How To Clear Your Cache ?

Apple Safari icon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Cache is a block of memory used for temporary storage of data (ie: webpages, etc..) that is likely to be used again. Your CPU and hard drive frequently use a Cache, as do web browsers and web servers. A Cache is made up of a pool of entries. Each entry has a piece of data or copy of the original information which can be stored in multiple locations. Each entry also has a tag, which specifies the identity of that
particular peice of data in your storage. When the Cache client (web browser, ISP, oroperating system) wishes to access this data it first checks the Cache. This helps save time and reduces the workload on the system using the Cached client. If you use your web browser and an entry can be found with a tag matching that of the desired data, then the Cached version is used instead. This situation is known as a Cache Hit. When theCache is consulted and found not to contain data with the desired tag, it is known as aCache Miss.

So, for example, a web browser program might check its Local Cache stored on your computer to see if it has a local copy of the contents of a web page at based on a particular URL. In this example, the URL is
the tag, and the contents of the web page is the data. The percentage of accesses that result in Cache Hits or Cache Misses is known as the Hit Rate or Hit Ratio of the cache.

Most systems fetch and retrieve updated versions of your stored data or Cache every 18-72 hours. This means that your ISP and your local system can at anytime have an out of date version of your data (i.e. website) in its Cache. If you have updated your website, migrated servers or changed web hosts you may not immediately see the changes you made. This could be because your local system has an out of date copy or your ISP’s system has not clear their Master Cache. Follow the steps below to clear your local systems Cache first. If this does not do the trick then you may need to contact your ISP and request they manually flush their current cache. Depending on the ISP if they refuse you will have to wait for them to automatically clear their Cache which may take 18-72 hours for them to do.

How do I clear my browser cache?
For Internet Explorer 4.x and Above 

• Click Tools from the Internet Explorer menu bar.
• Click Internet Options.
• Click the General Tab.
• Click the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet files section.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For Internet Explorer 8.x and 9.x 

• Click Tools from the Internet Explorer menu bar.
• Click Internet Options.
• Click Delete button from Browsing history.
• Click Delete files… button from Temporary Internet Files section.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For Firefox 1.5x and Above 

• Click Tools from the Firefox menu bar.
• Click Clear Private Data Ctr+Shift+Del.
• Make sure the box is checked next to each option you wish to Clear Private Datafor.(Browsing History, Cache, Cookies, Authenticated Sessions)
• Click the Clear Private Data Now button.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For Netscape 4.x and Above 

• Click Preferences from the Edit menu.
• Click Edit from Netscape menu bar.
• Expand the Advanced menu by clicking the triangle sign.
• Click Cache.
• Click both the Clear Memory Cache and the Clear Disk Cache buttons.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For Mozilla 1.x and Above 

• Click Edit from the Mozilla menu bar.
• Click Preferences…from the Edit menu.
• Expand the Advanced menu by clicking the plus sign.
• Click Cache.
• Click ok to close the preferences menu.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For Opera 

• Click Edit from the Opera menu bar.
• Click Preferences… from the File menu.
• Click the History and Cache Menu.
• Click Cache.
• Click ok close the Preferences menu.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For AOL 3.x and Above 

• Start AOL from AOL menu bar.
• Select Keyword > Go to Keyword.
• Type the keyword preferences.
• Click Go. Dialog box: AOL Settings: Customize your AOL Enterprise.
• Select Essentials tab > Internet (Web) Options - Set Web Browser options and properties. Dialog box: Internet Options.
• Select General tab.
• Click Delete files. Dialog box: Delete Files: Delete all files in the Temporary Internet files.
• Select Delete all offline content.
• Click OK.
• Click OK.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart the computer.

For Safari 1.x for Macintosh OS X 

• Open Safari.
• Click on Safari in the toolbar and select Preferences…
• Click on the Privacy Icon.
• Click the [clear] button next to the Cache option.
• Click OK.
• Exit your Safari browser completely and re-launch Safari.
• If you still have a problem, repeat the steps above and restart your computer.

Browser’s cookie functionality turned on/off

Mozilla Firefox

To enable cookies in Mozilla Firefox 3.x (PC):

1. Click Tools > Options.
2. Click Privacy in the top panel.
3. Set ‘Firefox will’: to Use custom settings for history.
4. Check the box next to Accept cookies from sites to enable cookies, or uncheck it to disable them.
5. Click OK.

To enable cookies in Mozilla Firefox 2.x (PC):

1. Click Tools > Options.
2. Click Privacy in the top panel.
3. Select the checkbox labeled ‘Accept cookies from sites.’
4. Click OK.

To enable cookies in Mozilla Firefox (Mac):

1. Go to the Firefox drop-down menu.
2. Select Preferences.
3. Click Privacy.
4. Set ‘Firefox will’: to Use custom settings for history.
5. Check the box next to Accept cookies from sites to enable cookies, or uncheck it to disable them.
6. Click OK.

Internet Explorer: Browser’s cookie functionality turned on/off

If you’re seeing a message that your browser’s cookie functionality is turned off, it’s possible that you don’t have cookies enabled in your browser. Below are listed browser-specific instructions on how to enable your cookies.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

To enable cookies in Internet Explorer 7 or 8:

1. Click Start > Control Panel. (Note: with Windows XP Classic View, click the Windows Start button > Settings > Control Panel).
2. Double-click the Internet Options icon.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Click the Advanced button.
5. Select the option ‘Override automatic cookie handling’ under the Cookies section in the Advanced Privacy Settings window.
6. Select the ‘Accept’ or ‘Prompt’ option under ‘First-party Cookies.’
7. Select the ‘Accept’ or ‘Prompt’ option under ‘Third-party Cookies.’ (Note: if you select the ‘Prompt’ option, you’ll be prompted to click OK every time a website attempts to send you a cookie.)
8. In the Internet Options window, click OK to exit.

To enable cookies in Internet Explorer 6:

1. Click Start > Control Panel. (Note: with Windows XP Classic View, click the Windows Start button > Settings > Control Panel).
2. Click the Advanced button.
3. Select the option ‘Override Automatic Cookie Handling.’
4. Select the ‘Accept’ or ‘Prompt’ option under ‘First-party Cookies.’
5. Select the ‘Accept’ or ‘Prompt’ option under ‘Third-party Cookies.’ (Note: if you select the ‘Prompt’ option, you’ll be prompted to click OK every time a website attempts to send you a cookie.)
6. In the Internet Options window, click OK to exit.

Related Article:

1. To enable cookies in Mozilla Firefox
2. To enable cookies in Chrome
3. To enable cookies in Safari