How to clear the cache of a browser

Owned by Lucas Santos
Last updated: May 08, 2017

Overview

When you visit a site for the first time the browser saves files of the site on your computer, within a cache. The the next time you visit the site, the browser can then display pages much faster using files in the cache and without the need to pull every file fresh from the internet. The cache decreases page load time.

ShareVision has to make updates to some files that comprise your site in order to launch a new feature or to fix a defect. If we modify a file that is cached by your browser, your browser will keep displaying the old version, preventing you from seeing our most recent changes.This is when you may face browser errors like a run time error, buttons missing on the page, site not responding appropriately etc.

Clearing the Cache and Cookies in a browser helps fix these issues.


  • In most web browsers press Ctrl-Shift-Delete (Windows) or Command-Shift-Delete (Mac) to open menus used to clear your cache.
  • A quick way to refresh your cache is to simply hold Ctrl and press F5 on your keyboard

Recommendation: set browser(s) to always clear cache on closing browser.

Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet options > Advanced > Security > check 'Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed'

Chrome > Settings > Advanced Settings > Privacy > Content Settings... > Check 'Keep local data only until you quit your browser'

Clearing cache on closing browser will cause websites to load more slowly after you restart your browser. So doing this has downsides. It’s up to you whether those downsides are worth the privacy increase.


Step-by-step guide

Internet Explorer 9

  1. Select Tools (via the Gear Icon) > Safety > Delete browsing history....

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

  2. Uncheck Preserve Favorites website data, and select:
    1. Temporary Internet files or Temporary Internet files and website files
    2. Cookies or Cookies and website data
  3. Click Delete. You will see a confirmation at the bottom of the window when the process is complete.
  4. Close all browser windows and re-open the browser.

 

Google Chrome

  1. In the browser bar, enter: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

  2. From the Obliterate the following items from: drop-down menu, you can choose the period of time for which you want to clear cached information. Usually the past hour or the past day will work for most of the issues. To clear your entire cache, select the beginning of time.

  3. Select the following:

    1. Browsing history
    2. Cookies and other site and plug-in data
    3. Cached images and files
  4. Click Clear browsing data.
  5. Close all browser windows and re-open the browser.