Poor browser performance, page display errors, and some password errors can often be resolved by clearing out the temporary Internet files on your computer. Temporary Internet files accumulate and tend to slow your system down. They can also store errors from visited pages, causing you to see the same errors every time you visit the page.

The steps for clearing out the cache and cookies in each browser are a little different, but the actions they perform are exactly the same. Remember to close out of any GCU related websites before beginning this process. Below you will find the different steps to clear cache and cookies for each of the supported browsers. Give them a try on your own to get familiar with this common troubleshooting technique.

NOTE These browsers are constantly updating, which means the steps for clearing cache and cookies may be slightly different from the steps listed below. If you notice that the steps below do not match what's on your browser, it is recommended that you check the version of the browser you're using. Go to whatsmybrowser.org to see which browser version you're currently using. To make sure your version is the most recent version of the browser, go to What is the latest version of my browser?

Keyboard Shortcuts

The easiest way to clear your cache and cookies is to use the keyboard shortcut. It will immediately bring up the window to clear your cache and cookies in the desired browser. Based on your operating system, open the appropriate accordion below.

Windows

Open the browser that needs to have its cache and cookies cleared.
On your keyboard, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
Choose the browser from the list below and determine the options you need to select.

Mac

Open the browser that needs to have its cache and cookies cleared.
On your keyboard, press Command + Shift + Delete.
Choose the browser from the list below and determine the options you need to select.

NOTE This keyboard shortcut does not work on Safari.

Chromebook

Open Google Chrome.
On your keyboard, press Ctrl + Shift + Backspace.
Choose Google Chrome from the list below and determine the options you need to select.

Desktop Devices

Microsoft Edge Legacy

If using the keyboard shortcut above, skip to step 4.

With Microsoft Edge Legacy open, click on the Settings and more icon (three dots in a horizontal line at the top of the bar).
Select Settings.
Once the Settings tab opens, click on Choose what to clear under the Clear browsing data heading.
Place a checkmark in the Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files checkboxes; no other boxes need to be checked. Once the appropriate boxes are checked, click Clear.
Close the browser and open a new window.

Microsoft Edge

If using the keyboard shortcut above, skip to step 3.

With Microsoft Edge open, click on the Settings and more icon (three dots in a horizontal line at the top of the bar).
With the Settings and more drop-down menu open, click Delete browsing data.
In the Delete browsing data window that appears, open the Time range drop-down menu and select All time.
Place a checkmark in the Cookies and other data and Cached images and files checkboxes; no other boxes need to be checked. Once the appropriate boxes are checked, click Clear now.
Close the browser and open a new window.

Google Chrome

If using the keyboard shortcut above, skip to step 4.

With Chrome open, select the Menu button (three dots in a vertical line at the top right corner).
Select Delete browsing data.
In the Delete browsing data window that appears, select More, then set the Time range to All time.
Of the three options available under the Basic tab, place a check mark in the Cookies and other site data as well as Cached images and files check boxes. Browsing history and Download History can be unchecked. Once the appropriate boxes are checked/unchecked, click Delete data.
Once it has finished, close the browser and open a new window.

Firefox

If using the keyboard shortcut above, skip to step 5.

With Firefox open, click on the Open application menu icon (three lines at the top right corner).
With the application menu open, click Settings.
Select Privacy and security from the left side.
Scroll down to the Browsing data section, then click Clear browsing data.
In the Clear browsing data and cookies window that appears, open the When: drop-down menu and select Everything.
Place a checkmark in the Cookies and site data and Temporary cached files and pages check boxes. Once the appropriate boxes are checked, click Clear.
Once you have finished, close the browser and open a new window.

Safari

Complete the steps listed in either accordion below to clear your Safari cache and cookies.

Clear All Website Cache and Cookies

With Safari open, click Safari from the menu bar.
Select Settings.
With the Settings window open, navigate to the Privacy tab.
From the Privacy tab, click the Manage Website Data... button.
Click the Remove All button to remove all of your saved cache and cookies in Safari.

Clear All Website History, Cache, and Cookies

With Safari open, click Safari from the menu bar.
Select Clear History.
From the pop-up window select All History from the drop-down menu.
Click Clear History to remove all history, cache, and cookies data in Safari.

Mobile Devices

The majority of GCU websites and software are not optimized for mobile devices. We recommend that students use a full desktop or laptop computer for school related activities such as submitting assignments, reading textbooks, etc. We cannot guarantee that these activities will be possible on mobile devices and providing assistance for them falls outside of Technical Support’s scope of service. For more information about what devices are supported, see GCU Technical Requirements.

If you choose to complete GCU related activities on a mobile device and are having difficulties loading pages on your mobile internet browser, we have provided steps below for clearing cache and cookies. If these steps do not fix the connection issues you are experiencing, we recommend switching to a full desktop or laptop computer.

Chrome for Android

Open the Chrome app and press the Menu button (three dots in the upper right-hand corner).
Select Delete browsing data.
Select More options.
Set the Time range to All time.
Check the boxes for Cookies and site data and Cached images and files. Once the appropriate boxes are checked/unchecked, select Delete data.
If you are asked to confirm whether you want to clear data from important sites, select Delete.

Firefox for Android

Open the Firefox app and press the Menu button (three dots in the upper right-hand corner).
Select Settings.
Select Delete browsing data.
Check the boxes next to Cookies and site data and Cached images and files.
Once the appropriate boxes are checked/unchecked, Delete browsing data.

Samsung Internet for Android

Open the Samsung Internet app and press the Menu button (three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner).
Select Settings.
Select Personal browsing data.
Select Delete browsing data.
Check the boxes next to Cookies and site data and Cached images and files.
Once you’ve checked/unchecked the appropriate sections, select Delete data.
You will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the data. Select Delete.

Microsoft Edge for Android

Open the Microsoft Edge app and select the Menu button (the three horizontal dots in the bottom right).
Select Settings.
Scroll down and select Privacy and security.
Select Clear browsing data.
Set the time range to All time.
Place a check mark next to Cookies and site data and Cached imaged and files.
Once you have everything that you want to clear checked, select Delete data.

Safari for iPhone/iPad

Open the Settings app.
Search for Safari in the search bar at the top.
Near the bottom, select Clear History and Website Data.
Select All history, then Clear History.

Chrome for iPhone/iPad

Open the Chrome app and press the Menu button (three dots in the bottom right-hand corner).
Select Settings.
Scroll down and select Privacy and security.
Select Delete browsing data.
Select Time range and set to All time, then select Browsing data.
Select Cookies, site data and Cached images and files, then Confirm.
Press Delete data that appears at the bottom.

Firefox for iPhone/iPad

Open the Firefox app and press the Menu button (three dots at the bottom right-hand corner).
Select Settings.
Select Data Management in the Privacy section.
Select Cache and Cookies; no other options should be selected. Once the appropriate options are selected, press Clear Private Data.
Press OK.

Microsoft Edge for iPhone/iPad

Open the Microsoft Edge app and select the Menu button (the three horizontal dots in the bottom center).
Select Settings.
Select Privacy and Security.
Then select Delete Browsing Data.
Set the Time range to All Time, then select Browsing data.
Make sure that there is a check mark next to both, Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Once you have everything that you want to clear checked, select Confirm.
Select Delete data to clear your browsing data.

How to Clear Your Cache and Cookies

Keyboard Shortcuts

Desktop Devices

Mobile Devices

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