Let’s face it, our browsers work hard. They store tons of data to make our browsing experience faster and smoother. But sometimes, this stored data, called the cache, can become a bit too much of a good thing. An overflowing cache can lead to slow loading times, outdated website versions, and even strange errors.
The good news? Clearing your cache is a simple process that can breathe new life into your browsing. In this guide, we’ll walk you through clearing the cache on both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, for both laptops and mobiles.
Taming the Chrome Cache: A Guide for Laptops and Mobiles
On Your Laptop:
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Finding the Clear Browsing Data Menu: Open Chrome and click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner. This is the trusty “More Options” menu. From there, hover over “More tools” and select “Clear browsing data.”
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Choosing Your Cleaning Timeframe: A window will pop up with options for clearing your browsing data. Here, you can choose the time range for which you want to clear the cache. For a more thorough cleaning, select “All time.”
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Targeting the Cache: Make sure the box next to “Cached images and files” is checked. This is what we’re here for! You can choose to clear other data like browsing history or cookies as well, but that’s optional.
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Hitting Refresh: Once you’re happy with your selections, click on “Clear data” and voila! Your Chrome cache is now spick and span.
On Your Mobile:
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Accessing Settings: Open the Chrome app on your phone or tablet. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner, which takes you to the Settings menu.
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Privacy Menu: In Settings, scroll down and tap on “Privacy and security.”
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Clearing Browsing Data: Under “Privacy and security,” you’ll find the option to “Clear browsing data.” Tap on that and proceed to the next step.
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Targeting the Cache Again: Similar to the desktop version, make sure the box next to “Cached images and files” is checked. You can choose to clear other browsing data as well.
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Clearing the Cache: Finally, tap on “Clear data” and your mobile Chrome cache is now clear.
Taking Control of the Edge Cache: Your Laptop’s Guide
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Opening the Settings Menu: Fire up Microsoft Edge and click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. This opens the Settings and more menu.
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Privacy Settings Await: From the menu, select “Settings.” In the Settings menu, navigate to “Privacy, search, and services.”
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Clearing Browsing Data: Under “Privacy, search, and services,” you’ll see an option for “Clear browsing data.” Click on that to get started.
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Choosing the Time Range: Just like in Chrome, you can choose the time range for which you want to clear the cache. Select “All time” for a complete refresh.
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Focusing on the Cache: Make sure the box next to “Cached images and files” is checked. You can also clear other browsing data like cookies and history if you desire.
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Clearing the Cache: Once you’ve made your selections, click on “Clear Now” and your Edge cache is now clear!
Important Note: Clearing browsing data on Microsoft Edge synced devices will also clear it on those devices.
Taming the Edge Cache on Your Mobile
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Accessing Settings: Open the Microsoft Edge app on your phone or tablet. Tap on the three horizontal dots at the bottom of the screen to access the Settings menu.
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Privacy Menu: In Settings, scroll down and tap on “Privacy and security.”
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Clearing Browsing Data: Under “Privacy and security,” you’ll find the option to “Choose what to clear.” Tap on that to proceed.
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Targeting the Cache: Similar to the desktop version, make sure the box next to “Cached images and files” is checked. You can choose to clear other browsing data as well.
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Clearing the Cache: Finally, tap on “Clear” and your mobile Edge cache is now clear.
By following these simple steps, you can clear the cache on both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers, on both laptops and mobiles. This can help your browser run smoother, load websites faster, and potentially fix any strange browsing issues you might be facing. So, the next time your browser feels sluggish, remember, clearing the cache might be just the refresh it needs!
