Clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history

• Before you begin
  • Troubleshooting alternatives
• Mobile browsers
  • Android
  • Chrome for Android
  • Safari for iOS
  • Chrome for iOS
• Desktop browsers
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Opera
  • Safari 8 and later (macOS)

Before you begin

Clearing your web browser's cache, cookies, and history may remove data such as the following:

• Saved passwords
• Address bar predictions
• Shopping cart contents, etc.

While you should clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history periodically in order to prevent or resolve performance problems, you may wish to record some of your saved information first. If you are unable to do so, see Troubleshooting alternatives below.

For details about browser cache, cookies, and history, see:

• Web cache 
• HTTP cookie 
• Web browsing history 

Troubleshooting alternatives

If you need to clear your cache, cookies, and history for troubleshooting purposes, but aren't yet prepared to lose the content listed above, you may wish to consider using a private browsing window in your preferred browser as a temporary solution:

• Private Browsing  (Firefox)
• Browse in private with Incognito mode  (Chrome desktop and Android)
• Browse InPrivate in Microsoft Edge 
• Browse privately  (Safari)
• Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch 

Mobile browsers

Android

The steps to clear your cache, cookies, and history may differ depending on the model of your Android device and your preferred browser, but you should be able to clear your cache and data from your application management settings menu:

1. Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
2. Swipe to the All tab.
3. In the list of installed apps, find and tap your web browser. Tap Clear Data and then Clear Cache.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for Android

1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
2. Tap (Advanced) Privacy.
3. From the "Time Range" drop-down menu, select All Time.
4. Check Cookies and Site data and Cached Images and Files.
5. Tap Clear data.
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari for iOS

1. Open your Settings app.
2. Tap Safari.
3. Scroll to the bottom and select Advanced, then select Website Data and confirm.
4. In the serach box type "nhsp.uk", the list is now filtered, swipe left on nhsp.uk and choose delete.
5. Repeat the above step for "nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk"
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for iOS

1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
2. Tap Privacy.
3. Tap Clear Browsing Data.
4. Choose the data type you want to clear.
5. Tap Clear Browsing Data.
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Desktop browsers

Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome browser and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Apple Mac). If this doesn't work, follow the menu instructions below.
2. In the browser bar, enter:

    chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

3. At the top of the "Clear browsing data" window, click Advanced.
4. Select the following:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files

   From the "Time range" drop-down menu, you can choose the period of time for which you want to clear cached information. To clear your entire cache, select All time.

5. Click CLEAR DATA.
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Firefox

1. Open Firefox browser and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Apple Mac). If this doesn't work, follow the menu instructions below.
2. From the History menu, select Clear Recent History.

   If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make it visible.

3. From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select Everything.
4. Under the Histroy option, select Cookies, Cache, Forms & Search History.
5. Under the Data option, select Offline Website Data.
6. Click OK.
7. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge browser and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Apple Mac). If this doesn't work, follow the menu instructions below.
2. In the top right, click the icon with 3 dots underneath the "X" for closing the browser.
3. Click the History icon (looks like a clock), and then select Clear browsing data.
4. Select Cookies and other site data, and then Cached images and files. Click Clear now.
5. After the "All Clear!" message appears, exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Internet Explorer 11

1. Open I browser and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Apple Mac). If this doesn't work, follow the menu instructions below.
2. Select Tools > Delete browsing history....

   If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make it visible.

3. Deselect Preserve Favorites website data, and select:
   • Temporary Internet files or Temporary Internet files and website files
   • Cookies or Cookies and website data
   • Form data
4. Click Delete. You will see a confirmation at the bottom of the window when the process is complete.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Opera

1. From the Opera menu, select Settings, then Privacy & Security, and then Clear browsing data....
2. In the dialog box that opens, from the "Obliterate the following items from:" drop-down menu, select The beginning of time.
3. Select the following:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
4. Click Clear browsing data.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari 8 and later

1. From the Safari menu, select Clear History... or Clear History and Website Data....
2. Select the desired time range, and then click Clear History.
3. Go to Safari > Quit Safari or press Command-Q to exit the browser completely.