How do I clear my browser’s cache (to improve its performance)?

Browsers temporarily store Internet files in a “cache” folder which enables you to quickly access websites you have recently visited. When this folder becomes full, your browser may become significantly slower or it may “crash.” We recommend that you clear (or “purge”) the contents of the cache folder regularly. You can delete the files in this folder manually, or you can follow the directions below to have your browser do it automatically.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.x (Windows)

  1. Under the Tools menu at the top of your browser or the Tools button from the upper right portion of your screen, select Internet Options.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. In the Browsing history section, click Delete…
  4. Click Delete files… next to Temporary Internet Files.
  5. Click Yes in the pop-up window to confirm the deletion.
  6. Click Close.
  7. Click OK.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x (Windows)

  1. Under the Tools menu at the top of your browser, select Internet Options.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. In the Temporary Internet files section of the General tab, click the Delete files button.
  4. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files folder?” Click the OK button.
  5. In the History section of the General tab, click the Clear History button. A dialog box will appear that says, “Are you sure you want Windows to delete your history of visited Web sites?”
  6. Click the YES button.
  7. Click OK to leave Internet Options.
  8. Click the Refresh button at the top of the browser.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x (Windows)

  1. From the Tools drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Internet Options.
  2. Click the General tab at the top of the Internet Options dialog box.
  3. In the Temporary Internet files section of the General tab, click the Delete files button.
  4. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files folder?” Click the OK button.
  5. In the History section of the General tab, click the Clear History button.
  6. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files from your History folder?” Click the OK button.
  7. Click OK to leave Internet Options.
  8. Click the Refresh button at the top of the browser. (This button is to the right of the Stop button.)

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x (Windows)

  1. From the View drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Internet Options.
  2. Click the General tab at the top of the Internet Options dialog box.
  3. In the Temporary Internet files section of the General tab, click the Delete files button.
  4. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files folder?” Click the OK button.
  5. In the History section of the General tab, click the Clear History button.
  6. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files from your History folder?” Click the Yes button.
  7. Click OK to leave Internet Options.
  8. Click the Refresh button at the top of the browser. (This button is to the right of the Stop button.)

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x and 4.x (Macintosh)

  1. From the Edit menu for Version 4.x, choose Preferences. For Version 5.x, choose Preferences under the Explorer menu.
  2. Click the arrow next to Web Browser to expand the menu, then choose Advanced.
  3. In the Cache section of the window, click Empty Now.
  4. Click OK to leave Preferences.

Netscape 8.0 (Windows)

  1. From the Tools drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Options….
  2. On the left side of the dialog box, click the Privacy category.
  3. Under Cache, click the Clear button.
  4. Click “Clear Cache on browser exit” if you would like the cache to clear automatically each time you close your browser.
  5. Click OK.

Netscape 7.x (Windows, Macintosh)

  1. For the Windows version, select Preferences from the Edit drop-down menu at the top of the browser. For the Macintosh version, select Preferences from the Netscape drop-down menu.
  2. A thread-hierarchy appears on the left of the Preferences dialog box. Click the arrow to the left of Advanced.
  3. Click Cache under the expanded Advanced hierarchy. This will change the right side of the Preferences dialog box.
  4. Click the Clear Cache button on the right of the dialog box.
  5. Click OK to leave Preferences.
  6. Restart Netscape for the changes to take effect.

Netscape 6.x (Windows, Macintosh)

  1. From the Edit drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Preferences.
  2. A thread-hierarchy appears on the left of the Preferences dialog box. Click on the arrow to the left of Advanced.
  3. Under the expanded Advanced portion of the hierarchy is Cache. Click the word Cache. This will change the right side of the Preferences dialog box.
  4. Click the Clear Memory Cache button on the right of the Preferences dialog box.
  5. Click the Clear Disk Cache button on the right of the Preferences dialog box.
  6. Click OK to leave Preferences.
  7. Click the Reload button at the top of your browser. (This button is to the right of the Forward button.)

Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4.x (Windows)

  1. From the Edit drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Preferences.
  2. A thread-hierarchy appears on the left of the Preferences dialog box. Click to the left of the word Advanced.
  3. The first item under the expanded Advanced portion of the hierarchy is Cache. Click the word Cache. This will change the right side of the Preferences dialog box.
  4. Click the Clear Memory Cache button on the right of the Preferences dialog box.
  5. A dialog box will appear that says, “This will remove all the files currently in your memory cache. Continue?” Click the OK button.
  6. Click the Clear Disk Cache button on the right of the Preferences dialog box.
  7. A dialog box will appear that says, “This will remove all the files in your disk cache. Continue?” Click the OK button.
  8. Click OK until you leave Preferences.
  9. Click the Reload button at the top of your browser. (This button is to the right of the Forward button.)

Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4.x (Macintosh)

  1. From the Edit drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Preferences.
  2. A thread-hierarchy appears on the left of the Preferences dialog box. Click to the left of the word Advanced to expand it.
  3. The first item under the expanded Advanced portion is Cache. Click the word Cache. This will change the right of the Preferences dialog box.
  4. Click the Clear Disk Cache button on the right of the Preferences dialog box.
  5. A dialog box will appear that says, “This will remove all the files in your disk cache. Continue?” Click the OK button.
  6. Click OK until you leave Preferences.
  7. Click the Reload button at the top of your browser. (This button is to the right of the Forward button.)

America Online 9.0

  1. Click Settings on the AOL toolbar. Then select Index on the Settings page and click “Internet [Web] Options” under “I” in the alphabetized list.
  2. Click the General tab at the top of the Internet Properties dialog box if it is not already selected.
  3. In the Temporary Internet files section, click the Delete Files button. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet files.” Click the OK button.
  4. In the History section, click the Clear History button. A dialog box will appear that asks, “Are you sure you want Windows to delete your history of visited Web sites?” Click Yes.
  5. Click OK to leave the AOL Internet Properties dialog box.
  6. Close the Settings window.
  7. Exit and restart America Online.

America Online 7.0 and 8.0

  1. Click Settings on the AOL toolbar. Then select Preferences.
  2. Select Toolbar & Sound:.
  3. Click Clear History Trail Now. A dialog box will appear asking: “This will delete all of the areas you have visited. Do you want to continue?” Click Yes.
  4. Click Save.
  5. For Version 7.0, select Internet Properties (WWW). For Version 8.0, select Internet Settings.
  6. Click the General tab at the top of the Internet Properties dialog box if it is not already selected.
  7. In the Temporary Internet files section, click the Delete Files button. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files.” Click the OK button.
  8. In the History section, click the Clear History button. A dialog box will appear that asks, “Are you sure you want Windows to delete your history of visited Web sites?” Click Yes.
  9. Click OK to leave the AOL Internet Properties dialog box.
  10. Close the Preferences window.
  11. Exit and restart America Online.

America Online 6.0

  1. In the Settings menu, select Preferences. (This may be in a drop-down menu or it may be a button at the top of the browser.)
  2. In the Organization column, click Internet Properties (WWW).
  3. Under the Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete Files.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Exit and restart America Online.

America Online 5.0

  1. Under the My AOL menu, select Preferences.
  2. Click the Toolbar icon.
  3. Click Clear History Now. A dialog box will appear asking: “This will delete all of the areas you have visited. Do you want to continue?” Click Yes.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click the WWW icon.
  6. Click the General tab at the top of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box if it is not already selected.
  7. In the Temporary Internet files section, click the Delete Files button. A dialog box will appear that says, “Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files.” Click OK.
  8. In the History section, click the Clear History button. A dialog box will appear that asks, “Are you sure you want Windows to delete your history of visited Web sites?” Click Yes.
  9. Click OK to leave the AOL Internet Properties dialog box.
  10. Close the Preferences window.
  11. Exit and restart America Online.

Mozilla Firefox 2.0

  1. From the Tools drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Options….
  2. Click the Network tab in the pop-up window.
  3. Under Cache, click the Clear Now button.
  4. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox 1.5

  1. From the Tools drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Options.
  2. Click the Privacy icon at the top of the window.
  3. Click the Cache tab.
  4. Click Clear Cache Now.
  5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox 1.0

  1. From the Tools drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Options.
  2. Click the Privacy icon on the left.
  3. In the Privacy box, click Clear to the right of Cache.
  4. Click OK.

Safari 1.x (Macintosh)

  1. From the Safari drop-down menu at the top of the browser, select Empty Cache.
  2. A pop-up message asking “Are you sure you want to empty the cache?” will appear.
  3. Click Empty.