Clearing Cache & Cookies and Force Resetting in Internet Browsers

Tags login

Issue/Question

I can't sign into D2L.
I can't sign into my email.
I can't sign into SNAP.
I am running into a 502 Bad Gateway error?
I can't register for classes because the registration fields are blank.

Environment

An Internet Browser

  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Edge
  • Firefox
  • Opera

Resolution

What is Cache and Cookies? 

Cache refers to a storage area on your computer or phone where data from websites you have recently visited is temporarily saved.

Cookies refer to small pieces of data stored in the cache from websites you visit, such as login information, site preferences, shopping carts, or other data saved locally by the website. 
 

Notes Before you Start

Clearing the cache and cookies off your browser may cause some issues with websites you use. But it is also necessary at times for you to resolve an issue you are facing. 

  • You will need to sign back into some websites
  • You will likely lose items in any online shopping cart
    If the website has you sign in, there is a chance the cart data is saved within your Account, and not the Cookies. 

A few things you may want to try out before clearing out your Cookies and Browsing data include:

  1. Force Reset Browser: 
    • For Windows: Press CTRL + F5
    • For MacOS: Press COMMAND + SHIFT + R 
  2. Close down the Browser and reopen
  3. Restart your Device 

Guides to Clear the Cache and Cookies of Commonly used Browsers

Click into the appropriate guide below for your Internet Browser and Device. 

+ Google Chrome

Depending on the specific device you have, the steps you'll need to take may look slightly different:

+ Windows & MacOS Desktop and/or Laptops

Method 1: Manually Navigate 

  1. Within Chrome; Click on the Three Dots ⋮ in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing Data, a pop-up window will appear
  3. Clearing for All-Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Click on Delete data

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Within Chrome on Windows; Press the CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
    Within Chrome on MacOS; Press the COMMAND+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
     
  2. You'll then be brought to the Delete Browsing Data pop-up
  3. Clearing for All-Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Click on Delete data

Method 3: Delete data for a Specific Website

Using this method allows you to save the Cookies from another website you use.

  1. Within Chrome; Click on the Three Dots ⋮ in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions
  3. A list of all your cookies will appear, If you find a cookie you would like to delete, you can click on the Trash Can to the right of it.
  4. You'll then need to confirm that you want to delete it before it can be done. 

+ Android & iOS Smart Phone and/or Tablet

Manually Navigating

  1. Within Chrome; tap on the three dots to bring up the Menu
  2. Then tap through Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing Data
  3. Clearing for All-Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after deleting
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Tap on Delete data

+ Apple's Safari

Depending on the specific device you have, the steps you'll need to take may look slightly different:

+ MacOS Desktop and/or Laptop

Method 1: Manually Remove Cookies

  1. Within Safari; Click on Safari in the upper left corner
  2. Then Click on Settings... > Privacy > Manage Website Data...,
    A pop-up window will appear, displaying a list of the saved cache and cookies.
  3. Click on Remove All to clear all of the cache and cookies
    You can also manually search and remove cookies from a specific website

Method 2: Clearing History

  1. Within Safari in the upper left, you can either:
    Click on Safari > Clear History...
    Click on History > Clear History...
     
  2. You'll then be brought to a pop-up to clear History
  3. Changing the time range to All History can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Click on Clear History
     

+ iPhone and/or iPad

Method 1: Manually Remove Cookies

  1. Within Settings: Look up Safari and Click into it
  2. Scroll down and click on Clear History and Website Data
  3. Tapping on All History can help ensure the issue doesn't return in the near future
  4. Then tap on Clear History

+ Microsoft Edge

Depending on the specific device you have, the steps you'll need to take may look slightly different:

+ Windows & MacOS Desktop and/or Laptop

Method 1: Manually Navigate 

  1. Within Edge; Click on the Three Dots in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Choose what to clear, a pop-up window will appear
  3. Clearing for All Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Click on Clear now

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Within Edge on Windows; Press the CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
    Within Edge on MacOS; Press the COMMAND+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
     
  2. You'll then be brought to the Delete Browsing Data pop-up window
  3. Clearing for All Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Click on Clear now

Method 3: Delete data for a Specific Website

Using this method allows you to save the Cookies from another website you use.

  1. Within Edge; Click on the Three Dots in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data > See all cookies and site data
  3. A list of all your cookies will appear, If you find a cookie you would like to delete, you can click on the down arrow to the right of it to make a Trashcan Icon appear, 
  4. Click on the Trashcan Icon of a cookies to delete it

+ Android & iOS Smart Phone and/or Tablet

Manually Navigate

  1. Within Chrome; Click on the Three Dots ⋮ in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing Data, a pop-up window will appear
  3. Clearing for All-Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Click on Delete data

+ Mozilla Firefox

Depending on the specific device you have, the steps you'll need to take may look slightly different:

+ Windows & MacOS Desktop and/or Laptop

Method 1: Manually Navigate 

  1. Within Firefox; Click on the Menu Icon ☰ in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear data, a pop-up window will appear
  3. Clearing for Everything can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and site data
    • Temporary cached files and pages
  5. Then Click on Clear

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Within Firefox on Windows; Press the CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
    Within Firefox on MacOS; Press the COMMAND+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
     
  2. You'll then be brought to the Clear browsing data and cookies pop-up
  3. Clearing for Everything can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and site data
    • Temporary cached files and pages
  5. Then Click on Clear

Method 3: Delete data for a Specific Website

Using this method allows you to save the Cookies from another website you use.

  1. Within Firefox; Click on the Menu Icon ☰ in the upper right corner
  2. Then Click on Settings > Privacy & Security > Manage Data
  3. A list of all your cookies will appear, If you find a cookie you would like to delete, you'll want to select it and click on Remove Selected
  4. After Removing, click on Save Changes or the changes you made will not be saved 

+ Android & iOS Smart Phone and/or Tablet

Manually Navigate

  1. Within Firefox; Tap on the Menu Icon ☰ 
  2. Then Click on Settings > Data Management 
  3. Make sure the following options are selected:
    • Cache
    • Cookies
    • Offline Website Data
  4. Tap on Clear Private Data then tap on OK to verify
    ​​​​​​

+ Opera

Depending on the specific device you have, the steps you'll want to take may look slightly different:

+ Windows & MacOS Desktop and/or Laptop

Method 1: Manually Navigate 

  1. Within Opera; Click on Settings > Delete browsing data, a pop-up window will appear
    • You may need to enable the settings option by click on the three dots in the lower left, and checking the option for Settings
  2. Clearing for All-Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  3. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  4. Then Click on Delete data

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Within Opera on Windows; Press the CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
    Within Opera on MacOS; Press the COMMAND+SHIFT+DELETE keys at the same time
     
  2. You'll then be brought to the Delete Browsing Data pop-up
  3. Clearing for All-Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Check the boxes for:
    • Cookies and other site data
    • Cached images and files
  5. Then Click on Delete data

Method 3: Delete data for a Specific Website

Using this method allows you to save the Cookies from another website you use.

  1. Within Opera; Click on Settings > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions
  2. A list of all your cookies will appear, If you find a cookie you would like to delete, click on the Trash Can to the right of it.
  3. You'll then need to confirm that you want to delete it before it is done. 

+ Android & iOS Smart Phone and/or Tablet

Manually Navigate

  1. Within Opera; Tap on the Three dots to access the Menu
  2. Then tap on Settings > Clear Browser Data 
  3. Clearing for All Time can help ensure the issue doesn't return shortly after clearing
  4. Make sure the following options are selected:
    • Cookies and Site Data
    • Cached Images and Files
  5. Tap on Clear and confirm by tapping Clear Selected Data
    ​​​​​​

Still Experiencing Issues? 

If you have cleared your cache and cookies, and are still experiencing issues, Please try the following things: 

  • Updating the Internet Browser to the latest version may also need to be done
  • Reboot computer after completing the steps above
  • Log out of any synced profiles within the browser

Please submit a ticket if you need further assistance

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