How to clear the cookies in your Google Chrome browser on a desktop or mobile device

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  • You can clear the cookies on a Google Chrome browser in a couple of minutes, whether you’re on a computer, iOS device, or Android phone.
  • Most websites use cookies to store information such as logins and site data in your browser.
  • Clearing your cookies is sometimes necessary to ensure that your browser continues to work smoothly, as well as download the latest versions of the websites you visit often.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Most of us spend hours a day using the internet to work, scroll through social media sites, play games, do research, read blogs, and to endlessly Google the answers to inane questions that randomly pop into our heads. Hey, there’s nothing to be ashamed of!

All of this web surfing can fill up our browser’s cache pretty quickly, and if you’re using Google Chrome and find that things are getting a little sluggish, or you’re not loading the most recent version of a website that you know has been updated, it may be time to clear your browser’s cookies.

This can be done faster than you can Google "why do dogs wag their tails?" — here’s what you need to know.

How to clear cookies on Google Chrome from your computer

1. Open Google Chrome and locate the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.

2. After clicking on the dots, you will see a dropdown menu featuring a variety of menu options. Scroll until you reach "More tools…" and hover your mouse over it.

Chrome desktop 1Jennifer Still/Business Insider

3. Under the "More tools…" option, you’ll see an additional subset of customization options. Choose "Clear browsing data" by clicking on it, which will open a new screen. Note that you can reach this screen automatically by using the Ctrl+Shift+Delete keys on your PC’s keyboard, or Shift+Command+Delete on your Mac as well.

4. On the "Clear browsing data" screen, you will see various options for data which can be cleared from Chrome. In this instance, you want to click on "Advanced options" and ensure that the "Cached images and files" box is selected. You can verify this by looking for the blue tick to appear next to it.

Chrome desktop 2Jennifer Still/Business Insider

5. Click "Clear data" to begin the process of deleting the cookies stored in Chrome. Note that while you won’t be signed out of any Google applications like Gmail or Google Docs, you will likely need to sign into any other sites you may have been previously logged into again.

6. Once the process is completed, you can close the "Settings" tab and continue browsing as normal.

How to clear cookies on Google Chrome from an iPhone

1. Locate and tap the Chrome app icon on your iPhone’s home screen to launch the app.

2. On the browser’s home screen, click the "History" button to open your browsing history.

IMG_6500.PNGJennifer Still/Business Insider

3. On the bottom of your "History" screen, you will see an option in red to "Clear Browsing Data…" Click on this to be taken to a screen which contains several data options which you can choose to erase from your browser.

4. Ensure that "Cookies, Site Data" is selected by looking for a blue checkmark next to it on the right-hand side. When it is, click "Clear Browsing Data." A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm this decision.

IMG_6501Jennifer Still/Business Insider

5. One completed, click "Done" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and continue browsing as normal.

How to clear cookies on Google Chrome from an Android phone

1. Locate the Chrome app on your Android phone and open it.

2. In the upper right-hand corner of the app’s screen, tap "More" as signified by three vertically stacked dots.

3. Tap the "History" option and then "Clear Browsing Data" on the following screen.

4. Next to the "Cookies and Site Data" option, ensure that a blue checkmark appears, indicating that it’s been selected.

5. Tap "Clear data." Note that doing so will delete any active logins you have besides those on Google-owned sites. You will need to log in again after completing this action.

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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Jennifer Still)

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