How To Clear Browser Cache In Google Chrome

The basic function of a browser is to connect to a website’s server, download internet files and display them to the users. And, in order to do so, every browser maintains a temporary internet files folder- browser cache. It stores web pages, images, CSS, audio, video and other downloaded content which helps in faster display of web pages the next time you visit those websites.

Even before we see how to delete browser cache on Google Chrome, let me tell you few good and not so good things about clearing cache.

• Since cache is a folder stored inside computer, huge collection of such files may run you out of disk space and slow down your computer.
• Your browser shows up older page content and ignores fresh content from the website. So, you may end up reading obsolete content or may not land to what you were looking for.
• The information stored in browser cache is sometimes incomplete or corrupt.
• Clearing cache clears significant amount of data from the browser memory. If you had stored your username/password for a website, there is a high probability that you will lose that as well.
• Since cache holds downloaded content, clearing the same would mean that websites would load slower (for the first time) when you visit the websites again.

STEPS TO CLEAR CACHE IN GOOGLE CHROME

The steps shown here will apply to the latest versions of Google Chrome. However, the steps should be almost similar to whatever version you may be using.

Step 1: Click on the Chrome menu icon seated towards the right end, besides the address bar.

Step 2: Navigate to Tools -> Clear browsing data. If you love keyboard shortcuts you can use the Ctrl + Shift + Delete combination and ignore Step 1 and Step 2.

Step 3: A pop up (as shown below) will appear on your screen. Here, you can select, not just cache, but any browsing data that you wish to delete.

Step 4: Since we are concerned with browse cache, tick mark the option reading Empty the cache and uncheck all others. In order to clear cache completely we suggest that you select beginning of time from the drop down. Click on Clear browsing data when done.