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A simple guide to deleting Chrome cache on any computer or mobile device
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Is a webpage in Chrome not loading properly? Clearing your cache and cookies in Chrome can quickly fix lots of web browsing problems, including pages not loading properly. It's also very easy to do. This wikiHow article teaches you how to clear the cache in Chrome on your Windows and Mac computer, and in the Chrome mobile app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.

Things You Should Know

  • If pages are loading slowly or are out of date, clearing the cache and cookies is a great troubleshooting step.
  • On a computer, press "Ctrl + Shift + D", then click "All time," make sure the appropriate boxes are checked, and click "Clear data."
  • On a phone, tap the three-dot menu icon, then tap "History > Clear browsing data" and make sure "Cached images and files" is checked before tapping "Clear data."
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using a Computer

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  1. It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.[1]
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  2. This option is near the middle of the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
  3. It's in the pop-out menu. This will open the Browsing Data window.
    • Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac) to open the "Clear browsing data" window.
  4. This is in the upper-left corner of the Browsing Data window.
  5. It's near the top of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  6. This is in the drop-down menu. Doing so ensures that all of your browser's cached files will be deleted.
  7. It's in the middle of the window.
    • Uncheck every other box on this page if you only want to clear the cached files.
    • If you also want to clear your cookies or other site data, check the "Cookies and other site data" box. Clearing cookies can also sign you out of some sites. For these sites, just sign in again and all of your account-related data will still be there.[2]
  8. This blue button is in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will prompt Chrome to delete your cached files and images from your computer and browser.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

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  1. This three-dot icon is in the top-right corner of the screen for Androids and in the lower right corner on iPhones. A drop-down menu will appear.[3]
  2. It's in the middle of the drop-down menu.
    • For iPhone or iPad, the history button looks like a clock icon that's at the top of the menu. It's the second icon from the left.
  3. You'll see this at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Tap the "Time range" menu near the top of the screen, then tap All time in the resulting menu.
  5. It's in the middle of the screen. This option will clear your Chrome browser's saved images and website files, which will clear some room on your phone or tablet.
    • On Android, first tap the ADVANCED tab in the top-right corner of the screen.
    • You can uncheck every other option on this page if you don't want to clear any other browsing data.
    • If you want to clear your browser's saved website data and cookies, check the "Cookies, Site Data" (iPhone) or "Cookies and site data" (Android) option as well.
  6. It's a red-text icon near the middle of the screen.
    • On Android, tap CLEAR DATA in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  7. Doing so will prompt Chrome to delete your cached files and images from your browser and phone storage. If you selected the "Cookies, Site Data" option, your website data will also be cleared, and you will be signed out of most sites that you were signed into.[4]
    • On Android, tap CLEAR when prompted.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    The chrome browser opens old tabs when I restart. How can I stop that?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can go to settings and set from "continue where I left off" (or something like that) to "open new tab" or whichever option you require in the menu for startup of Chrome.
  • Question
    Can I delete everything except the cache and cookies for one particular website?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you must go through all of them individually. Follow the instructions in the article, there should be a whole list of all the sites you visit, you'll need to just delete them one at a time, leaving only the one you wish to save untouched.
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Tips

  • Since most sites use cookies to save images and videos that appear on sites, the page may seem to load slower after you clear those cookies from Chrome.

Tips from our Readers

  • You can also make a habit of surfing the internet in incognito mode if you don't want your browsing history, cache, and cookies tracked.
  • Clear your cache and cookies regularly. I clear mine every week or so to keep my computer running fast and clean.
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About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 493,103 times.
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Co-authors: 14
Updated: November 21, 2024
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