Clear Out Junk Files Fast by Deleting Your Android Web Browser’s Cookies, Cache

Web browsers on Android are designed to keep you moving fast. To achieve this, they cache data and cookies, making websites load quickly and keeping logins easy. But that comes at a price — storage space.

Over time, that cached data and cookies add up and slow down your device. You might see your phone start lagging or even encounter loading errors because of this. Here’s how to get rid of this browser baggage for a clean slate.

Clearing Android web browser cache and data

It’s easiest to delete cookies and cache while inside your preferred browser app. You can easily clear these by navigating through your settings.

Here’s how you clear them out on the following Android web browsers:

Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three dots at the top right corner to bring up the settings menu.
3. Tap on “Settings.”
4. Scroll down and tap on “Privacy and security.”
5. Select “Clear browsing data.” You may need to tap “Advanced” to see more options.
6. From the available options, choose: “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.” If desired, also select other options, such as “Browsing history.”
7. Tap on “Clear data” to complete the process.

Firefox

1. Open the Firefox app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner to bring up the settings menu.
3. Tap on “Settings.” Scroll down to “Privacy and security” then tap on “Clear Private Data.”
4. Enable the “Cookies,” “Cache,” and “Browsing History” boxes (and any others you want to clear).
5. Tap on “Clear Data.” You’ll need to tap on “OK” again when the warning pops up.

Samsung Internet

1. Open the Samsung Internet app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three dots at the bottom right corner to bring up the settings menu.
3. Tap on “Settings.” Scroll down to “Privacy and security.” Then, tap on “Clear data.”
4. Choose what data to delete from the following options: Cookies and site data, Cached data, or all other data.
5. Tap on “Clear data.” You will need to confirm your decision.

Other web browsers

To delete cookies and cache in other Android web browsers like Opera, Microsoft Edge, or Brave, use similar steps as above. Open the app’s settings menu and search for a button or option to “Clear cache” and “Clear cookies.”

Clear all your Android app data (factory reset for apps)

Clearing cache and cookies may be sufficient for a smoother web experience on your phone. If your phone is still feeling sluggish, clearing your data can resolve a number of problems you might be encountering.

Clearing your Android apps’ data can potentially lead to a faster phone but you must be prepared to reset some of your settings or log back into apps as data will be lost.

It’s a pretty comprehensive solution to issues, such as phone lagging, error messages, and a battery that drains quickly. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Apps & notifications” or similar, followed by “See all apps.” You can often find a quick “Apps” option on the “Settings” menu screen as well.
3. If the “See all apps” option is not available on your phone, instead tap on “All apps.”
4. Select the app for which you wish to clear the cache. Then tap on “Storage & cache” for Chrome or “Storage” for Firefox.
5. Tap on “Clear cache.” This option allows you to retain app preferences but removes temporary files and data.
6. Alternatively, tap on “Clear data” if you want to completely reset the app. This option is a bit more drastic because it resets app data, which may affect login information. You will have to sign back into all your apps, such as Google Chrome and Firefox.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small files that a website sends to your device to make browsing a bit easier and store your login information so you can easily access the web pages you visit regularly. Your Android device is constantly loading web pages as you scroll up and down the various web pages and apps you’re visiting.

These small data files, called cookies, store your browsing information on web pages, so you won’t need to manually log into a page when you return to it. These can add up quickly and, if the sites aren’t reliable, can slow down the overall performance of your device. That is where clearing your data or your cache is so helpful.

Cookies are relatively harmless, but there are instances when malicious web pages utilize them to track and harvest your browsing data.

What is the browser cache?

Every time you use your internet browser, your device stores some files that include web images, content, and video that are needed for various pages on websites you are visiting. Your phone loads them in your browser, making them visible when you are accessing pages online.

The browser cache also allows these web pages to load more quickly, as your browser has these files and doesn’t have to repeatedly download them when you go back to that page. While the cache is supposed to help make things run faster, there can be a downside. It can lead to excessive use of storage space, potentially making your phone slower.

Like with cookies, the cache files also help avoid overloading your internet data plan.

Extra Tips

Consider downloading an app like CCleaner if you need an alternative solution. The app, also known as the CCleaner mobile app, helps users clean junk files and cached files for an optimized mobile experience.

To maintain the optimum performance of your device, it is important to remember to regularly clear out junk files and keep track of data consumption. The storage of cached data can really impact your battery life.