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.

NOTEThese 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.

NOTEThis 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 moreicon (three dots in a horizontal line at the top of the bar).
Select Settings.
Once the Settings tab opens, click on Choose what to clearunder the Clear browsing dataheading.
Place a checkmark in the Cookies and saved website dataand Cached data and filescheckboxes; 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 moreicon (three dots in a horizontal line at the top of the bar).
Select Settings.Alternatively, you can hover over Historyand 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 serviceson the left-hand side.
NOTEIf 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.
Click one of the buttons that says Clear browsing data.
Click on first Choose what to clearbutton.
In the Delete browsing data window that appears, set the Time range to All time.
Place a checkmark in the Cookies and other dataand Cached images and filescheckboxes; 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 dataas well as Cached images and filescheck boxes. Browsing historyand Download Historycan 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( Preferencesfor Mac).
Select Privacy & Securityfrom the left side.
From the Cookies and Site Datasection, select Clear Data.
Change the time range to Everything.
Place a check mark in the Cookies and Site Dataand 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.

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( Preferencesfor Mac).
Select Privacy and Securityfrom the left side.
From the Historysection, select Clear History.
Set the Time range to clear drop-down menu to Everything.
Place a check mark in the Cookiesand Cachecheck boxes; no other boxes need to be checked. If you recently changed your password and are having issues logging in, check Active Loginsas 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.

NOTEIf you’re on MacOS Monterey (12.6.8) or older, you may see Preferencesinstead.
Select Advancedin the Settings window.
Place a check in the Show features for web developers checkbox.

NOTEIf 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 Menubutton (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 dataand 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 Menubutton (three dots in the upper right-hand corner).
Select Settings.
Select Delete browsing data.
Check the boxes next to Cookies and site dataand Cached images and files.
Once the appropriate boxes are checked/unchecked, Delete browsing data.

Samsung Internet for Android

Open the Samsung Internetapp and press the Menubutton (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 dataand 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 Menubutton (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 Safariin 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 Chromeapp and press the Menubutton (three dots in the bottom right-hand corner).
Select Settings.
Scroll down and select Privacy and security.
Select Delete browsing data.
Select Time rangeand set to All time, then select Browsing data.
Select Cookies, site dataand Cached images and files,then Confirm.
Press Delete datathat appears at the bottom.

Firefox for iPhone/iPad

Open the Firefox app and press the Menubutton (three dots at the bottom right-hand corner).
Select Settings.
Select Data Managementin the Privacy section.
Select Cacheand 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 Edgeapp and select the Menubutton (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 dataand Cached images and files. Once you have everything that you want to clear checked, select Confirm.
Select Delete datato clear your browsing data.

How to Clear Your Cache and Cookies