When a website is acting strangely, loading incorrectly, or refusing to log you in, the first troubleshooting step is almost always to clear your browser’s cache and cookies. The cache stores images and code to make sites load faster next time, while cookies keep you logged in and track preferences. Sometimes, these saved files become corrupted or outdated. Here is the fastest way to clear them in Google Chrome on both Windows and Mac.
Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest Way)
You can bypass the settings menu entirely with a simple keyboard shortcut.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Press the following keys simultaneously:
- Windows:
Ctrl + Shift + Delete - Mac:
Command (⌘) + Shift + Delete
- Windows:
- The Clear browsing data window will pop up immediately on your screen.
Method 2: Using the Settings Menu
If you prefer to navigate using your mouse, follow these steps:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- On the left-hand sidebar, click Privacy and security.
- Click Clear browsing data.
Selecting What to Clear
Once the “Clear browsing data” window is open, you need to make sure the right options are selected to fix your issues.
- At the top, change the Time range dropdown to All time. If you only clear the last hour, it rarely fixes persistent website issues.
- Ensure there is a checkmark next to Cookies and other site data. (Note: This will sign you out of most websites, so make sure you know your passwords before doing this).
- Ensure there is a checkmark next to Cached images and files.
- Click the blue Clear data button.
For the changes to take full effect, it is highly recommended to completely close and restart your browser. On a Mac, make sure to fully quit Chrome (press Command + Q) rather than just clicking the red X, then open it again.