Cummings Graduate Institute

Menu

    Clear your browser's cache to maximize speed and performance.

    Clear your cookies to removed old, saved passwords that can cause login issues.

    When using the Internet, a cache on your computer stores copies of web pages you have visited in order to increase retrieval time in the future. These storage areas called caches (pronounced ‘cash’) are intended to make Internet browsing faster.  When you go to the site again, your browser will load it from the cache copy rather than downloading it all over again from the Internet. This process aims to speed up your overall browsing experience. 

    The cache contains cookies and browsing history.

    A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a web site, that is stored on a computer. These files typically store user-specific information such as selections in a form, shopping cart contents, or authentication data. Browsers will normally clear cookies that reach a certain age, but clearing them manually may solve problems with web sites or your browser.

    A browser's history is a log of sites that you visit. When you press a browser's Back button, you are moving back one entry in the history log. Browsers will normally clear history at regular intervals, but you may want to clear it manually for privacy reasons.

    Fixing Browser Errors

    There are times when your cache can cause problems when you use your browser. For example, you may find that certain websites are slow to load, will not open, return an error message, hang at a certain point or otherwise refuse to respond as they should. In many cases, you can fix these kinds of errors by clearing your cache before closing and reopening your browser.

    For those reasons, a good first step whenever you encounter an issue is to clear your browser cache. It won’t always fix the issue – but it is an important first diagnostic step to rule out before you assume that a more complicated issue is causing problems.

     

    Clearing Your Cache

    Clearing the cache of your computer must be done in individual browsers.

    Still having issues?

    Login issues can also be caused by old passwords saved in the browser's Passwords or Autofill settings.  This is separate from saved passwords in your cookies and must be cleared or updated separately.