Clearing the browser cache was simple in Safari, but the menu command is gone. However, you can still clear the cache, and do so more efficiently by clearing cache, cookies and other items on a per-website basis. You can also bring back the Empty Cache command. Clearing a website's cache and cookies is one way to fix things when a website starts misbehaving.
Frederick: Website data is stored in a few locations, depending on the type. Traditional cookies are found in /Users/(user)/Library/Cookies/Cookies.binarycookies but you should NOT try to work with that or the other files directly. Instead, use the technique I show in the video.
Linda
5 years ago
Just the information I have been looking for. I immediately used my new knowledge for a website I have trouble with. Unfortunately, It didn't work. For quite awhile now, I can not get to this one website on Safari but if I try on Chrome I can get straight to it. Do you have any other ideas as to why this is happening?
I think I figured it out. I decided to google xfinity internet account login and try what came up. That seems to work. So, probably the bookmarked link I was using was old, or had been changed. But, thanks for the nifty information about cache and cookies. I know it will come in handy.
David
5 years ago
If I use both iCloud Keychain and Lastpass to fill in usernames and passwords, is there any other reason besides login info that I should keep cookies and cache around and not just clear them all regularly?
David: It will probably slow you down and diminish the experience at many sites. Typically, when you log into a site you remain logged in a for a while -- a week, a month, etc. Clearing your cookies will basically log you out of everything. So for the next day or so you'll be logging in everywhere you go. It makes for a painful day where every little thing you "check" online requires a login. And some sites use website data for other things like remembering you preferences.
You may also want to ask the question "Is there any reason to clear them?"
sury
5 years ago
How is this different from Finder --> Go (with Option pressed)--> Library, and then clearing the Cache?
sury: I would not recommend that most users go poking around in their Library folder unless they know what they are doing. Also, the location of the Safari cache and cookies is not obvious. Plus, it doesn't allow you to clear out website data for just a a single site. So in all, it is probably a worse option in most situations.
Why do you have 2 entries for Wikipedia in the list and why didn't you remove both of them?
Jean-Claude: One is Wikipedia, the other is Wikimedia. If I had a reason to remove both, I would. I'm just demonstrating here.
Very useful and helpful. Thank you.
What is the MacOS path to the cookies?
Frederick: Website data is stored in a few locations, depending on the type. Traditional cookies are found in /Users/(user)/Library/Cookies/Cookies.binarycookies but you should NOT try to work with that or the other files directly. Instead, use the technique I show in the video.
Just the information I have been looking for. I immediately used my new knowledge for a website I have trouble with. Unfortunately, It didn't work. For quite awhile now, I can not get to this one website on Safari but if I try on Chrome I can get straight to it. Do you have any other ideas as to why this is happening?
Linda: What website?
Comcast/Xfinity
I think I figured it out. I decided to google xfinity internet account login and try what came up. That seems to work. So, probably the bookmarked link I was using was old, or had been changed. But, thanks for the nifty information about cache and cookies. I know it will come in handy.
If I use both iCloud Keychain and Lastpass to fill in usernames and passwords, is there any other reason besides login info that I should keep cookies and cache around and not just clear them all regularly?
David: It will probably slow you down and diminish the experience at many sites. Typically, when you log into a site you remain logged in a for a while -- a week, a month, etc. Clearing your cookies will basically log you out of everything. So for the next day or so you'll be logging in everywhere you go. It makes for a painful day where every little thing you "check" online requires a login. And some sites use website data for other things like remembering you preferences.
You may also want to ask the question "Is there any reason to clear them?"
How is this different from Finder --> Go (with Option pressed)--> Library, and then clearing the Cache?
sury: I would not recommend that most users go poking around in their Library folder unless they know what they are doing. Also, the location of the Safari cache and cookies is not obvious. Plus, it doesn't allow you to clear out website data for just a a single site. So in all, it is probably a worse option in most situations.