Delete, Remove or Clear Google Chrome Cache and History
What is Cache
Cache is a set of temporary files or information downloaded into your Chrome on local PC.
It used for faster access and loading of the same website in future.
It is convenient because it is faster and you can save data usage as the new images etc. are not re-downloaded.
Why do we need to clear?
Here are three typical reasons that you may need to delete the Chrome history and cache.
1. Shared PC & Windows logon
You have accessed to an online banking using a shared PC and / or a shared Windows login id.
An example is when you share a same PC with the same login id for everyone in your family.
The login information may be saved unintentionally and you may not want any of family members to mistakenly access your internet banking accounts, email accounts, etc.
In this case, clear all the caches to make sure none of the login information still remains in Chrome cache.
2. Persistent Error Message
In the past, when you accessed to a website, there was an error such as the page is not available or broken images etc.
You were informed that the error has already fixed. However when you try again to access, the same error is still there.
You repeatedly close and open the browser, however still the same error.
3. Access from Cache Free Browser
You want to start a clear and clean access to a website for example to remove all the passwords those are saved in the Chrome settings.
Basic Clearing Browsing Data
This is the most commonly used and it is the easiest way.
It usually takes less than a minute to complete the cache deletion.
- Click the vertical three little dots on the top right corner of the screen
- Then select More tools.
- Click clear browsing data.
Note: Alternatively, you can use a shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Del and skip 1 & 2.
- Click Basic and there are four options here, you can either clear last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks or All time browsing data.
In most cases, we select All time to make sure that Chrome browser are completely cleared from any cache. - After selecting one of those options, then click Clear data.
- To make sure every thing properly cleared, close all the Chrome tabs by clicking the X on the top right of the browser.
- After closing the Chrome browser, double click to launch Chrome again and try visit the site.
Please take note that it may take slightly longer to access as the new caches such as images are needed to be freshly redownloaded.
Advanced Clearing Browsing Data
This takes about a minute to complete the cache deletion.
- Click the vertical three little dots on the top right corner of the screen.
- Then select More tools.
- Click clear browsing data.
Note: Alternatively, you can use a shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Del and skip 1 & 2.
- Click All time
- Then click Advanced. There are five options here, you can select clear last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks or All time browsing data.
It depends on your choice which time range of cache you want to delete. - Here you can individually select the data you want to delete.
- Browsing data – If checked – All time of the browsing data will be deleted.
- Download history – – If checked – All time of the download history will be deleted. Downloaded files are not deleted.
- Cookies and other sites data
- Cached images and files
- Passwords and other sign-in data – Check it if you want to remove passwords and sign-in information saved in the cache.
- Autofill form data – This is usually not to be deleted, unless you want to have a fresh Chrome browser.
- Site Settings
- Hosted app data
- After selecting one of those options, then click Clear data.
- To make sure every thing properly cleared, close all the Chrome tabs by clicking the X on the top right of the browser.
If you want to check you can then check the same way again by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Del.
Here is an example. It shows None or Less than 1Mb for Cached images and files.
You are now done. Congratulations!!!
