The Hidden App Cache
When you use complex web applications like Google Docs, Gmail offline mode, or specialized Chrome Extensions, these programs often need to store significant amounts of data directly on your hard drive to function properly when your internet connection drops. This is entirely separate from standard website “cookies” or your browsing history. This specific cache is known as “Hosted app data.” If a web application becomes corrupted, freezes constantly, or refuses to sync with the cloud, the local app data is likely broken. You cannot fix this by clearing your standard browsing history; you must explicitly target the application cache.
How to Clear Hosted App Data
You can isolate and destroy this specific cache via the advanced browsing data menu.
- Open the Google Chrome desktop browser.
- Click the three vertical dots (â‹®) in the top right corner and select Settings.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
- In the main window, click on Clear browsing data.
- A pop-up window will appear. Click the Advanced tab at the very top of the window.
- Change the “Time range” dropdown menu to All time.
- Uncheck every single box on the list (Browsing history, Passwords, Cookies, etc.) to protect your normal data.
- Scroll down to the very bottom of the list and Check the box specifically labeled Hosted app data.
- Click the blue Clear data button.
The Reset State
Because you unchecked all the other boxes, your passwords and active website logins are completely safe. However, the local storage for your Chrome web apps has been entirely wiped. When you reopen Google Docs or your broken extension, it will be forced to rebuild its local database from scratch, downloading a fresh copy from the server and resolving the corruption issues.