One thing you must know: your Android web browser collects data and stores it in your cookies and caches. This is sometimes helpful: for example, it lets you log into your own account.
But if this data accumulates enough, it will take up space on your phone, and may also include cookies that track your browsing history for the purpose of personalizing advertising.
It has to be said that it is necessary to clear these data occasionally, On Android, these steps will vary slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser application you’re using, so let’s take a look at a few of the more popular browser removal methods on the market:
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 browsing history, cookies and site data, and Cached images and files. You can use the Time Range drop-down list to choose whether you want to delete the entire history or any location from the last 24 hours to the past four weeks. Clicking “Advanced” also deletes saved passwords, autofill form data, and site settings. Once you’ve chosen what you want to delete, click on the blue Clear data button and it will be deleted without any other prompting, so just make sure you’re switching exactly what you want to switch.
Mozilla Firefox
Just like Google Chrome, you can clear cookies and caches in the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this feature, click on the “More” button to the right of the address bar, which is also represented by three vertically-aligned dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to delete browsing data.
Firefox gives you the most options under the “Delete Browsing Data” menu, allowing you to delete any existing open tabs, browsing history and website data, website permissions, and even delete cookies, cached images, and download folders next to files.
While you can’t choose a time range like Chrome, you can be more specific about which type of data to delete.
Firefox also offers an additional option for users who no longer want to keep browsing data after using the app. Inside the settings, there is a “Delete browsing data on exit” option, which instructs Firefox to remove any combination of these same settings each time it exits the app. This is a useful feature if you want to keep your browser clean, for example, to avoid accidentally handing over your browser history to someone who might steal or otherwise gain access to your phone.
Samsung Internet
There are two different ways to clear the cache and cookie data of your Samsung internet browser. You can clear it from the browser itself, or you can do so 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.
Browsing the browser application itself allows you to customize as much as possible what you want to remove. 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 on Samsung Internet and then tap on 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.
Occasionally clearing cookies and caches can speed up your phone and extend battery life. When allowed, this may also have some losses, for example, you have to log in to your account again. But overall, the pros outweigh the cons.
