Clearing Your Cookies After a Drupal Core Update

Any Drupal installation is made of three essential parts: core, content, and design. The Drupal core is all the files that are required for the system to function. That includes connection to the database and any backend functions. The content and design are what they sound like. Content is the part of your site that says what you have to say and the design is what your site looks like.

Every so often core needs to be updated. Sometimes for new features, but usually for security updates. When this happens, it's a good idea (and sometimes necessary) to clear your browser's cache to be able to login again or access specific areas.

There are hundreds of different browsers. Here are the most popular and how to clear the cookies/cache for each.

Click on your favorite to get started:

Internet Explorer 7/8

Step 1 - Start Your Browser

If you don't already have your browser open (which would make it difficult to read this), open Internet Explorer in one of the many ways possible - double-click the icon on your desktop, click the icon in the system tray, or select it from Start > All Programs > Internet Explorer

Step 2 - Open the Internet Options

Select Internet Options from the File menu under Tools. If you don't see the File menu, press the Alt key on your keyboard.

Step 3 - Delete Browsing History

Once the Internet Options dialog is open, find the section titled "Browsing History" on the "General" tab. Make sure it looks like the one below and click the "Delete..." button.

Step 4 - History Deletion Settings

Make sure to uncheck "Preserve Favorites website data" and check "Temporary Internet files," "Cookies," and "History." The rest may remain unchecked.

Step 5 - Delete and Wait

Press "Delete" and wait. When the status bar goes away, you're done!

Firefox

Step 1 - Start Your Browser

If you don't already have your browser open (which would make it difficult to read this), open Firefox in one of the many ways possible - double-click the icon on your desktop, click the icon in the system tray, or select it from Start > All Programs > Mozilla Firefox > Mozilla Firefox

Step 2 - Open the Options Dialog

Select Options from the File menu under Tools.

Step 3 - The Privacy Tab

Navigate to the "Privacy" tab. This is where all of Firefox's history, cookie, and bookmark settings reside.

Step 4 - Settings for Deleting the Cookies/History

Click on the text link "clear your recent history." A dialog will ask you to select a time range to clear. Generally, you will need to choose "Everything."

Step 5 - Delete and Wait

Press "Clear Now" and wait. Congratulations, you're done!

Safari

Step 1 - Start Your Browser

If you haven't already opened your browser, open Safari in one of the many ways possible - double-click the icon on your desktop, click the icon in the system tray/dock, or select it from Start > All Programs > Safari (Applications > Safari on a Mac)

Step 2 - Open the Preferences Dialog

Select Preferences under Edit in the File menu (Safari menu on a Mac). If you don't see the file menu, simply press Alt on your keyboard to reveal it.

Step 3 - The Security Tab

Navigate to the "Security" tab. This is where all of Safari's history, cookie, and bookmark settings reside.

Step 4 - Settings for Deleting the Cookies

Click on the button labeled "Show Cookies." Clicking this button will open a screen with a large listing of cookies on your computer. Don't worry, it's not as intimidating as it looks at first glance.

Step 5 - Select All or Select a Few and be Done

Once in the cookies menu, you can do one of two things. You can delete all cookies at once, or select the cookies for your site and delete only those. To delete all cookies, simply click "Remove all." To delete only your cookies, search for your domain (eg: flitehaus.com), select them, and then click "Remove." That's it. You're done!

iOS

The iOS (iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone) has one of the easiest processes for clearing history and cookies. For convenience, the iPhone/iPod Touch screens have been inset within the iPad screen below.

Step 1 - Settings App

Select the "Settings" app from your main screen. You will recognize it by its icon with gears.

Step 2 - Selecting Safari

The iOS comes bundled with the Safari web browser. Select "Safari" from the settings menu to see all of Safari's settings.

Step 3 - Clear Broswer History

On the Safari settings menu, select "Clear History," "Clear Cookies," and "Clear Cache" in any order you desire. Simply confirm for each that you are sure you want to clear them and you're done!

Other Browsers

There are many other browsers (Opera, Chrome, and many more), but the process is usually very similar. When in doubt, look for "options" in the file menu and find history settings to clear them.