Whether you have a newer smartphone, such as a Google Pixel 6 or a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, or a device from a few years ago, one thing is certain: The web browser on your Android collects data and stores it in your cookies and cache. This is frequently advantageous: for example, it keeps you logged into your accounts.
However, this data accumulates over time, taking up space on your phone and most likely including cookies that track your browsing history in order to serve personalised advertising. (After visiting a few online stores to compare prices and styles, I've been seeing ads for eyeglasses, as well as TV shows related to my YouTube searches.)
It doesn't hurt to clear this data out on a regular basis to keep your web browser lean, efficient, and, ideally, storing as few tracking cookies as possible.
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The steps differ slightly depending on the phone and web browser app you're using on Android, so we'll go over how to clear this data on Google's Chrome (often the default for many Android phones like the Google Pixel line), Samsung's Internet browser (often the default on the Galaxy phone series), and Mozilla Firefox browser below. If you have a few Apple devices to clear out, you can also read our separate guide on how to clear your cache on an iPhone web browser.
How to clear cookies and cache from Google Chrome
From the Android version of Google Chrome, you can delete your cookies and cache. Follow these steps.
1. Click on the top right corner three dot
2. Now go to setting
3. Then tap on Privacy & Security
4. After this you will see clear browser data, click on it.
5. Check all the three boxes then click on Clear data
Chrome also has Basic and Advanced options for deleting your browsing history, cookies and site data, and cached images and files. You can delete the entire history or a selection of anywhere from the last 24 hours to the last four weeks by using the Time range drop-down. By selecting Advanced, you will also be able to delete Saved passwords, Autofill form data, and Site settings. After you've selected what you want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button, and it will delete without any further prompts, so make sure you're zapping exactly what you want to zap.
How to clear cookies and cache from Samsung Internet
You can clear the cache and cookie data in your Samsung Internet browser in two ways. You can clear the cache from within the browser or from your phone Settings app.
To clear browsing data while using the Samsung Internet browser app, hit the Options button (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner, then Settings, scroll down to and select Personal Data, then tap Erase browsing data to get a choice of options to delete. You can delete any combination of your browsing history, cookies and site data, cached pictures and files, passwords, and autofill forms. You'll see a prompt after pressing Delete data, asking you to confirm your choices before deleting.
The browser app itself allows for the most customization of what you want to delete. If you want to access similar options from your phone's settings menu, open the Settings app and select Apps, then scroll down and select Samsung Internet and Storage.
Clear cache and Clear data are separate options at the bottom of Storage. Clear cache deletes the cache immediately, but Clear data displays a warning that all of the application's data, including files, settings, accounts, and databases, will be permanently deleted. While it does not mention cookies, this "going nuclear" approach should clear out any remaining data, allowing you to restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were brand new.
How to clear cookies and cache from Mozilla Firefox
You can clear the cookies and cache from within the Mozilla Firefox Android app, just like you can with Google Chrome. To use this feature, tap the More button on the right of the address bar, which is represented by three vertically aligned dots. Then, on the Settings screen, scroll down to Delete browsing data.
Firefox provides the most options under the Delete browsing data menu, allowing you to delete any existing Open tabs, your Browsing history and site data, Site permissions, and even your Downloads folder, in addition to Cookies and Cached images and files.
While you cannot select a time range as you can in Chrome, you can be more specific about the type of data you want to remove.
Additionally, Firefox has an option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after they've finished using the app. Within Settings, there is a Delete browsing data on quit option, which instructs Firefox to delete any combination of these settings every time you exit the application. It's a handy feature if you want to keep your browser clean and avoid accidentally giving your browser history to someone who has stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.
How often do you clear the cache and cookies in your browser? And do you have a favourite Android browser that you think should be included in this Tech Tip? Tell us in the comments section.
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