When a site looks outdated or loads incorrectly, clearing cached files can be a useful troubleshooting step. It is not a reason to erase every category of browser data. Choose only the data you intend to remove and test the same page afterward so you know whether the change helped.
Open Chrome’s Delete browsing data dialog, choose a time range, and select Cached images and files. Leave unrelated categories unchecked.
Go straight to the stepsBefore you begin
Save unfinished work. Cookies, history, passwords, and cached files are different categories; check every selected box before confirming.
What you’ll need
- Desktop Google Chrome
- The page you are troubleshooting
Let’s do this
Step by step
- 01
Try a normal reload first
Refresh the affected page. Note the error or visible problem so you can compare the result after clearing data.
- 02
Open browsing-data controls
From Chrome’s three-dot menu, choose Delete browsing data. On Windows, Ctrl + Shift + Delete is another way to reach the controls.
- 03
Select only what you need
Choose a relevant time range and select Cached images and files. Leave browsing history, cookies, passwords, and other categories unchecked unless you deliberately want to remove them too.
- 04
Confirm and revisit the page
Delete the selected data, then reload the site. Check whether the original problem has actually changed.
- 05
Stop repeating an ineffective fix
If nothing changes, record the exact error and investigate the site, connection, extensions, or account state. Repeatedly deleting the same cache is unlikely to reveal a different cause.
Cache and cookies solve different problems
A cache holds downloaded resources so the browser can reuse them. Cookies and site data can affect a signed-in session or site preferences. A visual problem and an account problem may therefore need different checks.
If someone tells you to clear “everything,” ask which category addresses the symptom. For example, an outdated image might justify a cache refresh; a password reset email that never arrives is a different issue. Keeping the symptom specific makes troubleshooting much quicker.
Write a tiny troubleshooting note
Record three things: the page, what went wrong, and what happened after the change. “Checkout button stayed gray after cache-only clear” is useful. “Browser broken” is not. This note helps you avoid cycling through the same suggestions if you later contact support.
A quick final check
- Only the intended categories were selected.
- The original symptom was tested again.
- Any remaining error was recorded accurately.
Common questions & sticking points
Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords?
Not when you select only cached files. Review the dialog carefully because other categories can have separate effects.
Why did clearing data sign me out?
Cookies or other site data may also have been selected. Cache-only clearing and clearing a site’s session data are different operations.
Sources & further reading Optional
References used to check this guide. Follow your product’s own safety instructions where its design differs.
Last source check: September 21, 2026