Whenever you browse the web in Google Chrome, the browser stores website data including cookies so that it doesn't have to do so again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

chromelogo
There are a couple of situations where you might benefit from clearing Chrome's cache.

If a site you regularly frequent has elements that have stopped working, or if a site has stopped loading completely, there may be a conflict between an older version of it that Chrome has cached and a newer one.

Or perhaps you simply want to protect your privacy by wiping the slate clean and removing all the data associated with websites you've visited, including any user-identifying cookies. Either way, here's how it's done on macOS and iOS.

How to Clear Chrome's Cache on Mac

  1. Launch Chrome on your Mac, then click the Customize button (three dots in a vertical row) in the top-right corner of the window and select Settings from the dropdown menu.
    chrome
  2. Click Advanced in the column of options, then click Clear browsing data under "Privacy and security."
    chrome
  3. This section is divided into Basic and Advanced tabs. The Basic tab has checkboxes for browsing history, cookies and other site data, and cached images and files, while the Advanced tab additionally includes checkboxes for passwords, autofill data, site settings, and hosted app data. Using the Time range dropdown, select a period of time for which to clear the selected data, then click Clear data.
    chrome

How to Clear Chrome's Cache on iOS

  1. Launch Chrome, then tap the Customize button (three dots in a vertical row) in the bottom-right corner of the screen and tap Settings in the pop-up menu.
  2. Tap Privacy.
    chrome
  3. Tap Clear Browsing Data.
  4. Select a Time range, then check the types of data that you want to clear.
  5. Tap Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
    chrome

If your privacy concerns extend to a desire for enhanced security and anonymity online, consider subscribing to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service that offers an iOS client or supports OpenVPN (Private Internet Access and ProtonVPN are two popular options).

Related Stories

How to Remove the Apps You Don't Use on Your iPhone and iPad

Thursday April 8, 2021 4:34 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

With so many paid-for and free apps available on the App Store these days, it's easy to reach a point where you have so many of them on your iPhone or iPad that a sizable proportion are simply forgotten about, and soon storage space starts to become an issue. Fortunately, there's an easy way that you can keep tabs on which apps you use the most and which ones have basically become redundant,...

How to Stop Apps From Tracking You in iOS 14.5

Monday April 26, 2021 10:48 am PDT by Juli Clover

With the launch of iOS 14.5, apps are no longer allowed to access the IDFA or tracking advertiser on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV without your express permission, keeping your app data more private. Apps use your IDFA to track you across different apps and websites, keeping tabs on your preferences and app usage habits. When an app wants to use your IDFA, you'll see a popup that says...

How to Check if Your Email and Password Were Leaked in the Facebook Hack

Friday April 9, 2021 10:13 am PDT by Juli Clover

Websites, apps, and social networks are regularly targeted by hackers who are after valuable user data, which can be sold to those interested in stealing usernames and passwords to various sites. One of the most recent significant attacks affected more than 553 million Facebook users, with data stolen in 2019. In 2021, that stolen data was published on a website for hackers and made easily...

How to Add an AirTag to Find My on Your iPhone

Friday April 30, 2021 12:18 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple's AirTags are small, button-shaped devices that are designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets to allow these accessories to be tracked using Bluetooth right alongside Apple devices in the Find My app. If you've just got hold of a new AirTag, you'll want to get it set up and ready for use. Before you do, make sure you've updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 14.5 or iPadOS...

How to Clear Safari Reading List

In Apple's Safari browser for iOS and Mac, the built-in Reading List feature is a great way to save web pages that you want to read at a later time. Pages added to your Reading List are synced over iCloud to any other devices logged in to your Apple account, and Safari also includes an option that lets you to access pages in your Reading List even when you're offline. But how do you remove...

How to Stop Websites From Asking For Your Location in Safari

Thursday February 4, 2021 6:05 pm PST by Tim Hardwick

Quite often when browsing the web in Safari, you'll see pop-ups asking you for permission for websites to use data about you, such as your location. There can be good reasons for this – if you're searching for local information such as the nearest grocery store or restaurant, then it makes sense for you to share your location data to get the most relevant results for your area. On the other ...

How to Clear Safari's Cache

Tuesday March 23, 2021 5:32 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

Whenever you browse the web in Safari, the browser stores website data so that it doesn't have to download it again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. There are a couple of situations where you...

How to Import Your Safari Bookmarks to Chrome

Monday March 22, 2021 9:05 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple's native desktop browser is Safari, but just because it comes pre-installed on every Mac doesn't mean you have to use it. Chrome is actually more popular than Safari by far, and if you're new to Mac, it might already be your preferred browser. If you've tried out Safari and decided you want to switch to Google's equivalent, you can easily import any bookmarks you've used in Apple's...

Popular Stories

Apple AirTag Linked to Increasing Number of Car Thefts, Canadian Police Report

Apple's AirTags are being used in an increasing number of targeted car thefts in Canada, according to local police. Outlined in a news release from York Regional Police, investigators have identified a new method being used by thieves to track down and steal high-end vehicles that takes advantage of the AirTag's location tracking capabilities. While the method of stealing the cars is largely ...

Elon Musk Urges Customers to Buy 'Tesla Cyberwhistle' Instead of Apple Polishing Cloth

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has encouraged customers to buy the "Cyberwhistle" for $50 instead of Apple's much-discussed Polishing Cloth. The product page, which Musk shared on Twitter on Tuesday evening, offers a limited edition stainless steel whistle with the same distinctive design of the Tesla Cybertruck:Inspired by Cybertruck, the limited-edition Cyberwhistle is a premium collectible made from ...

Five Features to Look Forward to in the 2022 MacBook Air

Tuesday November 30, 2021 1:51 pm PST by Juli Clover

In 2022, Apple is going to release an updated version of the MacBook Air with some of the biggest design changes that we've seen since 2010, when Apple introduced the 11 and 13-inch size options. In the video below, we highlight five features that you need to know about the new machine. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. No More Wedge Design - Current MacBook...

Apple Reveals the Most Downloaded iOS Apps and Games of 2021

Thursday December 2, 2021 12:05 am PST by Juli Clover

Along with naming its editorial picks for the top apps and games of 2021, Apple today shared charts for the most downloaded free and paid apps and games in the United States across 2021. The number one most downloaded free iPhone app was TikTok, followed by YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. The top paid iPhone apps included Procreate Pocket, HotSchedules, The Wonder Weeks, and Touch...

New iPhone SE Reportedly on Track for Release in First Quarter of 2022

Tuesday November 30, 2021 8:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple plans to release a third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of 2022, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. If this timeframe proves to be accurate, we can expect the device to be released by the end of March. As previously rumored, TrendForce said the new iPhone SE will remain a mid-range smartphone with added support for 5G:In terms of product development, Apple is...

Apple Planning to Replace the iPhone With AR Headset in 10 Years

Apple is planning to replace the iPhone with an augmented reality (AR) headset in 10 years, a process that is apparently due to start as soon as next year with the launch of a head-mounted device, according to a recent report. Concept render of Apple's rumored AR headset by Antonio De Rosa In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, eminent analyst Ming-Chi Kuo explained that "Apple's goal is...