How to Clear Your Cache and Cookies – GCU Technical Support

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.

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.

Chromebooks

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.

NOTE This keyboard shortcut does not work on Safari.

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 5.

With Microsoft Edge open, click on the Settings and more icon (three dots in a horizontal line at the top of the bar).
Select Settings. Alternatively, you can hover over History and select Delete browsing data. If you choose to utilize the History route, skip to step 5.
Once the Settings tab opens, click on Privacy, search, and services on the left-hand side.
NOTE If you do not see Privacy, search, and services on the left side click on the three lines to the left of Settings and then select Privacy, search and services.
Scroll down to Delete browsing data and click on Choose what to clear.
In the Delete browsing data window that appears, set the Time range to 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, 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 should 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

Option One:

With Firefox open, select the Menu button (three lines at the top right corner).
Select Settings (Preferences for Mac).
Select Privacy & Security from the left side.
From the Cookies and Site Data section, select Clear Data.
Place a check mark in the Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content check boxes. Once the appropriate boxes are checked, click Clear.
In the box that appears, select Clear Now.
Once you have finished, close the browser and open a new window.

Option Two:

If using the keyboard shortcut above, skip to step 6.

With Firefox open, select the Menu button (three lines at the top right corner).
Select Settings (Preferences for Mac).
Select Privacy and Security from the left side.
From the History section, select Clear History.
Set the Time range to clear drop-down menu to Everything.
Place a check mark in the Cookies and Cache check boxes; no other boxes need to be checked. If you recently changed your password and are having issues logging in, check Active Logins as well. Once the appropriate boxes are checked/unchecked, click OK.
Once you have finished, close the browser and open a new window.

Safari

These steps will show you how to clear your history and website data.

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 and select Clear History.

Additionally, these steps will show you how to clear only your cache.

With Safari open, click Safari from the menu bar.
Select Settings.

NOTE If you’re on MacOS Monterey (12.6.8) or older, you may see Preferences instead.
Select Advanced in the Settings window.
Place a check in the Show features for web developers checkbox.

NOTE If you do not see this option, you may see the Show Develop menu in menu bar instead.
Return to the Safari menu bar and select the Develop option.
Select Empty Caches from the drop down.

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 History.
Select Clear browsing data...
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, press Clear Data.

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 for Cookies & Cached images and files. Once the appropriate boxes are checked/unchecked, press Clear browsing data.
Once you're finished, you'll receive a message that states: "Browsing Data Deleted" at the bottom of your screen.

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 Privacy and security.
Select Delete browsing data.
Make sure that both Cache and Cookies and site data are checked. Once you’ve checked/unchecked the appropriate sections, you can press Delete.

NOTE:It will say “Personal data deleted” once it is finished clearing

Microsoft Edge for Android

Open the Microsoft Edge app and select the Menu button (the three horizontal dots in the bottom center).
Select Settings.
Scroll down and select Privacy and security.
Select Clear browsing data.
Make sure that both, Cookies and site data and Cache, are checked. Once you have everything that you want to clear checked, select Clear.

Safari for iPhone/iPad

Open the Settings app.
Scroll down and select Safari.
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.
Select Privacy and Security.
Select Delete Browsing Data.
Select Cookies, Site Data and Cached Images and Files and press Delete Browsing Data.
Press Delete Browsing Data that appears at the bottom.

Firefox for iPhone/iPad

Open the Firefox app and press the Menu button (three lines 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 iPad/iPhone

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 Clear browsing data.
Set the Time range to All Time
Make sure that there is a check mark next to both, Cookies and site data and Cache images and files. Once you have everything that you want to clear checked, select Clear now.
Select Clear now to clear your browsing data.