How to empty your browser cache

Your web browser is what you use to surf the internet. Windows users traditionally have Internet Explorer, which is built into Windows, or Netscape. Mac users may have Safari, Internet Explorer or Netscape. There are other browsers as well, such as Opera, but we consider that if you are clever enough to install these browsers then you don't need our help to empty the cache.

The cache is a repository of files that your web browser uses to store recently viewed images, pages and other data. By storing these files it reduces the need to download them from the internet again. This greatly improves the speed at which you can browse (surf the internet) and reduces your internet usage. So let us be clear in that a cache is a good thing. So why would we want to empty it?

We often suffer the problem as web designers that our current designs are stored onto a clients computer and any altered work does not show up. This is because your web browser decides that it doesn't need to re-load the files from the internet. But if we have changed them then we need your browser to load the new ones, not re-use the old ones. The cache must be emptied, forcing your web browser to load in the new versions of the web site.

The frustration caused by this problem cannot be fully appreciated unless you have been in our shoes. Picture this:

Our client calls, very agitated, asking why we haven't done the alterations needed to the web site. We reply that we have done them and their cache must be emptied to see them. The client goes nuts, not knowing what a cache is and deciding that this talk of a "cache" must be some computer geek smoke screen to hide our lack of enthusiasm towards their project. As you can imagine, we get distressed.

There is usually a half hour long discussion as we try to convince our technophobe client that the cache exists and just hitting the refresh button on your browser may not do anything. After we convince our client that they should follow step by step instructions to empty the cache we finally make progress, the client sees the new version of the web site and everything goes back to normal.

How to empty the cache in Internet Explorer (Windows)

In the browser window look for a pull down menu called "Tools" and click on it. You must then select the option called "Internet Options". A control panel will appear and the "General" tab should already be open - if it is not then click on it. You will see the words "Temporary internet files". Just below that you will see some buttons, one of them being "Delete Files". Click on "Delete Files". You can now close the internet options page and the refresh your web browser window.

How to empty the cache in Internet Explorer (Mac OSX)

Go to the Explorer pull down menu and choose "Preferences". In the preferences panel choose the "Advanced" tab. You will see a group of controls listed under "Cache" There is an 'Empty Now" button - click on it. You may now close the preferences panel and refresh your browser page.

How to empty the cache in Safari (Mac OSX)

Go to the Safari pull down menu and choose "Empty Cache".