Tech Desk/Student Technology - Clearing your browser cache
Refreshing your web experience
Web browsers often keep a cache (local copies) of web files so that web pages will load faster. For example, if you visit the Inside Augsburg site frequently, your browser may keep local copies of the images at the top of the page so that you don't have to spend time downloading them every time you visit. Clearing or emptying the browser cache can help resolve some web browsing issues.
Find your browser in the list and follow the instructions to clear your browser cache.Safari (Mac)
- With Safari open, click on the "Safari" menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Choose "Empty Cache" from the menu that appears.
- The program will ask if you really want to empty the cache. Click the [Empty] button.
- Close the program by clicking on the "Safari" menu and choosing "Quit Safari".
- Reopen the program to browse the web.
Internet Explorer (Windows)
- With Internet Explorer open, click on the "Tools" menu at the top of the browser window.
- Choose "Internet Options" from the menu that appears.
- Choose the "General" tab from the tabs at the top of the Internet Options window.
- Find and click the [Delete Files...] button in the General tab.
- The program will ask if you want to delete offline content. Check the box next to "Delete all offline content" and click the [OK] button.
- Close all Internet Explorer windows.
- Reopen the program to browse the web.
Internet Explorer (Mac)
- With Internet Explorer open, click on the "Explorer" menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Choose "Preferences" from the menu that appears.
- Find "Web Browser" in the left-hand portion of the Preferences window. If the arrow next to "Web Browser" is pointing to the right, click on it once so that it points down and reveals sub-options.
- Select the "Advanced" sub-option under "Web Browser" by clicking on it once.
- Find the "Cache" section in the right-hand portion of the Preferences window.
- Click the [Empty Now] button in the "Cache" section. When it is finished, the button will become transparent.
- Close the program by clicking on the "Explorer" menu and choosing "Quit Explorer".
- Reopen the program to browse the web.
Firefox (Windows)
- With Firefox open, click on the "Tools" menu at the top of the browser window.
- Choose "Options" from the menu that appears.
- Click on the "Privacy" icon (a key on a keychain) on the left side of the Preferences window.
- Find "Cache" in the listing on the right side of the Preferences window. You may need to scroll down to find it.
- Click the [Clear] button next to the "Cache" listing. When it is finished, the button will turn gray.
- Close all Firefox windows.
- Reopen the program to browse the web.
Firefox (Mac)
- With Firefox open, click on the "Firefox" menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Choose "Preferences" from the menu that appears.
- Click on the "Privacy" icon (a padlock) on the left side of the Preferences window.
- Find "Cache" in the listing on the right side of the Preferences window. You may need to scroll down to find it.
- Click the [Clear] button next to the "Cache" listing. When it is finished, the button will become transparent.
- Close the program by clicking on the "Firefox" menu and choosing "Quit Firefox."
- Reopen the program to browse the web.
