When you use a browser like Chrome, information about websites you visit, downloads you make off the browser, and other things get saved in the browser’s cookies and cache.
So if your Android phone’s Google Chrome browser has started to become slow, it has most likely collected and stored too much browsing data.
Clearing your browser can lead to a faster and more seamless browsing experience. This is especially true if you notice that your browser is not loading as fast as it should or websites are not showing up-to-date information. It will also fix any formatting issues on websites.
When you clear your browser’s cache and cookies, all the information saved is deleted. This includes any passwords you have saved.
Any information you entered on any website will have to be entered again, and the load time of any sites you visited will increase because the browser needs to load the content of these web pages all over again.
When to clear the cache on your Chrome browser
You know it’s time to clean up your Chrome browser when:
- You start to experience a slower browsing experience,
- When you start to notice unwanted ads and pop-ups
- When Chrome notifies you that you have a virus on your phone.
- The Chrome homepage keeps changing automatically without your permission
- Your browser gets hijacked and redirects to unfamiliar pages
- Unwanted Chrome extensions or toolbars keep popping back up
How do you clean up Chrome on Android
You can do this in various ways, from using Chrome cleanup tools, clearing Chrome’s cache and cookies or browsing data, and using Malwarebytes to remove pop-ups and viruses.
This article is a step-by-step guide on how to get this done, so you can go back to experience the fast and efficient browsing experience you once had.
1. How to clear Chrome’s cookies and cache or browsing data
Cookies are files automatically created by sites you visit, which make your browsing experience faster by saving data.
On the other hand, the cache remembers certain parts of the page, such as images, helping them open much faster the next time you visit the site, reducing loading time.
Browsing data is the collective name for cache, cookies, and other files and information saved onto the browser.
To delete browsing data on your Android phone or tablet:
- Open the chrome app on your device
- On the top right corner, tap the ‘More’ option, often represented by three vertical dots.
- Click on ‘History’ and then ‘Clear browsing data.’
- At the top of the screen, choose the time range of data you would like to delete. If you want to delete everything, select ‘All times’
- Check the boxes alongside ‘Cookies and site data’ and ‘Cached images and files.’
- Click on ‘Clear data.’
To clear browsing files through the browser, open the menu, go to ‘History,’ and then clear history.
Alternatively, you can also open the browser’s settings, tap on ‘Privacy & Security, and then ‘Clear browsing data.
You can then choose whether you want to clear your browsing history, cookies, and cached images or files.
After you clear browsing data, some settings get deleted from sites you visited, and some sites might seem slower because the previously saved cache is no longer available.
However, you will stay signed in to your Google account on all apps.
2. Using the Chrome cleanup tool to remove malicious apps
Android devices are prone to malware programs while downloading certain applications or allowing permissions to malicious sites.
Although no cleanup tool can be downloaded for Android, you can still use internal clean up facilities on your Android device to remove malware from Chrome.
To identify and clean up unwanted applications that have caused problems on your device, follow the following simple steps:
- Press the power button and hold it down for a few seconds
- Select the ‘Power off option. Your phone or tablet will restart in safe mode, and you can verify this by checking the bottom of the screen. It should say ‘Safe mode.’
- One by one, remove the recently downloaded apps on your device. Then, please take note of the apps you have removed so you can add them back.
- After each removal, restart your device again to find out which app was causing the problem.
- Add back the other apps, leaving out the app causing problems.
3. Using Malwarebytes to remove pop-ups and viruses
Malwarebytes carries out virus scans and virus removals. It is typically free for use and can be installed from the Google Play Store.
Once you open the Malwarebytes for Android, the setup wizard will appear and guide you through the permissions and other configuration options.
Malwarebytes will request a certain set of permissions for Android, which are essential to check and defend your device against infection by viruses.
To proceed, tap ‘Give permission.’ Next, allow the program permission to access your mobile phone’s files by clicking on ‘Allow.’
To run a system scan, select ‘Run complete scan.’ The program will then display a screen with all the malware infestations it found.
Next, click on the Remove selected’ option to remove all the harmful apps and files found by Malwarebytes.
The program will now delete all the harmful apps and files you may have erroneously installed.
Finally, Malwarebytes will prompt you to restart your phone or tablet to finish the removal procedure.
Google Chrome should now be all clean and ready for you to use again. However, you must always take extra caution not to click on any links that may lead you to malicious sites or viruses.
Additionally, only download apps and extensions from trusted sources such as the Google Play Store and Chrome extensions.
Further, do not install anything that suggests security scanning software from any website, and get an ad-blocker to prevent your Android device from malicious software.
Remember, preventing your device from this harmful software is easier than fixing the problems once it is already infected.
