Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Browsers 31 31 people found this article helpful

Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies

Clear them often to improve your web browser's performance

By Mary Landesman Mary Landesman Writer Brevard College Mary Landesman is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a security expert. She was named as one of the women to watch in IT security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 13, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Browsers Chrome Safari Firefox Microsoft

What to Know

Go to Tools (gear icon) > Internet Options. In Browsing history, select Delete. Select the checkboxes next to the files you want to delete.Limit cache size in the future: Go to Internet Options > Browsing history > Settings.Then, next to Disk space to use, lower the amount of memory IE uses to store temporary internet files. This article explains how to clear your Internet Explorer cache. If left unchecked, a burgeoning cache can slow IE to a crawl or cause other unexpected behaviors. Instructions apply to Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer and recommends that you update to the newer Edge browser. Head to their site to download the newest version.

How to Delete Temporary Files and Cookies

To delete temporary files or cookies, follow these steps. Open the Tools menu (the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen). The keyboard shortcut for the Tools menu is Alt+X. Select Internet options. In the Browsing history section, select Delete. Select the checkboxes next to the files you want to delete. Temporary internet files and cookies should be selected by default, but if you wish to preserve your saved passwords, for example, leave that check box empty. Now that the files and cookies are gone, minimize their impact going forward. In the Internet Options menu, go to Browsing history > Settings. Next to Disk space to use, lower the amount of memory IE uses to store temporary internet files. Microsoft recommends you set this number between 50 MB and 250 MB. Select OK to save your changes. Select OK to exit the Internet Options menu. You may need to restart the browser before the changes take effect. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Clear the Cache in IE11 How to Clear Cache in Windows 11 Manage Browsing History and Other Private Data in IE11 Where to Find Internet Explorer's Temporary Internet Files Improving Performance in Internet Explorer 11 How to Move IE Temporary Internet Files Folder to Default Location How to Delete Temporary Internet Files in Internet Explorer How to Clear Cookies for a Specific Site How to Delete Cookies in Every Major Browser How to Activate InPrivate Browsing Mode in IE 10 How to Manage AutoComplete in Internet Explorer 11 How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows How to Activate InPrivate Browsing Mode in IE How to Clear Your Internet Explorer History How to Remove Junk Files From Windows 11 How to Clear Internet Cache in Every Major Browser Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies