It is essentially important for you to know how to clear your cache and cookies if you own a PC. Does your PC take ages to load web pages? Do you know that the problem can be your browsing history? Browsers track information about your preferences, searches, and browsing history while you use the internet. It’s good practice to frequently delete your cache and cookies to keep your browser functioning at its best. Continue reading to learn what these are called, why they are present, and how to erase them from various browsers.
See also: 5 ways to speed up Google Chrome
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What are cookies?
“We use cookies to make your experience better”
You must have seen this message pop up often on your screen while browsing various sites, and you must have accepted all the cookies. But do you know what it means or what harm it can cause to your device? You will find all the answers in this article. You can also learn to Remove Bloatware from Windows 11 on our website.
What exactly is a cache?
The area of your hard drive devoted to storing browser data that the browser anticipates using again is referred to as the “cache.” Without it, every page you access would require you to start the download of a substantial amount of data from scratch, which would significantly slow down the performance of your browser.
The website’s logo, background pictures, typefaces, as well as technical components like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, are all included in this. For just one website, this might total dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of files. Your future website visits will be speedier thanks to the cache, which also enhances your entire online experience. So why on earth would you erase the cache if it is so efficient?
Need to clear the cache and cookies on the PC
For the following reasons, you must review cookie settings or cookie preferences or delete cookies from your browser:
- Boost security: Cookies may be taken over by hackers, who would then have access to browser sessions and the ability to steal personal information.
- Cookies gather personal data about you; thus it is important to protect that data. Websites track your online behavior with the use of this data to create more complete profiles of your browsing patterns or to target you with relevant advertisements.
- When utilizing shared or public computers, use caution. If you don’t remove your cookies after each session when using a public computer, the person who logs on after you might possibly see what you were browsing. If you neglect to log out, they may potentially access your online banking or shopping accounts.
- In order to speed up the process, the first time you visit a website, your hard drive saves the pages you view. It will load more rapidly the next time you come instead of downloading the pages over. However, as time passes, you could amass a large number of cookies, which will slow down your system. The process can be sped up by deleting them.
See also: 25 ways to optimize your PC in 2022
Clear the cache and cookies in Chrome
Choose More tools > Clear browsing data from the three dots menu in Chrome’s top right. This will open a dialogue box where you may remove your browser history, download history (but not the downloaded files themselves), cookies, cached pictures and files (which make pages load quicker when you return), stored passwords, and other information. Only information from the most recent hour, day, week, or month can be deleted.
You cannot choose Chrome to not save your browsing history. Even worse, Google is continuously logging your app and online activities. However, you can frequently erase it. Click on Web & App Activity at myactivity.google.com ( opens in a new window). Uncheck Turn on Auto-Delete and include Chrome History and Activity so that Google deletes everything older than three, eighteen, or three years (your choice). To erase even more, click Manage all Web & App Activity (opens in a new window).
Clear the cache in Microsoft Edge
All of the aforementioned reasons also apply to Microsoft Edge because it is also based on Chromium. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del to access your browser history; put “edge:/settings/clearBrowserData” into the URL bar; or select “Clear Browsing Data” from the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services and click “Choose what to erase.”
Get rid of cookies, browsing history, and other data for the same dates, including the most recent hour and all time, plus intervals. If you do, it is also deleted from any devices with which Edge has been synchronized. Sign out of the browser first to prevent that.
You’ll find a link that reads “Choose what to clear every time you exit the browser” if you go back a step in Settings. To remove it each time, toggle the Browser History option.
Microsoft stores part of your web history similarly to Google. You may remove the synchronized browser activity history by visiting the privacy page on your Microsoft account (which opens in a new window) by clicking Manage your data.
Clear the cache on Safari
Safari reigns on macOS. It’s easy to delete your website visit history: just select History > Clear History. In the pop-up, select a timeframe for how far back you wish to wipe. But this also removes your cookies and data cache, which is a lot more than just clearing off your browser history.
Instead, you may select History > Show All History and look for specific websites you wish to remove from your history. By selecting Safari > Preferences > Privacy, you may delete cookies and manage website data using the button.
I hope these ways will help you to empty the cache and speed up your device. If it was helpful, then do let us know in the comments down below. Also, if you’re interested in similar articles, then here are a few recommendations for you. Top 10 budget laptops under Rs. 52,000 How to install or upgrade to Windows 11? How to install WhatsApp in Laptop?