Clear your cache through Chrome settings in under a minute

Your Chromebook's browser cache stores images, files, and website data to load pages faster next time you visit them. Over time, this cache takes up storage space and can slow down your Chromebook. Clearing it is straightforward: open Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on your keyboard, select what you want to delete, and click the Clear Data button. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

You do not need to restart your Chromebook or sign out of your accounts. Once you clear the cache, websites will load slightly slower on your first visit because Chrome has to download everything fresh, but after that, performance returns to normal.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the cache-clearing window directly without hunting through menus.
  • Set the time range to "All time" if you want to clear everything, or choose a specific period like "Last 24 hours" to keep recent data.
  • Make sure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are both checked before you click Clear Data.
  • Clearing cache does not delete your saved passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically check those boxes.

Step-by-step: Clear cache using the keyboard shortcut

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete at the same time. A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open immediately. This is the fastest way to reach the cache settings.

Step 2: At the top of the window, you will see a dropdown menu that says "All time", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 4 weeks". Choose "All time" if you want to clear everything your Chromebook has cached. Choose a shorter period if you only want to remove recent data — for example, if a website is loading incorrectly, clearing just the last 24 hours often fixes it.

Step 3: Look at the checkboxes below the time dropdown. Make sure both "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked. These are the two things that make up your cache. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you have a specific reason to clear them.

Step 4: Click the blue "Clear data" button. The window will close, and your cache is now empty. You do not need to do anything else.

What gets deleted and what stays

When you clear cache, Chrome removes stored website images, videos, scripts, and temporary files. It also removes cookies, which are small text files that websites use to remember you. This means you may need to log back into some websites after clearing cache, though your saved passwords remain in Chrome's password manager.

Your browsing history, bookmarks, autofill information, and saved passwords are not deleted unless you specifically check those boxes in the Clear browsing data window. If you only want to clear cache and nothing else, leave those boxes unchecked.

When to clear cache and how often

Clear your cache if a website is loading incorrectly, if you are running low on storage space, or if you want to remove data websites have stored about you. Most people do not need to clear cache more than once a month, but if you browse heavily or use many websites, clearing it every week or two can help your Chromebook run smoothly.

If you want Chrome to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser, you can set that up in Chrome settings. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, click Privacy and Security, and turn on "Clear cookies and site data when you close Chrome". After that, you will not need to clear cache manually.

Clearing cache on a shared Chromebook

If your Chromebook is shared with other people, clearing cache only removes data from your own account. Each person who uses the Chromebook has their own cache, and clearing yours does not affect theirs. If you want to clear cache for a different account, sign out, sign into that account, and repeat the steps above.

If you are the administrator of a shared Chromebook and want to manage cache settings for all users, you can set policies through the Chrome admin console, but that requires access to your organization's admin account and is not something most home users need to do.

Troubleshooting if the cache window does not open

If pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete does not open the Clear browsing data window, try this alternative: click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, hover over "More tools", and click "Clear browsing data". This opens the same window through the menu instead of the keyboard shortcut.

If the window opens but the Clear Data button is grayed out or does not respond, try closing all other Chrome tabs and windows, then try again. Occasionally, a stuck tab or extension can interfere with the clearing process. If it still does not work, restart your Chromebook and try once more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No. Your saved passwords stay in Chrome's password manager. Only cookies and cached files are deleted. If you want to delete passwords too, you can check that box separately in the Clear browsing data window, but it is not checked by default.

Can I clear cache for just one website?

Not easily through the standard cache-clearing window. The quickest way is to clear all cache using the steps above, or you can open the website, press F12 to open Developer Tools, right-click the refresh button, and choose "Empty cache and hard refresh". This clears cache only for that page.

How much storage space does cache usually take up?

Cache typically uses between 100 MB and 500 MB depending on how much you browse, though it can grow larger. If your Chromebook is running low on storage, clearing cache can free up some space, but you may also need to delete old files or uninstall apps.

What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?

Cache is the temporary files and images websites store on your Chromebook to load faster. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited. Clearing one does not clear the other, though you can clear both at the same time if you want.

Do I need to clear cache before selling or giving away my Chromebook?

Yes. Before you hand over your Chromebook, sign out of your account completely. When you sign out, Chrome clears cache and temporary data automatically. You can also do a factory reset through Settings if you want to make sure everything is removed.