Overview
This document will guide you through clearing your cache and cookies in Google Chrome, based on information from the official Google Chrome Help Center in the URL below.
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95589?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
Clearing your cache and cookies can help improve your browsing experience by resolving issues like slow loading times or outdated website content.
So what are Cache and Cookies?
Cache: A cache is temporary storage used by your browser to hold website data like images, scripts, and stylesheets. This stored data allows websites to load faster when you revisit them, as the browser doesn’t need to download everything again.
Cookies: Cookies are small pieces of data that websites store on your device. They are used to remember your preferences, login information, and other browsing activity data specific to that website.
Why Clear Cache and Cookies?
There are a few reasons why you might want to clear your cache and cookies:
- Resolve website loading issues: If a website appears outdated or isn’t loading correctly, clearing your cache can help ensure you’re seeing the latest version of the site.
- Improve browsing privacy: Cookies can track your browsing activity across different websites. Clearing them can help protect your privacy.
- Free up storage space: The cache can accumulate data over time, taking up storage space on your device. Clearing it can free up some space.
Steps to Clear Cache and Cookies in Google Chrome (Desktop):
- Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the browser window. This button is commonly referred to as the “Menu” button.
3. Select Settings from the menu.
4. In the Settings menu, scroll down and click on Privacy and security.
5. Under Privacy and security, click on Clear browsing data.
6. A new window will appear titled “Clear browsing data”. Here, you can choose the time range for which you want to clear data. Select the time range from the dropdown menu. For the most thorough cleaning, choose All time.
7. Under Items to clear, make sure the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked. You can optionally clear your browsing history as well by checking the box next to Browsing history.
8. Once you’ve selected the items you want to clear, click the blue Clear data button.