What is Cache?
When it comes to troubleshooting issues you may have heard this specific recommendation, "Have you cleared your cache and cookies". A cache is where temporary data is stored. This happens on your computer, tablet, laptop, phone, web browser, or app.Every web browser, whether it's Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari, and most apps maintain their own cache.
A browser cache stores files needed by your browser to display the websites it visits. This includes elements like the HTML file that describe the site, along with CSS style sheets, Javascript, cookies, and images. Cache is super beneficial for making things run faster, saving data, and using data for later use (think autofill). But cache can come with some downsides. It can take up a lot of storage space, prevent loading the latest version of a web page or app, and corrupted cache (something wrong with a file stored in the cache) can cause an app or site to display incorrectly, glitch, or cash.
The good news? Clearing your computer's cache and cookies is pretty simple and great for the health and maintenance of your device.
How to Clear Your Cache
Clearing your cache will delete files store in the cache and this option is typically found within the settings.
Google Chrome on a Mac
Since Peek works the best with Google Chrome we will go over how to clear your cached data here.
On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click the 3 dots next to your user profile to open settings.
Click More tools. Clear browsing data.
For the "Basic" clear option, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
Next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," check the boxes.
Click Clear data.
For the "Advanced" clear option, choose a time range. This option will open up more specific options where cache is stored that you can choose from.
After selecting your specific boxes choose clear data
This can also be accessed in the settings of your Google Chrome account from, "Privacy and security"
Google Chrome on Windows
Click the menu icon in the top-right corner of your browser
Go to History and then History again.
Click Clear browsing data and check off Browsing history, Cookie and other site data, and Cached images and files.
From the Time Range drop-down, choose All time.
Click Clear Data.
Close and restart the browser for the clearing to take full effect.
Safari
Click Safari near the top left of your screen and select preferences.
In the Privacy tab, click Manage Website Data.
Click Remove All.
Click Done.
Close and restart Safari for the clearing to take full effect
Internet Explorer (10 & 11)
Per Microsoft’s documentation, this is a browser no longer supported nor updated by them. Out of date browsers will cause technical issues. We do not recommend using Internet Explorer.
Have Chrome Auto-Clear
Because clearing your cache and cookies is recommended to be done on a regular basis. You can set up your Google Chrome to automatically clear these every time you close all of the windows.
To do this go to the 3 vertical dots> Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Toggle "Clear cookies and site data when you close all windows" on.
This will clear the cookies every time all of the windows are closed and will log you out of sites.
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