If your web development team has ever made a change to the files that comprise your live website, they may have asked you to “clear your cache” afterwards.
Apart from cleaning junk, it also acts as a file manager, a memory booster and an intelligent photo analyzer that removes bad quality or duplicate photos. How to clean cache in Android? Cache memory is a very specific high-speed memory and it used reduces the average time to access the data from the main memory. Cache mainly used for cache clients by the Web browser, Application, operating system, and CPU.
Well, what the heck does that mean?
(Editor's note: Updated July 2014 with new instructions.)
What is my 'cache' and why should I clear it?
Any sophisticated website you visit is actually a composition of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of files. Even websites supremely optimized for speed are likely loading tons of files at once to display content in your browser.
Browsers try to do their part to speed up the loading process. The first time you visit a site, your browser will “save” pieces of the site. Because your browser can display the files stored in its cache much faster than it can pull fresh files from a server, the next time you visit that site, the use of cached files will help cut down page load time.
It sounds like cache is a good thing, why have you asked me to remove those saved files?
Many times web developers have to make updates to the files that comprise your site in order to push a change or new feature live. If we change a file that your browser has cached, it’s going to keep serving the old, cached version of the file and you won’t see our most recent change. That’s why we ask you to clear your cache.
How do I clear my cache?
The process of clearing cache differs from browser to browser. Generally speaking, look for an option to delete cache or temporary files in your browser’s administrative settings.
Instructions for clearing cache in Internet Explorer
If you have Internet Explorer 9 or 10 click the gear icon in the top right.
- Go to Internet Options.
- On the General tab under Browsing History, select 'Delete.'
- Select only 'Temporary Internet Files.'
- Click the 'Delete' button.
In Internet Explorer 7 or 8:
- Go to Tools > Internet Options.
- On the General Tab under Browsing History, select 'Delete Files.'
- Delete Temporary Internet Files.
Instructions for clearing cache in Firefox
- Go to Tools > Clear Recent History or Clear Private Data.
- Select only “cache.”
- For “Time Range to Clear,” choose 'Everything.'
- Select 'Clear Now.'
Instructions for clearing cache in Chrome
- Click on the Settings button in the top right of the browser. (It looks like a wrench or three horizontal lines).
- Select Clear Browsing Data. (In later versions of Chrome, go to Tools > Clear Browsing Data).
- Select only 'Empty the Cache.'
- In the dropdown that reads 'Obliterate the following items from' select 'the beginning of time.'
- Click the 'Clear Browsing Data' button.
Instructions for clearing cache in Safari
- Go to Develop > Empty Caches.
Looking for a shortcut?
Cache Memory Cleaner
If you’re a fan of using keyboard shortcuts to get around, Control, Shift, Delete (for Windows) or Command Shift Delete (for Mac) will open the configuration pane to clear cache in any browser.
What do I do after I’ve cleared my cache?
Remember, after clearing your cache in any browser, refresh the page you are viewing so your browser has a chance to grab the fresh files.
[photo credit: Ervins Strauhmanis via photopincc]
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Say, I'm diggin' that keyboard shortcut. Not something I had taken the time to figure out myself. Thanks!
Cache Memory Cleaning In Linux
Like every operating system, Windows also stores different kinds of cache files on the hard drive. In simple words, cache files are temporary files that are stored on the memory to make it easier for you to access frequently used data. The cache data utilize lots of hard drive space of your computer. Deleting cache files is necessary for the smooth running of the system. Cache memory is responsible for various kinds of computer problems, including slow processing speed, slow startup, lag or hang, application responding, and many others. If you don't know how to clear memory cache on your Windows computer then, the solution to your problem is here. Here in this post, we will talk about How to clear memory cache on Windows computers.
5 Ways to Clear Memory Cache on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP
It is necessary to clear cache the memory to fully utilize your CPU power. Cache memory causes lots of problems by occupying a huge amount of computer RAM (Random Access Memory). That's why it is always recommended to clearing memory cache from your Windows computer to get optimum performance. Cache memory is something that is really useful to give you better performance. It helps the application to load faster as compared to load the app without cache data. Here below are some methods that will help you to clear memory cache in Windows 10/8/7/Vista/ and XP.
Method 1: Create Clear Memory Cache Shortcut
This is one of the easiest solutions to clear memory cache on the Windows operating system. This method is completely free; you don't have to install any third-party paid tool to clear the memory cache. Below are some steps to clear memory cache on Windows.
Step 1: First of all, you have to turn on your computer and right-click on the desktop.
Step 2: Here, you will have a couple of options. Click on 'Shortcut' under the New option.
Cache Memory Clean Up Software
Step 3: Create a Shortcut wizard will appear, you have to click Browse to locate the directory. Or you can simply type '%windir%system32rundll32.exe advapi32.dll, ProcessIdleTasks' without quotes on the text field of 'Type the location of the item'.
Step 4: Once the above process is completed, you have to click on 'Next' button to proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Now, you have to type a name for this shortcut. Here, we are typing 'Clear Unused RAM' and hit on the 'Next' button.
Once the shortcut is created, switch to the desktop and double-click on the shortcut to clear memory cache on Windows.
Method 2: Clear General Cache
Disk Cleanup is an integrated feature of Microsoft Windows that enables the user to clean unwanted files. Getting engaging with this feature, you can remove temporary files, unwanted files, preview windows installation files, and much more. You just have to choose the disk and start the deleting process. Here below are steps to clear the memory cache using disk cleanup.
Step 1: At the first step, you have to click on the 'Start' button and type 'disk cleanup' in the search field and hit the 'Enter' button.
Step 2: Now, Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection dialog box will appear. You have to choose the drive from where you would like to clear the memory cache.
Step 3: Now, click on the 'OK' button. It will start the scanning process and shows you how much space is occupied by the cache.
Step 4: You have to tick the checkbox which you would like to clean. If you want to clean system files then, you can click on the 'Clean up system files' otherwise, hit on the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window.
Step 5: Once the above process is completed, you can click on 'Delete Files' if prompted. It will start deleting cache files from places including recycling bin, Thumbnails, and many other places.
Method 3: Clear App Data File to Clear Memory Cache
Step 1: At the first step, you have to click on the 'Start' button or hit on the 'Windows' key and click on 'Computers' to open My Computer.
Step 2: My Computer window will appear; if you don't see My Computer, then manually type 'My Computer' in the start and hit the 'Enter' button.
Step 3: Once the above process is completed, you have to click on the 'Organize' tab in the top left corner of the window.
Step 4: Then, choose 'Folder and search options' under the organize drop-down menu.
Step 5: a Folder options dialog box will appear with 3 tabs; click on the view tab.
Step 6: Now, you have to click on 'Show Hidden files, folder, and drives' radio button under the 'Hidden files and folders'.
Step 7: Click on the 'OK' button at the button of the window.
Step 8: Once the above process is successfully completed, you have to open the hard disk where windows are installed.
Step 9: Now, you have to open the 'Users' folder by double-clicking on it. Then, click on the folder with an administrator account.
Step 10: You have to locate the 'AppData' folder and open it by double-clicking and open the 'Local' folder.
Step 11: Now, you have to select the 'Temp' folder and open it.
Step 12: Remove the read-only permissions from the Temp folder.
Step 13: You have to select all files that are placed in the Temp folder. You can press 'Ctrl' + 'A' to select all files.
Step 14: Once the files are selected, Press 'Shift' + 'Delete' button simultaneously to permanently delete all temp files.
Method 4: Delete Internet Explorer Files to Clear Memory Cache
Step 1: First of all, click on the 'Start' button and type 'Internet Explorer' in the text field and press the 'Enter' button.
Step 2: Internet Explorer web browser window will appear, you have to click on the 'General' tab at the top of the window.
Step 3: Now, you have to click on the 'Settings' under the browsing history section.
Step 4: Then, click on 'View files' at the screen's bottom right side. Once the above process is completed, a new window will appear with all cached files created by Internet Explorer.
Step 5: You have to press the 'Ctrl' + 'A' button simultaneously to select all the cache files.
Step 6: Now, you have to press the 'Shift' + 'Delete' button to remove all cached files permanently.
Method 5: Clear the DNS Cache
Step 1: Initially, you have to click on the 'Start' menu by clicking on the Start button at the bottom left of the screen.
Step 2: Now, type command prompt and hit the Enter button to launch. You can also open a command prompt by right click on Command prompt and run as administrator.
Step 3: On the command prompt, you have to type 'ipconfig /flushdns' without quotes and press the'Enter' button.
Step 4: You have to wait for a couple of seconds and be notified when completed. Once it is successfully completed, you have to restart your computer to makes changes.