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You use your web browser a lot, but you don’t need to keep all the files that build up in this app.
Your Android phoneWeb browsers can be filled with tons of data, including files that you don’t need to keep. Much of this data – whether you use Google Chrome, Firefox or Samsung Internet – is stored as part of the cookies and cache. This data can be useful for websites you visit to load faster when you’re already signed in to your accounts.
While these faster loading speeds are handy, the cache and cookies also accumulate data from websites you’ve visited once or twice, along with random data trackers. Some of the cookies Track your browsing history and may help provide personalized advertisements based on your web history – for example, when you see an advertisement for a product you briefly viewed on a shopping website.
Because of this, it’s good to clear your cache from time to time. It allows you to remove data that you do not need on your phone, especially if there is an unknown data tracker among your phone’s cookies. Clearing your cache is a minor inconvenience — you’ll have to re-login to some of your favorite websites, but it’s a small price to pay to ensure your phone doesn’t fill up on superfluous data.
The steps are slightly different depending on the type of phone and web browser app you are using. Below we go over how to clear this data for Google’s Chrome browser (often the default for many Android phones, such as Android phones). Google Pixel line), Samsung’s Internet browser (often the default on the Galaxy phone series) and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. You can also read our separate guide on how to do this Clear your cache in an iPhone web browserin case you also need to clean up some Apple devices.
Clear browsing data menu in Chrome on Android.
You can clear your cookies and cache in the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping More button in the upper-right corner of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, and then tap Storythen Clear browser data. You can also access it via Chrome settings menu, tap privacy and security and then Clear browser data.
Chrome also offers basic and Progressive Preferences for deleting your Browser history, Cookies and Website Data and Cached images and files. You can use the… Period of time Drop-down menu to choose if you want to delete all history or a selection from the last 24 hours up to the last four weeks. Beat Progressive will also give you access to delete Saved Passwords, Autofill form data and page settings. After choosing what you want to delete, tap on the blue delete data Button. You may get an additional prompt if Chrome considers certain sites “important” for you, and if so, you’ll be given an opportunity to confirm this before deleting. Otherwise, if you don’t get this prompt, Chrome will immediately proceed with deleting as you instructed.
Continue reading: Ditch Google Chrome and use this privacy-focused browser instead
Clear Data and Clear Cache options for Samsung Internet.
There are two different ways to clear the cache and cookie data of your Samsung internet browser. You can delete it yourself in the browser or go to your phone’s Settings app.
To delete, first tap on the Samsung Internet Browser app radio button in the lower right corner, represented by three horizontal lines, then settings; scroll down and tap Personal datathen tap Clear browser data to get a menu of delete options. You can delete yours Browser history, Cookies and Website Data, Cached images and files, passwords and Fill out forms automatically in any combination. After typing delete datayou will then get a prompt asking you to confirm your choice before deleting.
Going through the browser app itself offers the most customization of what you want to delete. However, if you want to access similar options from your phone’s settings menu, open the settings app and tap applicationsthen scroll down to and tap on it Samsung internet and then storage.
At the bottom of the store you get separate options too clear cache and delete data. Beat clear cache will clear the cache immediately, but delete data brings up a command prompt warning you that all of the application’s data will be permanently deleted, including files, settings, accounts, and databases. While no cookies are specified, this “going nuclear” approach should zap any remaining data, allowing you to restart Samsung’s internet browser as if it were brand new.
Continue reading: Change these Android settings to get the most out of your phone
Similar to Google Chrome, you can clear cache in Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this feature, tap More Button to the right of the address bar, again symbolized by three vertically aligned dots. Then tap settings and scroll down to Clear browser data.
Clear browsing data menu in Mozilla Firefox on Android.
Of the three browsers we discuss here, Firefox gives you the most options at Clear browser data Menu that also allows you to delete existing ones open tabsyour Browser history and location data, Website Permissions and even yours Downloads folder next to it Cookies and Cached images and files.
While you can’t choose a time period like Chrome, you can be more specific about what type of data you want removed.
Continue reading: Browser privacy settings to change them as soon as possible in Firefox, Chrome and Safari
And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after they’re done using the app. Within the settings is a Clear browsing data on exit Option that tells Firefox to clear any combination of these same settings every time you exit the application. It’s a useful feature if you want to keep the browser tidy and, for example, want to prevent accidentally sharing your browsing history with someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.
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