Clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history (2024)

Before you begin

Clearing your web browser's cache, cookies, and history may remove data such as the following:

• Saved passwords
• Address bar predictions
• Shopping cart contents, etc.

While you should clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history periodically in order to prevent or resolve performance problems, you may wish to record some of your saved information first. If you are unable to do so, see Troubleshooting alternatives below.

For details about browser cache, cookies, and history, see:

• Web cache
• HTTP cookie
• Webbrowsing history

Troubleshooting alternatives

If you need to clear your cache, cookies, and history for troubleshooting purposes, but aren't yet prepared to lose the content listed above, you may wish to consider using a private browsing window in your preferred browser as a temporary solution:

• Private Browsing (Firefox)
• Browse in private with Incognito mode (Chrome desktop and Android)
• Browse InPrivate in Microsoft Edge
• Use Private Browsing in Safari on Mac
• Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Mobile browsers

Android

The steps to clear your cache, cookies, and history may differ depending on the model of your Android device and your preferred browser, but you should be able to clear your cache and data from your application management settings menu:

1. Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
2. Swipe to the All tab.
3. In the list of installed apps, find and select your web browser. Select Clear Data, and then Clear Cache.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for Android

1. Select Chrome menu, then Settings, and then (Advanced) Privacy.
2. From the "Time Range" drop-down menu, choose All Time.
3. Check Cookies and Site data and Cached Images and Files. Select Clear data.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari for iOS

1. Open your Settings app.
2. Select Safari.
3. Select Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for iOS

1. Select Chrome menu, then Settings, and then Privacy.
2. Select Clear Browsing Data.
3. Choose the data type you want to clear, and then select Clear Browsing Data.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Desktop browsers

Chrome

1. In the browser bar, enter:

    chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

2. At the top of the "Clear browsing data" window, select Advanced.
3. Select the following:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files

   From the "Time range" drop-down menu, you can choose the period of time for which you want to clear cached information; to clear your entire cache, select All time.

4. Select CLEAR DATA.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Firefox

1. From the History menu, select Clear RecentHistory....

   If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make itvisible.

2. From the "Time range to clear:" drop-down menu, select the desired range; to clear your entire cache, select Everything.
3. Next to "Details", select the down arrow to choose which elements of the history to clear; to clear your entire cache, select all items.
4. Select Clear Now.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Microsoft Edge

1. In the top right, select the Hub icon (looks like star with three horizontal lines).
2. Select the History icon (looks like a clock), and then choose Clear all history.
3. Select Browsing history, then Cookies and saved website data, and then Cached data and files. Select Clear.
4. After the "All Clear!" message appears, exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Opera

1. From the Opera menu, select Settings, then Privacy & Security, and then Clear browsing data....
2. In the dialog box that opens, from the "Obliterate the following items from:" drop-down menu, select The beginning of time.
3. Select the following:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
4. Select Clear browsing data.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari 8 and later

1. From the Safari menu, select Clear History... or Clear History and WebsiteData....
2. Choose the desired time range, and then select Clear History.
3. Select Safari> Quit Safari or press Command-Q to exit the browser completely.

If you can't access some IU websites or online services

If you experience problems accessing a secure IU website or service, see If you can't access some IU websites or online services.