearing your browser's cache and cookies, the GBIT Service Desk is ready to offer the support you need. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is available at IS 1150, ready to assist. Feel free to call us at 920-465-2309 or email us at GBIT@uwgb.edu. Whether it's a simple question or a complex issue, we're here to ensure your experience is smooth and secure. Don't hesitate to get in touch!