Browsers like Google Chrome save information from websites in their cache and cookies to make pages load faster. However, over time, this saved data can become outdated or corrupted, causing loading errors or formatting issues on websites.

Clearing this data is a standard troubleshooting step to resolve these issues.

Part 1: Accessing the Delete Tool

Step 1: Open the Menu

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. In the top right corner of the browser window, click the More icon (three vertical dots).
3. From the dropdown menu, click Delete browsing data...

Figure 1: Accessing the "Delete browsing data" option from the main menu.

Part 2: Selecting Data to Remove

Step 2: Configure Settings

A dialog box will appear allowing you to customize what you delete. To ensure the issue is fully resolved, please follow these specific settings:

1. Time range: Click the dropdown and select All time. We strongly recommend this setting to ensure no old data conflicts with your current session.
2. Select Information: Check the boxes for the following items:
   • Cookies and other site data (This will sign you out of most websites).
   • Cached images and files (This removes stored files causing formatting issues).
   • Hosted app data (This clears data from apps added from the Chrome Web Store).
3. Click the Delete data button.

Figure 2: Ensure "All time" is selected and the correct boxes are checked.

Part 3: Refreshing the Session

Step 3: Quit Chrome

Once the data has finished clearing (the settings window closes or the spinner stops), you must restart the browser to complete the process.

1. Do not just close the tab. You must fully quit the application.
2. On macOS: Click Chrome in the top menu bar and select Quit Google Chrome (or press Cmd + Q).
3. Relaunch Chrome and log back in to your required services.

Figure 3: Quitting the application completely.

Part 4: What Happens Next

After you clear your cache and cookies:

• Sign-ins: You will be signed out of most websites and will need to enter your credentials again.
• Loading Speed: Some sites may seem slower the first time you visit them after clearing the cache. This is normal, as the browser needs to re-download content like images and scripts.