Why Clearing the Cache and Cookies on Your Android Phone Is a Good Idea
Does your phone use Google Chrome, Firefox or Samsung Internet? If so, we’ll show you how to boost your privacy (and maybe even speed, too).
Whether you have a Galaxy S21 (shown above) or other Android phone, clearing your browser cache and cookies is simple.
Clearing your Android phone browser’s cookies and cache may sound complicated, but it’s actually easier than you might think. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of occasionally clearing out that data, no matter which Android smartphone you use. (Yes, that includes the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Google Pixel 6.)
What Are Cache and Cookies, And Why Do They Matter
Every time you visit a website, your browser collects and stores small bits of information:
- Cookies: These are files that remember your login credentials, site preferences, and activity on a website. While cookies help sites load faster and personalise your experience, many are also used for tracking your online behaviour to serve targeted ads.
For example, after comparing a few eyeglass stores online, you might notice ads for glasses following you across social media or YouTube.
- Cache: Cached files, on the other hand, include images, scripts, and other website elements stored on your device. Cache helps websites load faster when you revisit them, but over time, accumulated cached files can slow down your browser and take up unnecessary storage space.
By regularly clearing cookies and cache, you can:
- Improve browser speed by removing outdated files.
- Free up storage space on your Android phone.
- Enhance privacy by limiting online tracking.
- Fix glitches or errors that may occur when websites update, but your browser still uses old cached data.
Pro tip: Even if your phone feels fast, clearing the cache and cookies occasionally can prevent issues before they happen.
Whether your phone uses Google Chrome, Firefox or Samsung Internet, your browser collects and stores data every time you surf the web. This information makes up your cookies and cache, and it helps your phone speedily log in to your accounts and load frequently visited sites.
But this data eventually builds up, taking up space on your phone while also probably including cookies that are tracking your browsing history with the intention of serving personalised advertising.
It doesn’t hurt to occasionally clear this data out in order to keep your web browser lean, running efficiently and, ideally, storing as few tracking cookies as possible.
On Android, the steps differ slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser app you’re using, so below we’ll go over how to clear this data for the Google Chrome browser (often the default for many Android phones like the Google Pixel line), Samsung’s Internet browser (often the default on the Galaxy phone series) and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. You can also check out our separate guide on how to clear your cache on an iPhone web browser in case you have a few Apple devices to clear out, too.
Google Chrome
You can delete your cookies and cache from within the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping the More button in the top right corner of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, then tapping History, then Clear browsing data. You can also access this from the Chrome Settings menu, tapping Privacy and Security and then Clear browsing data.
Chrome also offers Basic and Advanced settings for clearing your Browsing history, Cookies and site data and Cached images and files. You can use the Time range drop-down to select whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection of anywhere from the past 24 hours up to the last four weeks. Tapping Advanced will also give you access to deleting saved passwords, Autofill form data and Site settings. After selecting what you want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button, and it will then delete without any other prompts, so just make sure you’re zapping exactly what you want to zap.
Remember: Deleting passwords or autofill data will log you out of websites.
Samsung Internet
There are two different ways you can clear your Samsung Internet browser’s cache and cookie data. You can clear from within the browser itself, or you can go through your phone’s Settings app.
To clear while in the Samsung Internet browser app, first tap the Options button in the bottom right corner represented by three horizontal lines, then Settings; scroll down to and tap Personal Data, then tap Delete browsing data to get a menu of options to delete. You can clear your Browsing history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, Passwords and Autofill forms in any combination. After tapping Delete data, you’ll then receive a prompt asking for you to confirm your choices before deleting.
Going through the browser app itself provides the most customisation of what you want to delete. However, if you want to access similar options from your phone’s settings menu, open the Settings app and tap on Apps, then scroll down to and tap Samsung Internet and then Storage.
At the bottom of Storage, you get separate options to Clear cache and Clear data. Tapping Clear cache will immediately delete the cache, but Clear data brings up a prompt that warns you that all of the application’s data will be deleted permanently, including files, settings, accounts and databases. While it doesn’t specify cookies, this “going nuclear” approach should zap all remaining data, letting you restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were brand-new.
Remember: Using “Clear data” is a “nuclear” option because your browser will behave as if it’s brand new post that.
Mozilla Firefox
Much as with Google Chrome, you can clear the cookies and cache from within the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this function, tap the More button on the right of the address bar, again symbolised by three vertically aligned dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to Delete browsing data. Of the three browsers we’re discussing here, Firefox gives you the most options under the Delete browsing data menu, allowing you to also delete any existing Open tabs, your Browsing history and site data, Site permissions and even your Downloads folder alongside Cookies and Cached images and files.
While you can’t pick a time range as you can for Chrome, you can be more specific regarding what type of data you would like to remove.
And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after they’re done using the app. Inside settings is a Delete browsing data on quit option, which instructs Firefox to wipe any combination of these same settings every time you quit the application. It’s a useful feature if you’d like to keep the browser tidy and, say, avoid accidentally handing off your browser history to someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.
For more, check out everything to know about Google’s new operating system, Android 13, including how to download the beta now. Also, take a look at CNET’s list of the best Android apps and some settings you’ll want to change on your current phone.
Remember: Firefox’s “Delete on quit” feature is perfect for users who value privacy or share their devices.
When and How Often Should You Clear Cache and Cookies?
- Monthly: A good baseline for regular phone users.
- After heavy browsing or shopping, clear cookies if you’ve visited multiple e-commerce or tracking-heavy websites.
- When troubleshooting: If a website isn’t loading properly, clearing the cache often resolves errors.
Tip: Set reminders to clear your browser data monthly or use built-in browser features like Firefox’s automatic deletion.
Additional Tips for Maintaining Android Browser Health
- Update your browser regularly: Browser updates improve speed, fix bugs, and enhance security.
- Use private/incognito mode: This prevents cookies and cache from being stored during sensitive browsing sessions.
- Limit cookie permissions: Many browsers allow you to block third-party cookies to minimise tracking.
Consider a secure browser: For extra privacy, browsers like Brave or DuckDuckGo offer built-in ad-blocking and automatic data clearing.
Why Clearing Cache and Cookies Is More Important Than You Think
- Performance: Removes old files that are slowing down your browsing experience.
- Security: Eliminates stored credentials that could be accessed if your phone is lost or hacked.
- Privacy: Reduces personalised ads and tracking by third-party cookies.
- Troubleshooting: Fixes display errors, login problems, or broken websites caused by outdated cached data.
Think of clearing your cache and cookies like cleaning out your desk drawer; removing clutter makes everything easier to access.
Clearing cache and cookies is a simple yet powerful habit that keeps your Android phone running efficiently, improves privacy, and ensures a smoother browsing experience. Whether you use Chrome, Samsung Internet, or Firefox, taking a few minutes to perform this task regularly is well worth it.
For more Android optimisation tips, check out our guides on Android 13 features, the best apps for productivity, and advanced privacy settings to make the most out of your device. Also, check out CNET’s list of the top Android apps to replace the ones on your phone as well.