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Connecting to Google: Troubleshooting basics

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Clearing a browser's cache and cookies can fix some of the problems that can occur while you're using the browser to view Google or other sites on the web.

If the browser you're using or that page you're viewing is displaying problems, first try clearing the browser's cache. If that doesn't fix the problem, next try clearing the browser's cookies.

The instructions for clearing the cache and cookies may be different for each browser and version. Here are the steps for several commonly used browsers and versions. To get started, click the browser you're using:

Google Chrome

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Tip To find the version, in Internet Explorer, click "Help," and then click "About Internet Explorer." If you don't see the "Help" menu, press "Alt" to show the menus.

1) Cache. First try clearing the browser cache for the version you're using:

Internet Explorer 7.x

  1. In Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" menu. If you don't see the "Tools" menu, press "Alt" to show the menus.
  2. Click "Internet Options."
  3. Click the "General" tab.
  4. Click the "Delete" button.
  5. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click "Delete Files."
  6. In the Delete Files dialog box, click "OK."
    Note: It can take several minutes for the cache history to be deleted.
  7. Click "OK" to close "Internet Options."

Internet Explorer 6.x

  1. In Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Internet Options."
  3. Click the "General" tab.
  4. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click "Delete Files."
  5. In the Delete Files dialog box, click "OK."
    Note: It can take several minutes for the cache history to be deleted.
  6. Click "OK" to close "Internet Options."

2) Cookies. If clearing the cache doesn't fix the problem, next you may want to try clearing the browser cookies.

Important! While deleting the browser cookies may fix the problem, it also removes your saved settings for sites you've previously visited.

Internet Explorer 7.x

  1. In Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" menu. If you don't see the "Tools" menu, press "Alt" to show the menus.
  2. Click "Internet Options."
  3. Click the "General" tab.
  4. Click the "Delete" button.
  5. In the Cookies section, click "Delete Cookies."
  6. In the "Delete Cookies" dialog box, click "OK."
  7. Click "OK" to close "Internet Options."

Internet Explorer 6.x

  1. In Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" menu. If you don't see the "Tools" menu, press "Alt" to show the menus.
  2. Click "Internet Options."
  3. Click the "General" tab.
  4. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click "Delete Cookies."
  5. In the "Delete Cookies" dialog box, click "OK."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Internet Options."

Mozilla Firefox

Tip To find the version, in Firefox: On Windows, click "Help," and then click "About Mozilla Firefox." On Max OS X, click "Firefox," and then click "About Mozilla Firefox."

1) Cache. First try clearing the browser cache for the version you're using:

Firefox 3.x for Windows

  1. In Firefox, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Options."
  3. Click "Advanced."
  4. Click the "Network" tab.
  5. In the Offline Storage section, click "Clear Now."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Options."

Firefox 3.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Firefox, click the "Firefox" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click "Advanced."
  4. Click the "Network" tab.
  5. In the Offline Storage section, click "Clear Now."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Preferences."

Firefox 2.x for Windows

  1. In Firefox, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Options."
  3. Click "Advanced."
  4. Click the "Network" tab.
  5. In the Cache section, click "Clear Now."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Options."

Firefox 2.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Firefox, click the "Firefox" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click "Advanced."
  4. Click the "Network" tab.
  5. In the Cache section, click "Clear Now."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Preferences."

2) Cookies. If clearing the cache doesn't fix the problem, next you may want to try clearing the browser cookies.

Important! While deleting the browser cookies may fix the problem, it also removes your saved settings for sites you've previously visited.

Firefox 3.x for Windows

  1. In Firefox, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Options."
  3. Click "Privacy."
  4. In the Cookies section, click "Show Cookies."
  5. In the Cookies dialog box, click "Remove All Cookies."
  6. Click "OK" to close the "Cookies" dialog box.
  7. Click "OK" to close "Options."

Firefox 3.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Firefox, click the "Firefox" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click "Privacy."
  4. In the Cookies section, click "Show Cookies."
  5. In the Cookies dialog box, click "Remove All Cookies."
  6. Click "OK" to close the "Cookies" dialog box.
  7. Click "OK" to close "Preferences."

Firefox 2.x for Windows

  1. In Firefox, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Options."
  3. Click "Privacy."
  4. In the Cookies section, click "Show Cookies."
  5. In the Cookies dialog box, click "Remove All Cookies."
  6. Click "OK" to close the "Cookies" dialog box.
  7. Click "OK" to close "Options."

Firefox 2.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Firefox, click the "Firefox" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click "Privacy."
  4. In the Cookies section, click "Show Cookies."
  5. In the Cookies dialog box, click "Remove All Cookies."
  6. Click "OK" to close the "Cookies" dialog box.
  7. Click "OK" to close "Preferences."

Apple Safari

Tip To find the version, in Safari: On Mac OS X, click "Safari," and then click "About Safari." On Windows, click "Help," and then click "About Safari."

1) Cache. First try clearing the browser cache for the version you're using:

Safari 3.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Safari, click the "Safari" menu.
  2. Click "Empty Cache."
  3. Click "Empty."

Safari 3.x for Windows

  1. In Safari, click the "Edit" menu.
  2. Click "Empty Cache."
  3. Click "Empty."

2) Cookies. If clearing the cache doesn't fix the problem, next you may want to try clearing the browser cookies.

Important! While deleting the browser cookies may fix the problem, it also removes your saved settings for sites you've previously visited.

Safari 3.x for Windows

  1. In Safari, click the "Safari" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click "Security."
  4. Click "Show Cookies."
  5. Click "Remove All."
  6. Click "Done" to close the Cookies list.
  7. Close the Preferences dialog box.

Safari 3.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Safari, click the "Edit" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click "Security."
  4. Click "Show Cookies."
  5. Click "Remove All."
  6. Click "Done" to close the Cookies list.
  7. Close the Preferences dialog box.

Opera

Tip To find the version, in Opera: On Windows, click "Help," and then click "About Opera." On Mac OS X, click "Opera," and then click "About Opera."

1) Cache. First try clearing the browser cache for the version you're using:

Opera 9.x for Windows

  1. In Opera, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click the "Advanced" tab.
  4. In the left-hand column, click "History."
  5. In the Disk cache section, click "Empty Now."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Preferences."

Opera 9.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Opera, click the "Opera" menu.
  2. Click "Preferences."
  3. Click the "Advanced" tab.
  4. In the left-hand column, click "History."
  5. In the Disk cache section, click "Empty Now."
  6. Click "OK" to close "Preferences."

2) Cookies. If clearing the cache doesn't fix the problem, next you may want to try clearing the browser cookies.

Important! While deleting the browser cookies may fix the problem, it also removes your saved settings for sites you've previously visited.

Opera 9.x for Windows

  1. In Opera, click the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click "Delete Private Data."
  3. Click "Detailed Options."
  4. Select "Delete all Cookies."
  5. Clear the check box for any of the other Private Data options that you don't want to delete.
  6. Click "Delete."

Opera 9.x for Mac OS X

  1. In Opera, click the "Opera" menu.
  2. Click "Delete Private Data."
  3. Click "Detailed Options."
  4. Select "Delete all Cookies."
  5. Clear the check box for any of the other Private Data options that you don't want to delete.
  6. Click "Delete."

Tip If the browser or version you're using isn't listed here, please see the browser's Help to get these instructions.

  

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