Web Browser - How to clear temporary files or cache

Web Browser - How to clear temporary files or cache

Action

The Temporary Internet Files (or cache) folder contains web page content that is stored on the computer's hard disk to facilitate quicker viewing of pages. This cache permits the browser to download only the content that has changed since the web page was last viewed, instead of downloading all content each time the page is displayed. Periodically, you should delete the files in the Temporary Internet Files folder.

NOTE:  We recommend that you clear the browser's cache and, when the process completes, close any open windows, quit/exit the browser and then relaunch the browser.

  • Depending on the service being used, you may also need to clear cookies or enable cookies in the browser

  • Check browser settings for compatibility with MyUAlbany, UAlbany Mail and Blackboard

Instructions

Browsers

In most browsers (not Safari, though), the keyboard shortcuts below may open the dialog box needed, saving some steps:

  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Delete

  • macOS: Command + Shift + Delete

Firefox

  1. Select Firefox menu >Settings

  2. Select Privacy & Security link

  3. Select Clear Browsing Data button in the Cookies and Site Data section

  4. Check the box for Temporary cached files and pages and uncheck the other boxes

  5. Click Clear button

Chrome

  1. Select Chrome menu > Settings

  2. Select Privacy & Security link

  3. Select Delete browsing data link under the Privacy and security section

  4. Select More > All time from the Time range drop-down menu

  5. Check the box for Cached images and files and uncheck the other boxes

  6. Select Delete data button

Safari

  1. Select Safari menu > Clear History and Website Data

  2. Select All history from the Clear drop-down menu

  3. Select Clear History

This will clear all cache, cookies, and history from Safari.

Edge

  1. Select Edge menu>Settings

  2. Select Privacy, search, and services link

  3. Select Clear browsing data

  4. Select Choose what to clear

  5. Select "All time" from the "Time range" drop-down menu

  6. Check the box for Cached images and files and uncheck the other boxes

  7. Select Clear now button