The fastest way to clear cache and cookies
Open Google Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. A window will open showing what you can delete. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are both checked. Choose the time range at the top — "All time" clears everything, or pick a specific range like "Last 24 hours" or "Last 7 days". Then click "Clear data" and you're done.
If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work, you can reach the same window through the menu: click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. The window that opens is identical to the keyboard shortcut version.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the clear data window in one step.
- Check both "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" to remove both types of stored information.
- Choose "All time" to clear everything, or pick a specific date range if you only want to remove recent data.
- Clearing cache and cookies can free up storage space and sometimes fix websites that load incorrectly or show outdated content.
What cache and cookies actually do
Cache is a storage folder where Chrome saves copies of images, videos, and code from websites you visit. When you return to a site, Chrome loads these saved copies instead of downloading them again. This makes pages load faster. Over time, cache can grow to several gigabytes and take up disk space.
Cookies are small text files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you — your login status, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or sites you've visited. They're not inherently bad, but they do track your activity across the web, and some people clear them for privacy reasons.
When you should clear cache and cookies
Clear your cache if a website looks broken, loads slowly, or shows outdated content. Websites sometimes update their code or images, but your browser keeps serving the old cached version. Clearing cache forces Chrome to read the fresh version next time you visit.
Clear your cookies if you want to log out of all websites at once, if you're using a shared computer and don't want the next person to see your login information, or if you're concerned about tracking. Some people also clear cookies regularly for privacy — websites use them to build a profile of your browsing habits across different sites.
You don't need to clear cache and cookies regularly unless you're running low on storage space or you share your computer. Most people can leave them alone and only clear them when something isn't working right.
The difference between clearing everything and clearing by date
The time range dropdown at the top of the clear data window lets you choose what to delete. "All time" removes every cached file and cookie Chrome has stored. "Last hour" removes only what was stored in the past 60 minutes. "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", and "Last 4 weeks" work the same way.
Use a specific date range if you want to keep some cookies — for example, if you're logged into your email and don't want to log out, but you want to clear cookies from the past day. Use "All time" if you want a complete wipe and don't mind logging back into websites.
What happens after you clear cache and cookies
Websites will load slightly slower the next time you visit them because Chrome has to read all the images and code again instead of using cached copies. This slowdown is usually unnoticeable — a fraction of a second. After that first visit, the cache rebuilds and pages load normally again.
You'll be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit Gmail, Facebook, your bank, or any other site where you were logged in, you'll need to enter your username and password again. Some sites have a "Remember me" option that survives cookie clearing, but most don't.
If a website was displaying incorrectly, it should look right now. If it still doesn't work after clearing cache and cookies, the problem is something else — try a different browser or contact the website's support team.
Clearing cache and cookies for a specific website only
If you only want to clear data for one website instead of everything, visit that site first. Then press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac) to open the clear data window. Instead of clicking "Clear data", look for a link or button that says "See all cookies and site data" or similar. This opens a list where you can search for the specific website and delete only its data.
Alternatively, you can click the lock icon or info icon next to the website address in the address bar, then find the option to clear cookies or site data for that specific domain. The exact wording varies depending on whether the site uses HTTPS (find) or HTTP (not find).
Automating cache and cookie clearing
If you want Chrome to clear cache and cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Turn on the toggle that says "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome". You can also choose whether to clear cache at the same time.
This setting doesn't affect your current session — it only clears data when you completely close Chrome, not when you close individual tabs or windows. If you reopen Chrome, you'll be logged out of websites, but your browsing history will still be there unless you've turned on that clearing option too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies delete my passwords?
No. Chrome stores passwords separately from cache and cookies. Even if you clear both, your saved passwords remain unless you specifically delete them from Settings > Passwords. You'll need to log back in to websites, but Chrome will offer to fill in your password if you've saved it.
Does clearing cache free up storage space on my computer?
Yes, sometimes significantly. Cache can grow to several gigabytes over months of browsing. Clearing it frees that space. Cookies take up almost no space — typically just a few megabytes — so clearing them won't noticeably help if you're running out of storage.
Can I clear cache without clearing cookies, or vice versa?
Yes. In the clear data window, uncheck whichever one you don't want to delete. If you only want to clear cache, uncheck "Cookies and other site data" and leave "Cached images and files" checked. The reverse works too.
What if I clear cache and a website still doesn't work?
Try clearing cookies as well, since some websites store important data in cookies that affects how they display. If that doesn't help, try opening the site in a different browser or in Chrome's Incognito mode (Ctrl+Shift+N), which doesn't use any stored cache or cookies. If it works in Incognito, the problem is definitely your stored data.
Is it safe to clear cache and cookies?
Yes, completely safe. You won't damage Chrome or your computer. The only downside is that you'll be logged out of websites and pages will load slightly slower on your first visit after clearing. Both of those are temporary and harmless.