What Happens When You Clear Browsing Data in Chrome

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.

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What Counts as Browsing Data in Chrome

When you browse the web using Google Chrome, the browser collects various types of data related to your internet activities. This may include information such as your browsing history, cookies, cache files, and other site-specific data.

Note:The mobile version of Chrome does not include the ‘Download history’ and ‘Hosted app data’ categories.

What Happens When You Clear Browsing Data

When you clear browsing data in Google Chrome, the browser removes all the data mentioned above. This process deletes stored information and resets your browsing session.

Browsing History

Clearing your browsing history removes records of websites you’ve visited. Now you won’t see any suggestions when typing a website address in the address bar.

Download History

As the term suggests, clearing download history removes the log of files you’ve downloaded. However, it does not delete the actual files from your device.

Cookies and Other Site Data

Requires you to sign in to websites again; sites may also lose your preferences. It clears tracking cookies and prevents sites from recognizing you in subsequent visits. You may also end up freeing disk space (around 500 megabytes in most cases).

Cached Images and Files

Cached images and files help Chrome load sites faster when revisiting them. Clearing these files may slow down loading times for previously visited sites. You can alsodelete cached images and files for one site only.

Passwords and Other Sign-in Data

Removes passwords that you’ve saved to Chrome’s built-in password manager. Before deleting them, make sure toexport your passwords to a CSV fileor import them to another browser or password manager.

Autofill Form Data

Autofill data includes saved form entries, addresses, and credit card details. Clearing this data may require manual entry of information when filling out online forms.

Site Settings

Site settings control access to features like a camera, microphone, or downloads. Clearing these settings will reset all website permissions and require you to grant them again the next time you visit.

Hosted App Data

Hosted app data is offline data from Chrome Web Store apps. Clearing this data will remove all saved information for these applications.

Chrome Syncs Plays a Factor

If you’ve gotChrome Syncturned on, deleting certain forms of data will also cause the browser to delete them from other devices. That specifically affects the passwords, autofill data, and browsing history data categories.

If you don’t want that to happen, turn off Chrome Sync for those particular data types before deleting your data.

To manage Chrome Sync, head over to Settings > Sync and Google Services > Manage What You Sync. To prevent Chrome Sync from deleting your browsing history on all devices, for example, turn off the switch next to History.

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Last updated on 25 July, 2024

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