How to clear a web browser cache

Overview

In most web browsers, you can clear the cache from the Privacy or History area in the Settings or Options menu, depending on the browser. Ctrl+Shift+Del works with most browsers.
While that hotkey combo works in most non-mobile browsers, the exact steps involved in clearing your browser's cache depend entirely on what web browser you're using.

Why Do You Have to Clear Cache?
Some reasons you may need to clear the cache of your browser can include:

To retrieve the newest version of web page files available from the website, something that should happen automatically but sometimes does not.
If you're experiencing issues like "HTTP ERROR 500", “404 errors” or “502 errors” (among others), sometimes indications that your browser's cache is corrupted.
To recover disk space. The cache on some browsers can take up lots of space, even in the gigabyte range. This is especially helpful on mobile devices since they don't have as much storage as computers.

Regardless of why you might want to do it, clearing your cache is really easy to do in all the popular browsers in use today.

Chrome: Clear Browsing Data

In Google Chrome, clearing the cache is done via the Clear browsing data area in Settings.
Open a Google Chrome browser window and get to settings using the three dots menu in the upper right.
- Assuming you're using a keyboard, the quickest way to Clear browsing data is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut. Takes you to step 3.

Chrome for iOS (mobile browser):

Touch Chrome menu > Settings;
Touch Privacy;
Choose the data type you want to clear.
Touch Clear
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Microsoft Edge: Clear Browsing Data

In Microsoft's Edge browser, included in their newer versions of Windows, clearing the cache is done via the Clear browsing data menu.

Open a Microsoft Edge browser window.
The fastest way to the Clear browsing data menu is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut.
Select the items you wish to clear Download history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files,

4. Click Clear Now.

Alternatively, you can go through the menus to get to the information as well.

Click the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the browser.
Choose Settings.
From the navigation menu, select Privacy, search, and services.
Under Clear Browsing Data, click Choose What To Clear.
Select the items you wish to clear Download history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files,
Click Clear Now.

Mozilla Firefox: Clear All History

As with other browsers, the CTRL+Shift+Del option in an open Firefox browser window will display the Clear All History menu.

From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range; to clear your entire cache, select Everything.
Select Browsing & Download History, Active Logins, Form & Search History, Cookies, and Cache.
Click Clear Now.

Alternatively, you can go through the menus to get to the information as well.

Click the hamburger menu in the upper right corner of the browser.
Click Preferences (Mac) or Settings (PC).
Click Privacy & Security in the left menu bar.
Scroll to the History section.
Click Clear Your Recent History.
From the Time range to clear drop-down menu, select the desired range to clear your entire cache. Recommended: Everything.
Select Browsing & Download History, Active Logins, Form & Search History, Cookies, and Cache.
Click Clear Now.

Safari: Empty Caches

In Apple's Safari browser, clearing the cache is done via the Develop menu. Just tap or click Develop and then Empty Caches.
With a keyboard, clearing the cache in Safari is super easy with the Option-Command-E shortcut.

Tip: If you don't see Develop on your Safari menu bar, enable it via Preferences, then Advanced, followed by selecting the Show Develop menu in menu bar option. Windows users can delete all of Safari's stored data through the menu button and then Preferences... > Privacy > Remove All Website Data....

Safari Apple iOS (Mobile Browser) (applies to newest version of Mobile Safari for IOS):

Open your Settings app;
Tap Safari;
Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm;
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Internet Explorer: Delete Browsing History Note: If you are still using Internet Explorer, you need to update to another browser. Support for IE ended June 2022.

In Microsoft Internet Explorer, the browser that comes pre-installed on most Windows computers, clearing the cache is done from the Delete Browsing History area.
From here, check Temporary Internet files and website files and then click or tap Delete.
Like with other popular browsers, the fastest way to the Delete Browsing History settings is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut.
Another option is via the Tools button (the gear icon), followed by Safety and then Delete browsing history....

Tip: Internet Explorer often refers to the cache as temporary internet files but they're one in the same.

More About Clearing Caches in Web Browsers

Most browsers have at least basic cache management settings where, at a minimum, you can choose how much space you'd like the browser to use for cached website data.
Some browsers even let you choose to automatically clear cache, as well as other data that might contain private information, every single time you close the browser window.

Source: https://www.umassmed.edu/globalassets/human-resources/documents/how-to-clear-cache-in-every-major-browser.pdf