How to Clear Cache and Cookies Chrome

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In this long and comprehensive guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about clearing your cache and cookies in Google Chrome in 2023.

Clearing your browser data is an important maintenance task that can help speed up page loading, protect your privacy, and fix browser issues. With Chrome being the most widely used browser globally, it’s essential for users to understand how to properly clear the cache and cookies.

We will cover the following topics in detail:

  • What are the cache and cookies in Chrome?
  • Why you should clear cache and cookies
  • How cache And cookies work?
  • Step-by-step instructions to clear cache and cookies
    • On desktop
    • On Android
    • On iPhone/iPad
  • Deleting cache and cookies for a specific site
  • Setting up automatic cache and cookie clearing
  • Using Chrome’s incognito mode
  • Alternative ways to clear cache on Chrome
  • Keyboard Shortcut for Most Browsers
  • Troubleshooting guide
  • What happens after you clear this info
  • How do I clear my web browser’s cache, cookies, and history?
  • What is the Browser Cache?
  • FAQs

Let’s get right into it!

What Are Cache and Cookies in Chrome?

Before learning how to clear them, it’s important to understand what cache and cookies actually are.

What is Cache?

Cache refers to temporary files stored by Chrome to load websites faster on subsequent visits. It includes images, documents, and other media files that are downloaded when you visit a website.

Clearing cache deletes these temporary internet files and forces Chrome to re-download everything the next time you visit that site.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files created by websites you visit in order to store information about your preferences and browsing behavior. For example, cookies help websites remember your login credentials, items added to your cart, or your preferences.

Clearing cookies will delete this tracking data and sign you out of websites you are logged into.

Why Should You Clear Cache and Cookies?

Here are some of the main reasons you should periodically clear your Chrome cache and cookies:

  • Speed Up Page Loading: Over time, your cache builds up with unnecessary files that can slow down your browsing experience. Clearing it removes these temporary files and speeds up loading times.
  • Free Up Disk Space: Cache and cookie files take up valuable hard drive space. Deleting them frees up room, especially helpful if you have limited disk space.
  • Protect Privacy: Cookies can track your browsing habits, preferences and login information across websites. Clearing them regularly can help protect your privacy.
  • Fix Page Loading Issues: Sometimes pages may not load properly due to outdated cached files. Clearing the cache forces Chrome to freshly re-download files.
  • Resolve Browser Problems: Cache corruption or overloaded cookies can sometimes cause Chrome to freeze, crash or run slowly. Clearing them fixes many common browser issues.
  • Remove Harmful Files: Your cache may have downloaded malware or other unwanted files that get automatically cleared when you delete the cache.

As a best practice, aim to clear your Chrome cache and cookies every 4-6 weeks for optimal browser performance.

How Cache and Cookies Work?

Here is an explanation of how cache and cookies work in Chrome:

How Cache Works

  • When you first visit a website, Chrome downloads all the necessary files like HTML, JavaScript, CSS, images, etc.
  • These downloaded files are stored locally on your computer in the Chrome cache folder.
  • On subsequent visits, instead of re-downloading everything, Chrome loads the locally cached copies of these files to speed up page load times.
  • The cached files act as a temporary storage space for quick access on future site visits.
  • Over time, the cache builds up with outdated or unnecessary files that can slow down performance. Hence clearing it periodically is needed.

How Cookies Work

  • When you visit a website, it can place a small text file called a cookie in your browser.
  • Cookies store data like your site preferences, login info, shopping cart items, etc.
  • When you return to that site later, the browser sends back the cookie data so you don’t have to re-enter preferences or sign in again.
  • Cookies allow sites to remember your activity across visits. They can track data for analytics or targeting.
  • If cookies are cleared, this tracking data gets erased and sites will treat you like a new visitor again.
  • Persistent cookies recreate themselves when you revisit sites, while session cookies expire after you close the tab or browser.

So in summary, cache enables faster page loads while cookies remember customized user data across site visits. Clearing them provides a fresh browsing experience.

How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Desktop Chrome

Clearing your Chrome cache and cookies is a simple process that only takes a few clicks. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Open Chrome

Launch the Chrome browser on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer.

2. Click on the 3 Dot Menu

At the top-right of the browser window, click on the 3 vertical dots to open Chrome’s menu.

3. Select Settings

From the menu, select the “Settings” option to open Chrome’s settings page.

4. Click Advanced

In the left sidebar menu, scroll down and click the “Advanced” section.

5. Choose Privacy and Security

Under “Advanced”, click on the “Privacy and security” option.

6. Click Clear Browsing Data

Under “Privacy and security”, click on the blue “Clear browsing data” button. This will open the data clearing interface.

7. Select Cache and Cookies

Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” to select clearing cache and cookies specifically.

You can also check other data types if you want a full reset.

8. Choose Time Range

Use the dropdown menu to choose the time range for data you want to delete. Select “All time” to fully clear your cache and cookies.

9. Click Clear Data

Once you’ve chosen cache, cookies and the time period, click the blue “Clear data” button at the bottom to confirm and delete.

And that’s it! Chrome will now delete your cached files and cookies. You may need to re-login to websites and wait for pages to re-download fresh files when you visit them again.

How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Android

Use these steps to easily clear the Chrome cache and cookies from your Android device:

1. Open the Chrome App

Launch the Google Chrome app on your Android smartphone or tablet.

2. Tap the 3 Dot Menu

Tap on the 3 vertical dot icon in the top right corner to open Chrome’s menu.

3. Choose Settings

Select the “Settings” option from the menu.

4. Go to Site Settings

Scroll down and tap on “Site settings” on the Settings page.

5. Select Storage

Under Site Settings, choose “Storage” to manage stored data.

6. Tap Clear Data

On the Storage screen, tap on “Clear data” to open the deletion popup.

7. Check Cache and Cookies

Make sure “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and site data” are checked. You can also select any other data to remove.

8. Tap Clear Data

Review your selections and tap on the “Clear data” button at the bottom to confirm.

Chrome will now erase the selected cached files and cookies from your Android device. Just like on desktop, pages may need to re-download content on your next visit.

And that’s it! With these simple steps, you can easily clear the Chrome cache and cookies from your Android smartphone or tablet.

How to Clear Cache and Cookies on iPhone and iPad

Follow these instructions to delete the cache and cookies from Chrome on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch:

1. Open the Chrome App

Launch the Chrome app on your iOS device – iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

2. Tap the 3 Dot Menu

Tap on the “3 dots” icon on the bottom right to open the menu.

3. Choose Settings

Select “Settings” from the menu to open Chrome’s iOS settings.

4. Tap Advanced

Scroll down and tap on the “Advanced” section on the Settings page.

5. Select Website Data

Under Advanced, choose “Website Data” to manage stored data.

6. Tap Clear Website Data

On the Website Data screen, tap on “Clear Website Data” to open the deletion popup.

7. Check Cache and Cookies

Make sure “Cookies, Cache” is selected so cookies and cached files will be cleared.

8. Tap Clear Website Data

Review your selections and tap “Clear Website Data” again to confirm deletion of the data.

That’s it! Chrome on your iPhone/iPad will now erase the selected cache files and cookies. You’ll have to re-login to sites and wait for fresh page reloads after clearing this website data.

How to Delete Cache and Cookies for Specific Sites

Instead of fully clearing your Chrome cache and cookies, you can also delete them for specific websites only. Here’s how:

1. Open Chrome Settings

Launch Chrome and access the Settings page (steps 1-4 from the desktop section above).

2. Click Site Settings

Under Advanced, select the “Site Settings” option.

3. Select Cookies and Site Data

On Site Settings, click on “Cookies and site data”.

4. Search for Website

On this page, search for the website whose cookies/data you want to remove.

5. Click Remove

Next to the site, click on the trash can icon to “Remove” the cookies and cached files.

6. Confirm Deletion

Click “Remove data” to confirm clearing only that site’s cookies and cache.

That’s it! Doing this lets you selectively delete tracking data and speed up specific sites while keeping other cookies intact.

How to Set Up Auto Cookie and Cache Clearing

Instead of manually clearing your Chrome data, you can set up automatic deletion with these steps:

1. Open Chrome Settings

Launch Chrome settings and go to the “Privacy and security” page (see steps 1-6 in the desktop section above).

2. Enable Cookies/Cache Cleaning

Turn on the switches for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”.

3. Pick Deletion Period

Use the dropdown menus to select how often you want Chrome to automatically clear this data.

For example, “Every 7 days” will delete the cache/cookies weekly.

4. Save Changes

Make sure to click “Done” to save the automatic deletion settings.

That’s it! Now Chrome will regularly clear out your old cache and cookies without you having to remember.

How to Use Chrome’s Incognito Mode

Chrome’s Incognito Mode allows you to browse the web privately without saving any browsing history or website data like cookies. Here’s how it works:

1. Open New Incognito Window

Click the 3-dot menu > New Incognito window or press Ctrl+Shift+N (Cmd+Shift+N on Mac).

2. Browse in Incognito

A new window opens where you can browse the web normally.

3. Close Window When Done

Once finished browsing privately, close the incognito window. None of your history, cache or cookies will be saved.

Incognito is perfect for browsing sites where you don’t want to be tracked with cookies. Just remember to fully close the window when you’re done to eliminate all private browsing traces.

Alternative Ways to Clear Cache in Chrome

Beyond directly deleting it in the browser, here are a couple alternative options to clear the Chrome cache:

  • Uninstall/Reinstall Chrome: Uninstalling and reinstalling the browser will wipe the cache completely.
  • Use Storage Cleaner Apps: Download a storage cleaning app for your device OS that can find and delete the Chrome cache files.
  • Delete Cache Folder: Navigate to the Chrome cache folder location on your hard drive and manually delete the files:
    • Windows – C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
    • Mac – ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Cache
    • Linux – ~/.config/google-chrome/Default/Cache
  • Use Command Prompt/Terminal: On Windows/Mac/Linux you can use the command line to locate and delete Chrome’s cache data.

These methods can help delete the cache if you’re having trouble clearing it directly through the browser.

Keyboard Shortcut for Most Browsers

Here are the keyboard shortcuts to clear cache and cookies in the most popular browsers:

Google Chrome

  • Clear Cache: Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac)
  • Clear Cookies and Site Data: Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac)

Mozilla Firefox

  • Clear Cache: Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac)
  • Clear Cookies and Site Data: Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac)

Microsoft Edge

  • Clear Cache: Ctrl + Shift + Delete
  • Clear Cookies: Ctrl + Shift + Delete

Safari

  • Clear Cache: Option + Command + E
  • Clear Cookies and Data: Option + Command + E

Opera

  • Clear Cache: Ctrl + F12 (Windows/Linux) or Command + F12 (Mac)
  • Clear Cookies: Ctrl + Shift + Delete

So in summary, the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Command + Shift + Delete works to clear cache and cookies in most major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera. Safari uses Option + Command + E.

These handy shortcuts allow you to quickly clear your browsing data without navigating through the settings menus. Give them a try! Let me know if you need any other browser tips.

Troubleshooting Guide

Here are some common issues faced when trying to clear Chrome data and how to fix them:

1. Cache Not Clearing?

  • Check that you selected the right time range in the “Clear browsing data” settings. Choose “All time” to fully erase cache.
  • Try uninstalling/reinstalling Chrome or deleting the Cache folder manually if the issue persists.

2. Cookies Keep Reappearing?

  • Make sure to close all Chrome windows while clearing cookies. Cookies from open windows don’t always get deleted.
  • Some persistent cookies may re-generate when visiting sites. Try clearing cookies again.

3. Site Not Working After Clearing Cache/Cookies?

  • Try doing a hard refresh (Ctrl + F5 on Windows/Linux, Cmd + Shift + R on Mac) to force reload the site’s cached resources again.
  • The site may break temporarily if it relies on deleted login cookies or cached resources. It should work after reloading a few times.

4. Can’t Find Chrome Cache and Cookies Settings?

  • Make sure you have the latest version of Chrome as older versions hide the data deletion options under different menus. Update Chrome if needed.
  • On mobile, the steps are different and you may need to go via Android/iOS system settings to find Chrome’s stored data.

Following the troubleshooting tips should help resolve any issues faced when trying to delete Chrome cache and cookies.

What happens after you clear this info

Here is a brief overview of what happens after you clear your cache and cookies in Chrome:

  • Pages will take longer to load at first – Chrome has to re-download all the cache and cookie information again on your next visit to websites. So pages may be slower on the first load.
  • You’ll get fresh page content – Clearing the cache forces Chrome to grab the latest versions of files from websites instead of using outdated cached copies. So you’ll get refreshed page content.
  • Media files are re-buffered – Videos, music and other media will need to re-buffer as their cached data is now deleted. Streaming should return to normal after re-buffering.
  • You’ll be logged out of sites – Clearing cookies deletes login info, so you’ll have to enter usernames/passwords again on sites you were logged into.
  • Website customizations are reset – Preferences like customized text sizes, themes, or settings are often stored in cookies and get erased when clearing them.
  • Browser history remains intact – Your general browser history isn’t deleted unless you specifically choose to clear that too from the settings.
  • Website settings revert to defaults – If sites use cookies to remember your preferred settings, these get reset to default values after clearing cookies.
  • Temporary files are deleted – All cached images, Javascript files, CSS and other temporary internet files are completely deleted.
  • Hard drive space is freed up – The cache and cookies take up disk space, so clearing them can recover storage capacity on your device.

In summary, clearing browsing data resets Chrome to a clean state forcing re-downloads, re-logins and rebuffering at first but frees up space and provides you with the latest website content.

How do I clear my web browser’s cache, cookies, and history?

Here are the steps to clear the cache, cookies, and browsing history for the most common web browsers:

Google Chrome

  1. Click on the 3 vertical dots in the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Select “Settings”.
  3. Click on “Privacy and security” in the left sidebar.
  4. Click on “Clear browsing data”.
  5. Select “Cached images and files”, “Cookies and other site data”, and “Browsing history”.
  6. Choose the time range for data you want to delete.
  7. Click “Clear data”.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Click on the 3 horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Select “Settings”.
  3. Click on “Privacy & Security” in the left sidebar.
  4. Under “Cookies and Site Data”, click “Clear Data…”.
  5. Select “Cached Web Content”, “Cookies”, and “Browsing & Download History”.
  6. Choose the time range for data you want to delete.
  7. Click “Clear”.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Click on the 3 dotted icon in the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Select “Settings”.
  3. Click on “Privacy, search, and services”.
  4. Under “Clear browsing data”, click “Choose what to clear”.
  5. Select “Cached data and files”, “Cookies and saved website data”, and “Browsing history”.
  6. Choose the time range for data you want to delete.
  7. Click “Clear now”.

Safari

  1. Click Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
  2. Select the time range for data you want to clear.
  3. Make sure “Cookies and other website data” and “History” are checked.
  4. Click “Clear History and Data”.

This will clear the cached files, cookies, and browsing history from each browser. Doing this periodically helps speed up browsing and improves privacy.

What is the Browser Cache?

Here’s an explanation of what the browser cache is:

The browser cache is a component of your web browser that stores copies of files and images from websites you visit locally on your device. The main purpose of the cache is to speed up page load times and improve your browsing performance.

When you first visit a website, your browser downloads all the necessary files like HTML pages, JavaScript files, CSS stylesheets, images, and other resources needed to display the complete website. All these downloaded files get stored in the browser’s cache folder on your hard drive.

Then, the next time you visit that same website, instead of having to re-download everything again, your browser loads the locally cached copies of these files. This allows the pages to load much faster, utilizing the cached resources rather than having to fetch them over the internet again.

The cache serves as a temporary storage space that the browser can quickly access, rather than having to request the files from the server every single time. This makes returning to previously visited sites much faster.

However, over time as you browse more websites, the cache builds up and occupies storage space on your device. Old, outdated files in the cache can also cause problems or slow things down. Therefore, it’s recommended to clear your browser cache periodically to delete unnecessary files and free up space.

The browser cache significantly improves page loading performance by storing downloaded web files locally. But clearing it regularly is recommended to prevent sluggish browsing due to an overloaded cache.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about managing Chrome cache and cookies:

Does clearing cache speed up Chrome?

Yes, regularly clearing your Chrome cache can help speed up page load times by removing unnecessary temporary internet files. Over time, the cache builds up and slows down performance.

Should I clear my Chrome history too?

It’s not mandatory, but clearing your browsing history can provide additional privacy and speed benefits on top of clearing just cache/cookies.

Are my Google account passwords deleted if I clear cookies?

No, your Google login credentials are not deleted when clearing Chrome cookies. You stay logged into your Google account.

Is Incognito mode 100% private?

Incognito does not save browsing data locally, but your activity can still be visible to websites/ISP. Use a VPN along with Incognito for full privacy.

How often should I clear the Chrome cache?

A good rule of thumb is to clear your Chrome cache every 4-6 weeks for optimal performance. Frequent sites like social media may need more frequent clearing.

Is there a max cache or cookie limit?

There is no official limit, but excessive cached files and cookies will slow down Chrome over time. Aim to keep it under 250MB and 2000 cookies.

How do I clear cache in Chrome?

  • On desktop: Click on the 3 dots > Settings > Advanced > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select “Cached images and files” and time range, then click Clear data.
  • On mobile: Tap the 3 dots > Settings > Site settings > Storage > Clear data. Check “Cached images and files” then tap Clear data.

Why should I clear the Chrome cache?

Clearing the Chrome cache helps speed up browsing by removing unnecessary temporary internet files. It also frees up disk space, fixes page loading issues, and improves privacy by deleting tracking data.

How often should I clear the Chrome cache?

Aim to clear your Chrome cache every 4-6 weeks for optimal performance. Clear it more frequently if you notice slow browsing or low storage space.

What happens if I clear the Chrome cache?

Pages will take longer to load at first as cache is rebuilt. You may need to re-login to sites and re-buffer videos. But you’ll get updated page content and free up hard drive space.

Will clearing the cache delete my history?

No, clearing your browsing history is a separate setting. Clearing the cache only deletes temporary internet files, not your general Chrome history.

Can I clear the cache for only one site?

Yes, you can delete the cache for a specific site from Settings > Site Settings > Clear storage. This clears cache just for that domain.

How do I disable cache in Chrome permanently?

You can’t fully disable caching in Chrome, but you can set it to clear automatically on a schedule. Go to Settings > Privacy and enable auto clearing.

Where is the Chrome cache folder located?

The folder location varies by OS but is typically found in AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache (Windows) or ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome (Mac).

Conclusion

Clearing your Chrome cache, cookies and other temporary internet files is an easy but important browser maintenance task. By applying the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can speed up your web browsing, fix performance issues, free up device storage and enhance your privacy.

Make it a habit to periodically clear your Chrome data. If manually clearing isn’t for you, use the auto-delete settings. You can also enable Incognito browsing for private sessions that never get recorded in your history or cache.

With these tips, you can keep Chrome running smoothly for work and entertainment with the freshest website resources.

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