Frequently Asked Question

Even when Web documents are updated regularly, you may be viewing old information if your browser's cache (pronounced "cash," a type of electronic memory) is not being cleared as frequently as it should be.

Generally, the first time you enter a Web address, your browser goes to the Internet to get the information you are requesting and temporarily stores it in the cache. When you request information at the same address again, your browser goes to the cache first, rather than directly to the Internet, to retrieve the information. For this reason, the information stored in the cache may be outdated.

Most Web documents have information that indicates when your browser should get a newer version, but sometimes the document gets "stuck" in cache and will not refresh. When this happens you need to clear your cache in order to receive the latest version of the document.

Below is information on how to clear your browser cache on Windows and Macintosh computers.

Clearing Browser Cache on Windows

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools in the upper toolbar or click on the Tools icon.
3. Click Internet Options and choose the General tab.
4. Click Delete under "Browsing History".
5. Click Delete Files under "Temporary Internet Files".
6. Click Yes on the Delete Files dialog box.
7. Click Close and then OK.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools in the upper toolbar or click on the Tools icon.
3. Click Internet Options to open Internet Properties.
4. Click the General tab
5. Click Delete under "Browsing History".
6. Click Delete Files under "Temporary Internet Files".
7. Click Yes on the Delete Files dialog box.
8. Click Close and then OK.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 - 6.0

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools in the upper toolbar.
3. Click Internet Options to open Internet Properties.
4. Click the General tab
5. Click Delete Files under "Temporary Internet Files".
6. Check Delete all offline content.
7. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box.
8. Click Apply and then OK.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 - 3.6

1. Click Tools in the upper toolbar and select Clear Recent History.
2. Select the Time Range to clear (drop-down menu).
- Select Everything to clear all cache.
3. Click Details to choose what history elements to clear.
- e.g. cache and cookies
4. Click the Clear Now button.
5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Mozilla Firefox 2.0 - 3.0

1. Click Tools in the upper toolbar and select Clear Private Data.
2. Check Cache and cookies.
- Note, you can select other data you would like to clear as well
3. Click the Clear Private Date Now button.
4. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Safari 4.0

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on Tools (gear icon) in the upper right toolbar and Select Reset Safari.
3. Click Empty Cache and Remove All Cookies.
4. Click the Reset button.
5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Opera 9.0

1. Open Opera
2. Click Tools and select Delete Private Data.
3. Click the Delete options and choose what history elements to clear.
- e.g. Delete temporary cookies, Delete all cookies, Delete entire cache.
4. Click the Clear Now button.
5. Close window.
6. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 8.0

1. Click Tools in the upper toolbar and select Options.
2. Select Privacy under Options on the left side of the screen.
3. Click Cache.
4. Click Clear Cache.
5. Click Clear.
6. Click OK.

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 7.0

1. Click Edit in the upper toolbar and select Preferences.
2. Click the Triangle next to Advanced to expand it.
3. Click Cache.
4. Click Clear Cache.
5. Click OK.

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 4.0 - 6.0

1. Click Edit in the upper toolbar and select Preferences.
2. Click Advanced.
3. Click Cache.
4. Click Clear Memory Cache.
5. Click Clear Disk Cache.
6. Click OK.

Clearing Browser Cache on Macintosh

Safari 4.0 for Macintosh OS X

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on Safari in the upper toolbar and Select Reset Safari.
3. Click Empty Cache and Remove All Cookies.
4. Click the Reset button.
5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Safari 1.0 for Macintosh OS X

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on Safari in the upper toolbar and Select Empty Cache.
3. Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
4. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Firefox 3.5 - 3.6 for Macintosh OS X

1. Click Tools in the upper toolbar and select Clear Recent History.
2. Select the Time Range to clear (drop-down menu).
- Select Everything to clear all cache.
3. Click Details to choose what history elements to clear.
- e.g. cache and cookies
4. Click the Clear Now button.
5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Firefox 2.0 - 3.0 for Macintosh OS X

1. Open Firefox
2. Click on Firefox in the upper toolbar and Select Preferences.
3. Click the Privacy Icon.
4. Click Clear Now under the Private Data section.
5. Close window.
6. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Opera 9.0 for Macintosh OS X

1. Open Opera
2. Click Tools and select Delete Private Data.
3. Click the Delete options and choose what history elements to clear.
- e.g. Delete temporary cookies, Delete all cookies, Delete entire cache.
4. Click the Clear Now button.
5. Close window.
6. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 - 5.0 for Macintosh

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click Edit in the upper toolbar and select Preferences.
3. Click the arrow beside Web Browser.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Click Empty Now.
6. Click Ok.
7. Exit and re-launch the browser.