How to Clear Chrome Cache and Cookies Without Losing Passwords

Quick answer: Open Chrome’s Delete browsing data screen, select only Cached images and files and—when needed—Cookies and other site data. Leave Passwords and passkeys or Saved passwords unselected. Use the shortest time range that covers the problem, then test the website again.

Cache and cookies are different. The cache stores copies of page resources such as images and text. Cookies and site data remember sessions, preferences, shopping carts, and other website state. Clearing either can fix a loading or sign-in problem, but it does not make you anonymous and it is not a routine speed-boosting task.

Choose the narrowest fix first

• One page looks old or broken: reload it first. If the problem remains, clear cached images and files for a short time range.
• One website has a login loop or wrong account: remove that website’s cookies instead of signing out of every site.
• Many websites are behaving incorrectly: clear the relevant categories for a wider time range.
• You cannot sign in because you forgot a password: do not clear saved passwords. Use the website’s official account-recovery route.

Before you delete anything

1. Confirm that you can sign back in to important websites and access your two-step verification method.
2. Open Google Password Manager and check that important credentials are available before changing password-related data.
3. Note any shopping cart, draft form, or unsaved work that depends on the current website session.
4. Read every selected category and the time range. Do not assume Chrome selected only cache.

Important: Passwords are a separate data category. Clearing cache or cookies should not require selecting saved passwords. If Chrome shows different wording on your device, stop and read the confirmation screen before deleting.

What each Chrome category removes

Category	What changes	Common reason to use it
Cached images and files	Removes stored copies of page resources. Sites may load more slowly once while rebuilding the cache.	A page looks outdated, incomplete, or incorrectly formatted.
Cookies and other site data	May sign you out and remove website preferences, carts, or consent choices.	A site is stuck in a sign-in loop or remembers the wrong state.
Browsing history	Removes visited-page history and some address-bar suggestions.	You intentionally want to remove visited-page records.
Passwords and passkeys / Saved passwords	Deletes saved sign-in credentials covered by the selection.	Only when you deliberately want to remove those credentials.
Autofill form data	Removes saved form entries; account-saved addresses or cards may be handled separately.	You intentionally want to remove saved form information.
Site settings	Resets permissions such as camera, location, notifications, or JavaScript choices.	A site permission is wrong and you want to configure it again.

Delete cookies for one website on a computer

This is usually safer than clearing every cookie when only one website is broken.

1. Open Chrome and select the three-dot menu.
2. Open Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies.
3. Select See all site data and permissions.
4. Search for the website’s name and verify the domain before deleting anything.
5. Select Delete beside that site, then confirm.
6. Reload the website and sign in again if required.

Clear Chrome cache or cookies on a computer

1. Open Chrome and select the three-dot menu > Delete browsing data.
2. Choose a time range. Start with a short range if the problem began recently.
3. Select Cached images and files. Select Cookies and other site data only if the problem involves website state or sign-in.
4. Leave passwords, passkeys, autofill, and other unrelated categories unselected.
5. Select Delete data, reopen the affected page, and test it.

Clear Chrome cache or cookies on Android

1. Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu to the right of the address bar.
2. Tap Delete browsing data.
3. Choose the time range. Chrome may initially show a short default period.
4. Tap More options when you need category-level control.
5. Select only the data you intend to remove. Keep saved passwords unselected.
6. Tap Delete data, then reopen and test the website.

Clear Chrome cache or cookies on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Chrome and tap More > Delete Browsing Data.
2. Next to Time Range, choose the shortest suitable duration.
3. Tap Browsing Data and select the categories you want to delete.
4. Leave password-related data unselected, then tap Confirm.
5. Tap Delete Browsing Data and test the website again.

Understand Google Account sync

When a data type is saved to your Google Account, deleting it while signed in can remove it from the account and from other signed-in devices. Read the account and sync warning shown by Chrome before confirming. Deleting cookies while signed in to Chrome does not necessarily sign you out of the Google Account used by Chrome; signing out of Chrome is a separate action.

If you are preparing to give away a device, clearing browser data alone is not a complete handover process. Sign out of Chrome and the device accounts, back up needed files, and use the device maker’s official reset instructions.

How to confirm the fix worked

1. Close the affected tab and reopen the website from its known address.
2. Check whether the page now loads correctly or the sign-in loop has stopped.
3. If you cleared cookies, confirm that the expected sign-in screen appears and that other unrelated sites stayed signed in when you removed only one site’s data.
4. Open Password Manager and confirm that saved passwords remain available.

When clearing data will not help

Clearing cache or cookies will not repair weak Wi-Fi, fix a website outage, remove a faulty browser extension, or protect an account after a password was entered on a phishing page. Try another device or Chrome profile, update Chrome, disable only the extension you suspect, and check the service’s official status page.

If the problem began after installing an unfamiliar program, use the checks in How to Download Software Safely and Avoid Fake Installers. If a suspicious message sent you to the page, follow How to Spot a Phishing Email or Text Message before entering any password.

Frequently asked questions

Will clearing cache delete my bookmarks?

No. Bookmarks are a separate data type. Still, review the exact categories displayed by your Chrome version before confirming.

Why was I signed out after clearing cookies?

Websites often use cookies to remember a signed-in session. Removing those cookies commonly requires a new sign-in.

Should I clear everything every day?

Usually not. Delete the narrowest category, website, and time range that matches a real troubleshooting or privacy need.

Does clearing cookies remove my Google search history?

Not necessarily. Google activity stored in your account is managed separately from Chrome’s local browsing data.

Official Google sources

• Delete browsing data in Chrome — Computer
• Delete browsing data in Chrome — Android
• Delete browsing data in Chrome — iPhone and iPad
• Delete, allow, and manage cookies in Chrome