Clear Browser Cache and Cookies Correctly
Fix website loading errors, login issues and old page display problems.
Cache, cookies and history – what they are
| Item | What it stores | If you clear it |
|---|---|---|
| Cache | Copies of images, CSS and scripts so pages open faster | Pages load slightly slower once; fixes old/broken page versions |
| Cookies and site data | Logins, cart items, language choices, tracking | You are signed out of websites; settings reset |
| Browsing history | List of pages you visited | Address-bar suggestions disappear |
| Saved passwords / autofill | Passwords, addresses, card details | You must type them again – clear only if needed |
When clearing helps
- A website shows an old version, broken layout or keeps loading after an update.
- Login or OTP pages loop or show “session expired”.
- A college/government portal does not accept a form submission.
- You used a shared or cyber-café computer (clear everything and sign out).
Try the light fix first: press Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + Shift + R) for a hard refresh, or open the site in an Incognito window. If that works, clear data only for that one site.
Clear data for one website only (best)
- Open the website in Chrome/Edge.
- Click the site information icon left of the address (tune/padlock icon).
- Chrome: Site settings → Delete data (or “Cookies and site data → Manage on-device site data → delete”). Edge: Cookies and site data → Manage → delete.
- Reload the page and sign in again.
Clear everything (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete in any browser.
- Time range: All time (or Last 24 hours if the problem is new).
- Tick Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Untick passwords unless you really want to remove them.
- Click Delete data / Clear now, then restart the browser.
On Android and iPhone
- Chrome (Android/iPhone): ⋮ → Delete browsing data → choose items and time range.
- Safari (iPhone): Settings → Apps → Safari → Clear History and Website Data (older iOS: Settings → Safari).
- An app misbehaving on Android: Settings → Apps → the app → Storage → Clear cache (Clear storage/data signs you out and resets the app).
Privacy beyond clearing
- Incognito/InPrivate does not hide you from your school/office network, your internet provider or the websites you sign in to – it only avoids saving history on the device.
- Block third-party cookies: Chrome Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies.
- On shared computers never tick “Remember me”, and sign out of Google/email before leaving.
Cache, cookies और history – ये क्या हैं
| चीज़ | क्या रखता है | साफ़ करने पर |
|---|---|---|
| Cache | Images, CSS और scripts की copies ताकि pages जल्दी खुलें | Pages एक बार थोड़ा धीमे खुलते हैं; पुराने/टूटे page versions ठीक होते हैं |
| Cookies और site data | Logins, cart items, भाषा, tracking | Websites से sign out; settings reset |
| Browsing history | देखे गए pages की list | Address-bar के सुझाव गायब |
| Saved passwords / autofill | Passwords, addresses, card details | दोबारा type करने होंगे – ज़रूरत हो तभी साफ़ करें |
कब साफ़ करना मदद करता है
- Website पुराना version, टूटा layout दिखाए या update के बाद load होती रहे।
- Login या OTP pages घूमते रहें या “session expired” दिखाएँ।
- College/सरकारी portal form submit स्वीकार न करे।
- आपने साझा या cyber-café computer इस्तेमाल किया (सब साफ़ करें और sign out)।
पहले हल्का उपाय आज़माएँ: hard refresh के लिए Ctrl + F5 (या Ctrl + Shift + R), या site को Incognito window में खोलें। इससे काम बने तो सिर्फ़ उसी site का data साफ़ करें।
सिर्फ़ एक website का data साफ़ करें (सबसे अच्छा)
- Chrome/Edge में website खोलें।
- Address के बाईं ओर site information icon (tune/ताला icon) पर click करें।
- Chrome: Site settings → Delete data (या “Cookies and site data → Manage on-device site data → delete”)। Edge: Cookies and site data → Manage → delete।
- Page reload करके दोबारा sign in करें।
सब कुछ साफ़ करें (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
- किसी भी browser में Ctrl + Shift + Delete दबाएँ।
- Time range: All time (या समस्या नई हो तो Last 24 hours)।
- Cached images and files और Cookies and other site data tick करें। Passwords तभी tick करें जब सच में हटाने हों।
- Delete data / Clear now पर click करके browser restart करें।
Android और iPhone पर
- Chrome (Android/iPhone): ⋮ → Delete browsing data → items और time range चुनें।
- Safari (iPhone): Settings → Apps → Safari → Clear History and Website Data (पुराने iOS: Settings → Safari)।
- Android पर कोई app गड़बड़ करे: Settings → Apps → app → Storage → Clear cache (Clear storage/data से sign out और app reset)।
साफ़ करने से आगे privacy
- Incognito/InPrivate आपको school/office network, internet provider या जिन websites पर sign in करते हैं उनसे नहीं छिपाता – यह सिर्फ़ device पर history save नहीं करता।
- Third-party cookies block करें: Chrome Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies।
- साझा computers पर कभी “Remember me” tick न करें, और जाने से पहले Google/email से sign out करें।
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No, not unless you also tick “Passwords and other sign-in data”. Clearing cookies signs you out of websites, but saved passwords remain.
How often should I clear cache?
There is no need to clear it regularly. Clear it when a site misbehaves, after using a shared computer, or if storage is very low.
What is the shortcut to clear browsing data?
Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens the clear browsing data window in Chrome, Edge and Firefox on Windows.
