In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to delete all the browsing history, cache, cookies, and site data in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox to troubleshoot browser issues, log out of all websites, or start with a fresh slate.
You may want to clear browser history, cache, and data for these reasons:
- Remove the list of websites you have visited.
- Fix one or more websites not working properly. For instance, Amazon loads but doesn’t display any products.
- Fix a website not loading for you even though it works on your other devices.
- Address web browser slowness and random crashes (also update your browser to solve this).
- Log out of all websites in a few clicks.
- Delete all local files the browser has stored on the device.
You can choose to delete browsing data for a recent time period or for all time. If you’re doing this for troubleshooting purposes, consider going with the all-time option.
We’re using a Mac for these steps, but they also work if you’re on a Windows computer.
Delete browsing history and cache in Google Chrome
1) Open Google Chrome on your Mac or PC, click the three dots menu icon from the top right corner, and select Settings.
If you’re on a Mac, you can also click Chrome > Settings from the top menu bar or just press the command + , (comma) keys. This keyboard shortcut works in nearly all macOS apps to go to their settings.
2) Click Privacy and security from the left sidebar.
3) Click Delete browsing data.
4) Now, select a time frame from the top: Last 15 min, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time.
5) You can leave everything checked, except for Passwords and passkeys (i.e., the usernames and passwords for your online accounts).
The good thing about recent versions of Chrome is that the ‘Passwords and passkeys’ option is listed separately under the ‘Manage other Google data’ heading, so you don’t select and delete them accidentally. If you’re signed into Chrome with your Google account, the ‘Manage other Google data’ section also has links to access and delete your search history and Google activity.
6) Now, click Delete data and wait until it’s done.
7) Quit and reopen Chrome or restart your computer. Then, sign in to your Google and other accounts as needed.
In the future, you can also click History > Show full history from Mac’s menu bar and then select Delete browsing data.
The steps for other Chromium-based browsers, like Edge, Brave, and Opera, are fundamentally similar.
Delete browsing history and cache in Firefox
1) Launch Firefox on your Mac or Windows PC, click the hamburger menu icon from the top right, and select Settings.
2) Click Privacy & Security from the left side.
3) Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Browsing Data. If you want to delete cookies and cache of specific websites, click Manage browsing data instead.
4) Select the time period from the top: Last hour, Last two hours, Last four hours, Since 12:00 AM, or Everything.
5) Check the box for Browsing & download history and other options, before clicking the Clear button.
6) Reopen Firefox and sign back in to your important websites, such as Gmail, Facebook, X, etc.
On a related note: