Caches are the temporary internet files your browser stores on your MAC. When you visit a website, your browser stores small parts of that website on your computer so that the next time when you visit the website again, your browser will have some of its data already stored on your computer, speeding up your overall browsing speed. This also frees up additional data bandwidth.
But as the time passes by, this cache data can build up to take a whole lot of space on your hard disk storage. Additionally, these temporary files stored by the browser can be accessed by anyone to see which websites you have been visiting, invading your privacy. Like caches, your browser also stores cookies, which are used by the websites to store bits of texts, your log in states, preferences, etc. giving detailed history of your internet usage. Cookies can also be used by advertising networks to target you with specific ads.
Sometimes, cache or the other temporary files can cause your browser to malfunction. Cache can get corrupted when not cleared for a long time causing your browser to slow down, or not work altogether. Issue can also be limited to a single website to will stop opening.
You can clear all this temporary data easily by the methods given below, freeing up disk space and clearing any evidence about any website you visited.
How to Clear Search History and Cache on Safari 8 and Later
Run Safari browser. Click on Safari in the menu bar. Click Clear History and Website Data.. in the drop down menu. Select your desired time in the drop down menu next to Clear: Click Clear History. All of your history and temporary files in Safari will be removed.
To remove only cache, Click Safari in the menu bar. Click Preferences in the drop down menu.
Click on Advanced. Now search for Show Develop menu in menu bar and place a checkmark on a box next to it.
Develop menu will now be available on the menu bar. Click it. Select Empty Caches from the drop down menu. To permanently disable cache (not recommended, as it will disable access to certain sites that requires cache) on Safari, click Disable Cache.
To do it via Terminal
Click Application > Utilities > Terminal to open a Terminal Window.
Type the following command and press Return to execute.
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Safari
touch ~/Library/Caches/Safari
Quit terminal and launch Safari.
How to Clear Search History and Cache on Safari 7 and Older Versions
Click on Safari on the menu bar, and click Reset Safari
In the Reset Safari window place a check on the data you want to remove from Safari, e.g. Clear History data, Remove all website data). Click Reset. Now restart Safari.
To remove only cache, Click Safari in the menu bar. and choose Empty Cache.
How to Clear Search History and Cache on Firefox
Run Firefox. Click on History on the menu bar and click Clear your recent history... in the drop down menu under history or press Shift + Command + Delete.
In the Clear Recent History window, next to Time range to clear: select the time span you want the data to be deleted from in the drop down menu. Select everything in the list remove any doubt if troubleshooting.
Click Details to expand and checkmark the stuff you want to be removed. Browsing & Download History and Cache can be also be checkmarked from the list only. Check all if troubleshooting.
Click Clear Now. All of your saved passwords, login details, cache, cookies, and history will be removed.
Restart Firefox.
How to Clear Search History and Cache on Google Chrome
Run Google Chrome. Click Menu button on the top right corner to open menu.
Click More Tools. Now click Clear Browsing Data or press Shift + Command + Delete.
A dialog box will appear. Types of information (e.g. cache images and files, browsing history, cookies) will be listed. Select the checkboxes for the type you want to remove. Select everything in the list remove any doubt if troubleshooting.
Select the time span since when you want to delete the temporary file next to Obliterate the following items from. Click on Clear browsing data. Items will be deleted. Now restart Chrome.
How to Clear Search History and Cache Using CCleaner
CCleaner is a highly rated and widely used freeware program which is specifically used to clean up your system by removing any and all temporary files that are safe to delete which of course includes cache files of any browser installed on your Mac.
Download Free CCleaner for Mac from this link : https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner-mac/download – Save and install CCleaner from the downloaded file.
After installation is complete, close all other applications then open CCleaner from its shortcut in Applications. Confirm and click Yes to any warning message. CCleaner will launch. Make sure all the items are ticked in the left pane, and click Analyze to start the analysis of temporary and excess files. After the analysis is complete, click Clean to start cleaning. After the cleaning is complete, reboot your Mac.
