How do I clear the cache?

Knowledge Base Article ID: 13 ( Try another search )

Clearing the browser cache

Your computer's web browser temporarily stores images, text from Web pages, and other files on your hard drive in a storage area called a cache (pronounced "cash".) The cache is used to speed up file or web page access since the cached copy of a file can be retrieved locally from your computer instead of over the Internet. However, problems can occur if your web browser does not completely honor the cache protocol. If this occurs, you could be accessing old or out-of-date files. Clearing your cache will resolve this issue.

Below are directions for clearing your browser's cache. Please select your Operating System/Web browser. If you clear the cache and still have trouble using Headsprout, please contact techsupport@headsprout.com.

Macintosh	Windows
Internet Explorer	Internet Explorer
AOL:prior to v7, v7, v8, v9	AOL:prior to v7, v7
Netscape	Netscape
	CompuServe
Notice: If clearing your cache does not fix your problem, your browser may not be completely clearing the cache. Contact Headsprout Technical Support for assistance.

Macintosh

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Under the Edit menu click Preferences.
3. At the IE Preferences window, click Web Browser, then Advanced.
4. In the Cache box, click 'Empty Now'.
5. Click OK.

Firefox

1. Start Firefox.
2. Under the Firefox menu click Preferences.
3. At the Firefox Preferences window, click Privacy.
4. In the Cache box, click 'Clear'.
5. Click OK.

AOL Browsers (prior to version 7)

1. Start AOL.
2. On the My AOL menu on the AOL toolbar, click Preferences.
3. Under the Preferences menu, click WWW.
4. On the Advanced tab, click Settings.
5. In the Empty Folder section, click Yes.
6. Click OK.

AOL version 7 Browser

1. Start AOL.
2. On the blue-green Settings Menu within the AOL toolbar click on Preferences (the second option).
3. In the Preferences window, click on "Internet Properties (WWW)" (the fourth option in the third column).
4. On the General tab of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box, click on Settings, and make sure the "Amount of Disk Space to Use" is set to at least 50 MB. If the number already in there is greater than 50, then do not change it.
5. Click OK.
6. Now, within the Temporary Internet Files section of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box, click the button that says "Delete Files...".
7. In the next box that pops up, it doesn't matter if you choose to check "Delete all offline content" or not. Just click OK.
8. Click OK again (to exit the AOL Internet Properties dialog box).

AOL version 8 Browser

1. Start AOL.
2. On the blue-green Settings Menu within the AOL toolbar click on Preferences (the second option).
3. In the Preferences window, click on "Internet Properties (WWW)" (the fourth option in the third column).
4. On the General tab of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box, click on Settings, and make sure the "Amount of Disk Space to Use" is set to at least 50 MB. If the number already in there is greater than 50, then do not change it.
5. Click OK.
6. Now, within the Temporary Internet Files section of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box, click the button that says "Delete Files...".
7. In the next box that pops up, it doesn't matter if you choose to check "Delete all offline content" or not. Just click OK.
8. Click OK again (to exit the AOL Internet Properties dialog box).

AOL version 9 'Optimized' Browser

1. Start AOL.
2. On the AOL toolbar click on Settings icon.
3. In the AOL Settings window, click on "Essentials" tab.
4. In the "Essentials" tab, click on the "Internet [Web] Options" link.
5. A new window will appear titled "Internet Preferences / AOL Browser Settings".
6. On the right hand side of this window, look for the "Related Settings" section.
7. The "AOL Internet Properties" dialog box will appear.
8. Click on the "General" Tab.
9. In the Temporary Internet Files section of the General tab, click the button that says "Delete Files...".
10. In the next box that pops up, it doesn't matter if you choose to check "Delete all offline content" or not. Just click OK.
11. Click OK again (to exit the AOL Internet Properties dialog box).

Netscape

1. Start Netscape.
2. Under the Edit menu click Preferences.
3. In the Preferences window, Double Click Advanced.
4. Click Cache.
5. Click Clear Disk Cache.
6. Click OK.

Windows

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Under the Tools menu click Internet Options.
3. In the Internet Options window click on the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet Files section (Browsing History in IE7).
4. A pop up window will appear asking you if you want to 'Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files folder. Choose Yes.
5. Click OK.
6. Click OK again.

Firefox 3.0

1. Start Firefox.
2. Under the Tools menu click Options.
3. In the Firefox Options window select the Advanced tab.
4. Under Cache click the ‘Clear Now’ button.
5. Click OK.

Firefox 3.5/3.6

1. Start Firefox.
2. Under the Tools menu click Clear Recent History.
3. Place a check mark next to Cache.
4. Click the ‘Clear Now’ button.

AOL Browsers (prior to version 7)

1. Start AOL.
2. On the My AOL menu on the AOL toolbar, click Preferences.
3. In the Preferences window, click WWW.
4. On the Advanced tab, click Settings.
5. In the Empty Folder section, click Yes.
6. Click OK.

AOL version 7 Browser

1. Start AOL.
2. On the blue-green Settings Menu within the AOL toolbar click on Preferences (the second option).
3. In the Preferences window, click on "Internet Properties (WWW)" (the fourth option in the third column).
4. On the General tab of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box, click on Settings, and make sure the "Amount of Disk Space to Use" is set to at least 50 MB. If the number already in there is greater than 50, then do not change it.
5. Click OK.
6. Now, within the Temporary Internet Files section of the AOL Internet Properties dialog box, click the button that says "Delete Files...".
7. In the next box that pops up, it doesn't matter if you choose to check "Delete all offline content" or not. Just click OK.
8. Click OK again (to exit the AOL Internet Properties dialog box).

CompuServe Browser

1. Under Access, click Preferences.
2. In the Preferences window choose Internet Properties (www).
3. Under Temporary Internet Files click Delete Files.
4. A pop up window will appear asking you if you want to Delete all files in the Temporary Internet Files folder. Choose Yes.
5. Click OK
6. Click OK again

Netscape

1. Start Netscape.
2. Under the Edit menu click Preferences.
3. In the Preferences window, Double Click Advanced.
4. Click Cache.
5. Click Clear Disk Cache.
6. Click OK.

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Date last modified: 04/26/2010