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About browser cache, cookies, and history:
Each time you access a website through your web browser, the browser caches (i.e., stores) it. Thus, the browser doesn't have to newly retrieve files (including any images on the page) from the remote web site each time you click Back or Forward. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently.
About cookies and browser cache:
A cookie is usually created when you visit a site, for example http://my.cwi.edu. The browser writes data to the hard disk in your computer for various reasons. Often, the cookies do not get deleted when your browser closes. This can cause the browser to retain cached information such as login credentials. Then, when you login to a site and/or change your password on a particular site it attempts to use the cached password that is no longer valid. It is always a good practice to clear your browser history often.
NOTE: The easiest method of clearing browser information on Windows operating system is to press the CTRL + SHIFT + DEL keys together, while you are on the browser.
Steps-to-Take:
Internet Explorer 11:
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click the Settings icon (top right corner), and hover over Safety
3. Select Delete browsing history
4. Choose options "Temporary Internet files and website files" and "Cookies and website data"
5. Select Delete, to clear the browser’s cache
Microsoft Edge:
1. Select the button in the upper right with 3 dots vertically
2. Choose Settings
3. Scroll down and click Choose what to clear under "Clear browsing data"
4. Choose "Cookies and saved website data" and "Cached data and files"
5. Select Clear, at the bottom.
Chrome (Windows or Mac) or Chromium (Linux):
1. In the browser bar, enter: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
2. Select the items you want to clear (e.g., clear browsing history, Clear download history, Empty the cache, Delete cookies and other site and plug-in data).
3. Click Clear browsing data.
Opera for Windows:
1. Select the Opera or Menu button located in the very upper left of the web browser (looks like a red O)
2. Hover over History
3. Choose option Clear browsing data
4. Edit Time range to how much browsing history you want to clear. Beneath the box for "Time range":
5. "Browsing history" will clear your search history and websites visited
6. "Cookies and other site data" will clear page-specific settings and log you out of saved websites
7. "Cached images and files" makes previously-visited and viewed items clear then reload on next visit
8. Click Clear browsing data at the bottom to clear the data
For Windows FireFox:
1. Click on the button in the top right corner with 3 horizontal lines
2. Select Options, which is located near the bottom
3. In the window that appears, type “cache” into the search box in the upper right corner
4. Under Cookies and Site Data, select "Clear Data…"
5. Check both boxes, and click Clear.
FireFox for macOS:
1. Click the Library button located in the top right corner:
2. Select History, then Clear Recent History…
3. In the window that appears, make sure the Time range to clear is set to Everything
4. Check Cookies, as well as Cache, then click Clear Now
5. Other options can be ticked to clear other types of data from Firefox.
Safari for macOS:
1. From the top bar, select Safari. Choose option Preferences
2. Go to the Advanced tab. Checkmark the Show Develop menu in menu bar option
3. Return to the main internet browser screen. Now, select Develop from the top bar. Choose Empty Cache
Safari for iOS (iPhone,iPad, iPod Touch):
1. From the home screen, tap Settings, and then tap Safari.
2. At the bottom of Safari's settings screen, tap the button called Safari
3. Scroll down, and tap on text Clear History and Website Data
4. In the confirmation box that appears, confirm by tapping the red text Clear History and Data
5. This will clear the cache (Website Data), as well as history, from Safari