How to clear the Java cache on Mac

Last updated: July 19, 2016 

How to clear the Java cache on Mac

When you clear your web browser’s cache of temporary Internet files, you force the latest version of a web page to load. In much the same fashion, when you clear the Java cache on Mac, it forces the browser to load the latest version of Java content. The “cache” is a location on your computer where files you have loaded are temporarily stored so they load faster when you need them again. Files can accumulate in the various caches, and you may have a need to load a new copy of the file. The way to do that is to clear the cache of those temporary files. Here’s how to clear the Java cache on Mac computers.

First, it is always a good practice to make sure you are using the latest version of Java.

Clear the Java Cache on Mac in 6 Steps

1. Launch the Java Control Panel from under System Preferences. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.

clear the Java cache on Mac

2. Double-click the Java icon under System Preferences.

clear the Java cache on Mac

3. The Java Control Panel will display. Under the General tab, click Settings in the Temporary Internet Files section.

clear the Java cache on Mac

4. Temporary Files Settings displays in a separate dialog. Click the Delete Files button.

clear the Java cache on Mac

5. Delete Files and Applications displays in a separate dialog. Click the check box for all items listed, then click OK in the Delete Files and Applications window.

clear the Java cache on Mac

Note: Clicking OK permanently deletes all of the downloaded Java applications and Java applets from the Java cache.

6. Click OK in the Temporary Files Settings window to close the window.  To close the Java Control Panel window, click the Apply button, then click the OK button.

Finally, reload the web browser window that contains the Java content. This will load a new copy of the content.

Java is a free software developed by Oracle Corporation, and also a programming language.  When you download and install the free Java software, you are installing the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), including the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).  When referring to “Java” in this article, we are referring to JRE, which is a web browser plug-in required to load Java content in your web browser.

Also see: How to clear the Java cache on Windows.

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