Speeding Up Chrome OS
Unlike traditional Windows laptops or MacBooks, a Chromebook does not rely on massive desktop applications like Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop. Instead, almost the entire Chrome OS experience happens within the web browser. Because the system is so heavily dependent on the cloud, a Chromebook constantly downloads small files—images, scripts, HTML data, and formatting stylesheets—and saves them locally in a hidden folder called the “cache.”
The purpose of the cache is to speed up your browsing. By keeping these files saved on the device’s internal storage, the Chromebook does not need to re-download the same logo or background image every time you visit a website. However, over time, this cache can become bloated with outdated files or corrupted data.
When the cache becomes corrupted, you will experience frustrating issues: websites might load with broken text, login forms may refuse to submit, or the Chromebook may simply feel sluggish. Clearing the cache forces the device to delete the old data and download fresh, clean files directly from the server.
How to Clear the Cache
Because Chrome OS is essentially just a highly secure version of the Google Chrome web browser, clearing the cache on a Chromebook is identical to clearing it in the Chrome browser on any other computer.
- Open the Google Chrome browser on your Chromebook.
- Look at the top-right corner of the window, next to your profile picture, and click the three vertical dots (the menu button).
- Hover your mouse over More tools.
- From the fly-out menu, click on Clear browsing data.
- Pro Tip: You can instantly jump to this screen by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Backspace on your keyboard.
- A new settings tab will open with a pop-up window. Ensure you are on the Basic tab at the top.
- Look at the Time range drop-down menu. To thoroughly fix a glitching website, you must change this setting to All time. (If you only select “Last hour,” it will not delete the older, corrupted files).
- Ensure the checkbox next to Cached images and files is ticked.
- Optional: You can also tick Cookies and other site data. Clearing cookies will fix many login issues, but be warned: it will instantly sign you out of all websites (like Netflix, Amazon, and Gmail), forcing you to enter your passwords again. If you only want to fix a broken image or formatting issue, leave cookies unticked.
- Ensure Browsing history is unticked (unless you specifically want to delete your web history for privacy reasons).
- Click the blue Clear data button.
The process will take a few seconds. Once finished, completely close the browser window and reopen it. When you visit the problematic website again, it may take slightly longer to load the first time as it downloads fresh files.
Why Is My Chromebook Still Slow?
If you have cleared the cache and wiped the cookies, but your Chromebook still feels incredibly sluggish or the fan is spinning loudly, the cache was not the problem. You likely have too many background processes consuming the device’s limited RAM.
- Check your extensions: Click the puzzle piece icon in the top-right corner of Chrome. Every extension you have installed (ad blockers, grammar checkers, coupon finders) is constantly running in the background. Remove any extensions you no longer use.
- Close heavy tabs: Web apps like Google Sheets or browser-based video editors use massive amounts of memory. Close them when not in active use.
- Check for updates: Click the time in the bottom-right corner of the screen, click the Settings gear, click “About ChromeOS,” and check for updates. A pending system update can sometimes cause performance issues.
