4 Ways to Clear Firefox Cache

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-02 02:12

The cache is a collection of temporary internet files that your browser saves on your computer. These files contain website information that allows your browser to load pages faster when you visit them multiple times. However, if these files become corrupt or if they start slowing down your computer, you may decide to delete them. Here's what to do if Firefox is your default browser.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Method One: Delete the Cache Only Once

Step 1. Click the "Firefox" button

This button should be located in the upper left corner of the browser window.

• When you click on this button, a drop-down menu will appear.

  

  Step 2. Select "Options" from the drop down menu

  You will find "Options" in the right column of the two column drop down menu. Moving the mouse over that item, another submenu will appear. Click on "Options" at the top of this submenu.

  • Selecting "Options" will open the "Options" dialog.
  • Note that "Options" is only present on the PC version. For Mac users, "Options" is replaced by "Preferences".

  

  Step 3. Choose the "Advanced" panel

  Click the "Advanced" button at the far right of the "Options" window.

  • You should find eight buttons side by side arranged at the top of the "Options" window. Each button has a name and a corresponding icon. The "Advanced" icon looks like a gear.

  • Clicking on "Advanced" will open a separate tab within the window.

    

    Step 4. Switch to the "Network" tab

    The "Network" tab is the second of four tabs along the top of the Advanced panel.

    • These tabs are located just below the "Options" panel buttons.
    • The other tabs are "General", "Updates" and "Encryption".

    • There are many sections within the "Network" tab. These sections include "Connection", "Cached Web Content" and "Offline Data and User Information."

      

      Step 5. Click "Delete Now"

      This button is located under the "Cached Web Content" section of the "Network" tab.

      • Under the heading "Cached Web Content", Firefox should indicate how much disk space the cache is currently using. By clicking on the "Clear Now" button you should reset this amount.

      • Clicking "Clear Now" produces instant results. As soon as you click on this button, your cache will be cleared.

        

        Step 6. Click the "OK" button

        You can find this button at the bottom of the "Options" window.

        • Clicking "OK" will save the changes you have made and close the dialog box.

          Method 2 of 3: Method Two: Automatically Clear the Cache

          

          Step 1. Click the "Firefox" button

          The "Firefox" button is located in the upper left corner of the Firefox window.

          • Clicking on this button will open a two-column drop-down menu. This menu contains a number of browser settings options.

            

            Step 2. Double-select "Options" from the drop-down menu

            First select "Options" in the right column of the drop-down menu. Hovering over this word will bring up another side menu. Click on "Options" in this menu to open the "Options" dialog box.

            If you are using a Mac instead of a PC, you will find "Preferences" instead of "Options"

            

            Step 3. Choose the "Privacy" panel

            Click on the "Privacy" button in the center of the "Options" window.

            • You should find eight buttons side by side arranged at the top of the "Options" window. Each has a name and a corresponding icon. The "Privacy" panel icon is a mask.

            • Clicking the "Privacy" button will open a separate panel within the same dialog box.

            • The "Privacy" panel consists of two sections: "History" and "Address bar".

              

              Step 4. Edit the "History" settings

              At the top, in the "History" section, you will find "History settings" followed by a drop-down menu. Click the arrow next to this drop-down menu to open it and select "use custom settings".

              Note that if you don't select this option, your other history settings will remain greyed out, and you won't be able to change them

              

              Step 5. Check "Clear history when Firefox closes"

              This is the lowest box among all those that can be checked in the "History" section.

              Checking this box will automatically clear Firefox's internet history every time you close the browser

              

              Step 6. Click the "Settings" button

              Next to the "Clear history when Firefox closes" checkbox you will find the "Settings …" button.

              • Clicking on this button will open a new window. In this window you can decide which elements of the history to delete when the browser is closed.

                

                Step 7. Check the "Cache" button only

                If you want to clear the cache only, put the check mark next to "Cache" only.

                • Other history options include "Browsing history", "Download history", "Forms and searches", "Cookies" and "Signed in".

                • Data options include "Saved Passwords", "Offline Website Data" and "Website Preferences".

                  

                  Step 8. Click "OK" twice

                  Click the "OK" button in the "Settings for clearing history" window to save the settings and close the window. Click "OK" in the "Options" window to save the settings and close this window as well.

                  Method 3 of 3: Method Three: Clear the Entire History

                  

                  Step 1. Click the "Firefox" button

                  This button should be located in the upper left corner of the browser window.

                  Clicking on this button will open a two-column drop-down menu

                  

                  Step 2. Go to the "History" menu

                  Select "History" in the right column of the drop-down menu.

                  "History" should be the second entry in the second column. Hovering over that item should bring up a new side menu

                  

                  Step 3. Select "Clear recent history

                  .. ". This option is located at the top of the" History "submenu.

                  "Clear Recent History" is the second menu option. Clicking on it will open the "Clear recent history" window

                  

                  Step 4. Change the drop-down menu option to "All"

                  In the "Clear recent history" window, Firefox will ask you to select the "time interval to clear". Click on the arrow next to the drop-down menu and select "all" to clear the entire internet history.

                  The other options include "last hour", "last two hours", "last four hours" and "today". Selecting one of these options will allow you to clear only the history in that time frame. Any data before that interval will not be deleted

                  

                  Step 5. Click on the "Details" arrow

                  The "Clear Recent History" window also has a "Details" option with an arrow next to it. Click on this arrow to expand the options.

                  You can specify which parts of the internet history you want to delete thanks to these options

                  

                  Step 6. Select "Cache" and any other desired items

                  Check the box next to "Cache". Check the other boxes of the items you want to delete as well.

                  Other options include "Browsing and Download History", "Forms and Searches", "Cookies", "Logged In", "Offline Website Data" and "Website Preferences". Note that "Forms and Searches" may be greyed out, and you may not be able to select it

                  

                  Step 7. Click "Delete Now"

                  You can find the "Clear Now" button at the bottom of the "Clear Recent History" window.