How to Clear Your Browser's Data and Cache

Your browser saves parts of the websites you visit, such as images and text (the cache), and small files that remember things like your sign-ins and settings (cookies). This helps pages open faster, but stored data can get out of date. Clearing it is a common fix when a page won't load properly, shows old content, or a site keeps misbehaving. Below are the current steps for Chrome and Edge on Windows.

1. Clear Cache and Cookies in Google Chrome

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1. Open Chrome.
2. At the top right, select More (⋮) > Delete browsing data. You can also type Delete browsing data in the address bar and select the action that appears.
3. Choose a time range, such as Last hour or All time.
4. Tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Untick anything you want to keep, such as Browsing history.
5. Select Delete data.

Here's what the main options remove, according to Google:

• Cached images and files: copies of text and images from pages you've visited, which Chrome keeps so pages open faster.
• Cookies and other site data: cookies and other data websites store in your browser. You'll need to sign in to sites again.
• Download history: only the list of downloads. The files themselves stay on your computer.

Saved passwords aren't removed by this tool. Google manages those separately in Google Password Manager. If you're signed in to Chrome with sync on, you stay signed in to your Google Account, and the data you delete is also removed from your other synced devices.

Expected result: sites you were signed in to ask you to sign in again, and pages may load a little more slowly at first while Chrome downloads their images again.

2. Clear Cache and Cookies in Microsoft Edge

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1. In Edge, select Settings and more (…) at the top right.
2. Select Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
3. Select Clear browsing data, then Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
4. Under Time range, choose how far back to go.
5. Tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
6. Select Clear now.

Edge's list also includes Passwords and Autofill form data, so check what's ticked before you select Clear now. Microsoft notes that items you've synced are cleared on all your synced devices. To clear data on this PC only, turn sync off first in Settings > Profiles > Sync.

Expected result: Edge clears the items you ticked, and sites ask you to sign in again.

3. Clear Cookies for Just One Site

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If only one website is misbehaving, you can clear that site's data and stay signed in everywhere else.

• Chrome: select More > Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions. Search for the site, select Delete next to it, then select Delete again to confirm.
• Edge: select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies > See all cookies and site data. Search for the site, select the down arrow next to it, then Delete.

Expected result: that site treats you as a new visitor, and every other site keeps you signed in.

4. Clear Cookies Automatically When You Close Edge

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If you'd rather not do this by hand, Edge can clear data every time you close it. Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear every time you close the browser, and turn on Cookies and other site data (or any other item).

Keep in mind that you'll have to sign in to your sites again each time you open the browser.

5. Check That It Worked

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• Open the page that was giving you trouble and reload it. It should now show its current version.
• Sites you were signed in to should ask you to sign in again. If they don't, check that you ticked the cookies option and chose a long enough time range.

Still Not Working? What to Try Next

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• Try a private window: press Ctrl + Shift + N in Chrome for an Incognito window, or select Settings and more > New InPrivate window in Edge. If the page works there, clear that site's data again (section 3) or check your extensions.
• Turn off extensions one at a time: in Chrome, select More > Extensions > Manage extensions. In Edge, select Extensions next to the address bar > Manage extensions. Switch them off, then back on one by one to find the culprit.
• Update your browser: in Chrome, select More > Help > About Google Chrome and select Relaunch if an update is ready. In Edge, select Settings and more > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge.