How to Clear Chrome Cache on Desktop, iPhone, and Android

Explore this post with:

Key Takeaways:

Chrome cache speeds up loading but can break pages when outdated files conflict with newer site content or designs.
Cache vs cookies vs history: Cache stores assets, cookies remember preferences, and history tracks sites; clearing cache won’t erase passwords or bookmarks.
Clear cache in Chrome desktop via Settings or shortcut: Use Ctrl+Shift+Del, pick time range, uncheck extras, then delete to refresh stored site data.
Fix a single site using Developer Tools: Right-click the refresh icon and select ‘Empty Cache and Hard Reload’ to troubleshoot specific loading problems.
Avoid frequent clearing to maintain speed: Clear cache when needed but don’t overdo it, as emptying too often slows initial page loads unnecessarily.

We’ve all been there. A webpage just won’t load right. Images look broken, buttons don’t work, or a website feels stuck in the past, even after updates. Often, the culprit behind such issues is cache. Clearing it can fix these glitches and make Chrome feel fresh again. Here’s what browser cache is and how you can remove it from Chrome.

Table of Contents

What Is Cache in Google Chrome?
How to Clear Cache on Chrome for Desktop (Windows and Mac)
- Clear Cache on Only One Site
How to Clear Cache on Chrome for iPhone and iPad
How to Clear Cache on Chrome for Android
How Often Should You Clear Chrome Cache?

What Is Cache in Google Chrome?

Chrome’s cache acts like quick memory for websites. It saves parts of pages so they load faster the next time you visit. But if these saved files become outdated or corrupted, websites can start behaving unexpectedly.

In case you’re wondering, cache is different from other browser data.

Cache vs Cookies vs History:

FaceTime Like a Pro:

Get our exclusive Ultimate FaceTime Guide 📚 — absolutely FREE when you sign up for our newsletter below.

Cache stores parts of websites like images, scripts, and layouts to help them load faster. However, outdated cache can make sites appear broken.
Cookies remember user-specific details like logins, preferences, and shopping cart items. Clearing them may sign you out of websites.
Browsing history is simply a list of websites you’ve visited. Deleting it removes the record but does not affect logins or saved data.

When you clear Chrome’s cache, only temporary files are removed. Your bookmarks and passwords remain safe, though you might need to log in again on some websites.

How to Clear Cache on Chrome for Desktop (Windows and Mac)

Chrome on desktop gives you more control over what and how much you want to clear. You can remove all cached files or limit the removal to a specific time range.

Steps:

Open Chrome on your Windows PC or Mac.
Click the three-dot menu (top-right corner).
Go to Delete Browsing Data
Choose the Time range (Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or even All Time).
Uncheck everything except Cached images and files. (Optionally, check Cookies if you want to log out of sites.)
Finally, click Delete data.

Pro Tip: Use a shortcut to open the clear cache window faster:

On Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Delete
On Mac: Command (⌘) + Shift + Delete

Clear Cache on Only One Site

Sometimes, only one website causes problems. Here’s how to clear the cache for that specific site:

Open Chrome and visit the site.
Click on three-dot menu > More tools > Developer Tools (Alternatively, press F12 on Windows or Option + Command (⌘) + I on Mac).
Right‑click the refresh button.
Select Empty Cache and Hard Reload to clear only that site’s cache.

How to Clear Cache on Chrome for iPhone and iPad

Clearing cache on Chrome for iOS is slightly different but just as easy.

Steps:

Open the Chrome app.
Tap the three-dot menu (bottom-right).
Select Delete browsing data. (If it’s not available, you can go to Settings > Privacy and security)
Choose the Time range (Last 15 minutes, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or even All Time).
Now tap on Browsing data.
Uncheck everything except Cached Images and Files (and Cookies if needed).
Once done, tap on Confirm and then Delete data.

How to Clear Cache on Chrome for Android

The process on Android is similar to iOS, with a few added steps for system-level cache clearing.

From the Chrome app:

Open Chrome.
Tap the three-dot menu (top-right).
Select Delete browsing data
Select More options.
Choose the Time range (Last 15 minutes, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or even All Time).
Uncheck everything except Cached Images and Files (and Cookies if needed).
Tap Delete data.
Confirm by tapping Delete again in the pop-up.