This article covers the following topics:

• What are browser cache and cookies?
• How to clear your browser's cache and cookies 

Your Browser's Cache

Your browser stores temporary files from websites that you visit in order to track what you do on those pages or to make it load faster the next time that you visit that page. This is known as the browser's cache. Sometimes having out dated cache can mess up things with the pages that you visit. Clearing the cache is a good way to make sure that you don't have any outdated files messing with the site that you are trying to visit. 

Your Browser's Cookies

The sites that you visit leave files in your browser in order to track your activity on that site. For example, when you log into a website that site will drop a cookie in your browser that is special to your account. When the site sees that cookie it knows that you are signed in. It also allows Mortgage Educators to track your progress through your course. Sometimes the cookies can become outdated and mess with the current session that you have with the website that you are visiting. By clearing them it clears those issues that you may have.

Clearing your browser's cache and cookies

This section will show you how to clear your browser's cache. Choose your web browser below.

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari

Google Chrome

Below are the steps to clear the Google Chrome browser's cache and cookies.

1. Make sure that the page with your course is closed.
2. Click the menu button in the top right of the browser (the three dots). A drop-down menu will appear. 
3. Select "More Tools". This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
4. Click "Clear browsing data..." It's in the pop-out menu. Doing so opens a window with data-clearing options.
5. Select the time range. Click the "Time range" box, then click All time in the drop-down menu to ensure that all cached images and files are cleared.
6. Check the "Cookies and other site data" and the "Cached images and files" boxes. They should be in the middle of the window.
   • If this box is already checked, skip this step.
   • You can choose the other boxes if you choose to clear that data as well.
7. Click "Clear Data" This blue button is in the bottom-right corner of the window.
8. Once it has cleared you will want to close the browser and then reopen it.
9. You have successfully cleared your browser's cache and cookies 

Firefox

Below are the steps to clear the Firefox browser's cache and cookies.

1. Make sure that the page with your course is closed.
2. Click the menu button in the top right of the browser (three lines). A drop-down menu will appear.
3. Click "Library" This option is near the top of the drop-down menu.
4. Click "History" You'll find this near the top of the Library menu.
5. Click "Clear recent history..." It's near the top of the menu. Doing so opens a window with your Firefox history and other data in it.
6. Select a time range. Click the "Time range to clear" drop-down box, then click Everything in the drop-down menu.
7. Click the "Details" drop-down box. This box is in the lower-left side of the window. Doing so will display a list of things that you can clear.
8. Check the "Cache" and "Cookies" boxes.
   • If this box is already checked, skip this step.
   • You can uncheck every other box in the "Details" section if you only want to clear the cache and cookies.
9. Click "Clear now" It's at the bottom of the window. 
10. Close Firefox and then open it again.
11. You have successfully cleared your browser's cache and cookies.

Internet Explorer

Below are the steps to clear the Internet Explorer browser's cache and cookies.

1. Make sure that the page with your course is closed.
2. Open Settings. Click the gear-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
3. Click "Internet options" This option is near the top of the drop-down menu.
4. Click "Delete" It's on the right side of the Internet Options window in the "Browsing history" section.
   • If you don't see this option, first click the General tab at the top of the Internet Options window.
5. Check the cache and cookies boxes. You'll want to make sure that both the "Temporary Internet files and website files" box and the "Cookies and website data" box are checked.
   • If both of these boxes have checkmarks in them, you don't have to click the checkboxes.
   • You can uncheck every other box on this page if you want to clear only the cache and cookies.
6. Click "Delete" It's at the bottom of the window. This will clear the Internet Explorer cache and cookies.
7. Click "Apply", then click "OK" Both options are at the bottom of the window. Doing so saves your changes and exits the Internet Options window.
8. Close Internet Explorer completely and then open it again.
9. You have successfully cleared your browser's cache and cookies.

Microsoft Edge

Below are the steps to clear the Microsoft Edge browser's cache and cookies.

1. Make sure that the page with your course is closed.
2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the window. A pop-out menu will appear.
3. Open Settings. This option is at the bottom of the pop-out menu.
4. Click "Choose what to clear" It's below the "Clear browsing data" heading.
   • You may have to scroll down the Settings bar to see this option.
5. Check the "Cached data and files" and "Cookies" boxes.This is in the middle of the list of check boxes.
   
   • If this box already has a check mark in it, skip this step.
   • You can uncheck every other box in this section if you only want to clear the cache and cookies.
6. Click "Clear" It's a button in the middle of the menu. Doing so will clear your Microsoft Edge cache and cookies.
7. Close Microsoft Edge and then open it again.
8. You have successfully cleared your browser's cache and cookies.

Safari

Below are the steps to clear the Safari browser's cache and cookies.

1. Make sure that the page with your course is closed.
2. Click "Safari" It's a menu item in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
   • If you see a Develop menu item at the top of the screen, skip ahead to step #7 in this tutorial.
3. Click "Preferences" It's near the top of the Safari drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Preferences window.
4. Click the "Advanced" tab. This option is on the far-right side of the Preferences window.
5. Check the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" box. It's at the bottom of the Preferences window.
6. Close the Preferences window. You should now have a Develop menu item in the menu bar at the top of your Mac's screen.
7. Click "Develop" This option is at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
8. Click "Empty Caches" It's in the middle of the Develop drop-down menu.
   • If prompted to confirm your choice, click Empty Caches (or OK, etc.) when prompted.
9. Quit Safari and then open it again.
10. You have successfully cleared your browser's cache and cookies.