How to reset your web browser

Resetting Chrome

Warning: Resetting Chrome will reset your homepage, new tab page and search engine, disable your extensions, unpin all tabs, clear other temporary and cached data, such as cookies, content, and site data.

1. Select the Chrome menu (3 vertical dots or bars on the top right corner).
2. Select ‘Settings’ or type ‘about: settings’ in the address bar to open the Settings tab.
3. At the bottom of the page select ‘Advanced’.
4. Go down to the 'Reset'/'Reset and Clean Up' section.
5. Select ‘Reset’/'Restore settings to their original defaults'. A box will appear, select 'Reset settings' to confirm.
6. Close and reopen the browser to ensure the changes take effect.

Resetting Firefox

Warning: Resetting Firefox will save your bookmarks, browsing history, open tabs, windows, passwords, cookies, and web form auto-fill information. However, your extensions and themes will be removed, and your preferences will be reset.

1. Press 'Alt + H' on your keyboard to drop down the help menu, or in the browser address bar type in 'about: support'.
2. Select ‘Troubleshooting Information’; to open a new tab called Troubleshooting Information
3. Select ‘Refresh Firefox...’ in the right-hand corner. Select ‘Refresh Firefox’. Firefox will automatically close and reopen when this task is complete.

Resetting Internet Explorer

Warning: Resetting Internet Explorer will impact your stored history, cookies and cache, passwords, add-ons etc. It does not delete you favourites or bookmarks.

1. Press 'Alt + T' on your keyboard to bring up the ‘Tools’ menu.
2. Select ‘Internet options’.
3. Select the ‘Advanced’ tab.
4. Select the ‘Reset’ option under ‘Reset Internet Explorer settings’.
5. Make sure all windows are closed. A prompt will advise of this. Cannot proceed until all IE tabs are closed.
6. Ensure check box for ‘Delete personal settings’ is ticked.
7. Select ‘Reset’.
8. Select ‘Close’ when you see ‘4 green ticks’.
9. Restart your computer.

Resetting Safari 6 and 7

1. Select the ‘Safari’ menu.
2. Select ‘Reset Safari’.
3. Ensure all check boxes are ticked.
4. Select ‘Reset’.
5. Safari will now close and reopen automatically.

Resetting Safari 8 and 9

The reset function is unavailable, and the following is the closest process available:

1. Select the ‘Safari’ menu.
2. Select ‘Preferences’.
3. Select ‘Privacy’.
4. Select ‘Remove all website data’.
5. Select ‘Remove now’.
6. Close browser and reopen to ensure changes take effect.

Resetting Safari 10 and onwards

Follow the instructions on how to clear the cache and cookies in your web browser specific to Safari.

Step by step instructions on resetting your web browser, by browser type.