Just like on PC, cleaning junk files on your Android phone is good every now and then. Clearing the cookies and cache on your Android phone’s web browser is a good way to get rid of it, as it is likely to build up when you visit many different websites every day. Whether your phone uses Google Chrome, Firefox or Samsung Internet, your browser collects and stores data every time you surf the web. This information forms your cookies and cache, and it helps your phone log into your accounts faster and load frequently visited sites.
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But this data eventually takes up space on your phone, while possibly also including cookies that are tracking your browsing history with the intention of serving personalized ads. (I’ve been seeing ads for glasses for cruise vacations after visiting a few online stores to compare prices and styles, as well as some potential getaways.)
It doesn’t hurt to clear this data occasionally to keep your web browser lean, running efficiently and, ideally, storing as few tracking cookies as possible.
On Android, the steps are slightly different 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 with many Android phones like the Google Pixel). Default for Line), Samsung’s Internet browser (often the default on Galaxy phone series) and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. If you also have certain Apple devices, you can also check out our separate guide on how to clear your cache on iPhone web browser.
“Clear browsing data” menu in Chrome on Android.
Screenshot by Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Google Chrome
You can clear your cookies and cache on the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping more button In the upper right corner of the browser, indicated by the column of three dots, then tap historyThen clear browsing Data, You can also access it from Chrome Adjustment menu, tapping Privacy & Security and then clear browsing Data,
Chrome also offers basic And advanced Settings to clear your browsing history, Cookies and Site Data And Saved Images and Files, you can use time limit Drop-down to choose whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection of any locations from the last 24 hours to the last four weeks. harness advanced will also allow you to delete saved passwords, autofill form data And site settings, After selecting what you want to delete, tap on the blue one clear data switch. You may receive an additional prompt if Chrome deems certain websites “important” to you, and if so you will have a chance to confirm before clearing. Otherwise if you don’t receive that prompt, Chrome will proceed to clean up as directed by you.
read moreSkip Google Chrome and use this privacy-focused browser instead
samsung internet
“Clear data” and “Clear cache” options for Samsung Internet.
Screenshot by Mike Sorrentino/CNET
You can clear the cache and cookie data of your Samsung Internet browser in two different ways. You can clear it from within the browser itself, or you can go to your phone’s Settings app.
To clear while in the Samsung Internet Browser app, first tap option button represented by three horizontal lines in the lower right corner, then Adjustment, Scroll down and tap personal datathen tap delete browsing data to get a menu of options to delete. you can clear your browsing history, Cookies and Site Data, Saved Images and Files, Passwords And autofill form in any combination. after tapping delete dataYou will then receive a prompt asking you to confirm your options before deleting.
The browser offers the most customization of what you want to delete by going through the app. However, if you want to access the same options from your phone’s Settings menu, open Adjustment app and tap AppsThen scroll down and tap samsung internet and then storage,
Under Storage, you find different options clear cache And clear data, harness clear cache will clear the cache immediately, but clear data Brings up a prompt that warns you that all data in the application will be permanently deleted, including files, settings, accounts, and databases. While it doesn’t specify cookies, this “going nuclear” approach should zap all remaining data, allowing you to restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were brand new.
read moreChange these Android settings to get the most out of your phone:
mozilla firefox
Similar to Google Chrome, you can clear cookies and cache with the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this function, tap More switch To the right of the address bar, again symbolized by three vertically aligned dots. then tap Adjustment and scroll down delete browsing data,
The “Delete browsing data” menu in Mozilla Firefox on Android.
Screenshot by Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Out of the three browsers we are discussing here, Firefox gives you the most options delete browsing data menu, allows you to delete any existing open tabYours browsing history and site data, site permissions and even your download together folder cookies And Saved Images and Files,
While you can’t choose a time limit for Chrome, you can be more specific about what kind of data you want to remove.
read moreBrowser Privacy Settings to Change ASAP in Firefox, Chrome and Safari
And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after using the app. there is one inside the settings Delete browsing data on quit option, which instructs Firefox to erase any combination of these same settings every time you quit the application. This is a useful feature if you want to keep the browser clean and, say, avoid accidentally handing over your browser history to someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.
For more information, check out everything there is to know about Google’s new operating system, Android 13, including how to download the beta now. Plus, take a look at CNET’s list of the best Android apps and some settings you might want to change on your current phone.
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