Open Settings > Apps > Chrome > Storage & cache and tap Clear cache. That removes temporary files and frees space without signing you out or deleting passwords. Clear storage (sometimes shown as Clear data) is the heavier option that wipes your Chrome profile data on the device, so reach for it only when something is genuinely broken.
TL;DR
- Clear cache is safe: it deletes temporary page files, not logins or bookmarks.
- Clear storage / Clear data signs you out, clears cookies, site settings, and downloaded data.
- Path: Settings > Apps > Chrome > Storage & cache.
- Anything synced to your Google Account (bookmarks, passwords, history) comes back after you sign in again.
- If Chrome keeps ballooning, the cache will just refill, so look at site data and offline pages too.
What's the difference between Clear cache and Clear storage?
Clear cache removes temporary files Chrome saved to load pages faster: images, scripts, and fragments of sites you visited. Nothing you'd miss. Chrome rebuilds it automatically as you browse.
Clear storage (labeled Clear data on some phones) is a full reset of Chrome's on-device profile. It signs you out, clears cookies and saved site permissions, and removes downloaded site data. Open browser tabs and any sites you stayed logged into will need a fresh sign-in.
How do I clear Chrome cache without signing out?
Use the cache-only button so your sessions stay intact:
- Open Settings > Apps > Chrome.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache (not Clear storage).
You can also do it from inside Chrome at Chrome menu (⋮) > Delete browsing data, then untick Passwords and Autofill and choose only Cached images and files. Both routes leave your logins alone.
When should I use Clear storage instead?
Reserve Clear storage for real problems: Chrome crashing on launch, pages refusing to load, or a corrupted profile after a bad update. Before you tap it, confirm Chrome sync is on at Chrome menu (⋮) > Settings > (your name) so bookmarks, passwords, and history are backed up to your Google Account. After clearing, sign back in and they sync down again.
What Android does natively, and where it stops
Android's Storage screen (Settings > Storage) and the Files by Google Clean tab can flag junk and large files, and they'll happily clear app caches for you. But Android won't distinguish a safe cache wipe from a destructive data wipe inside Chrome, and it won't tell you that Chrome's cache simply refills the moment you browse again. That's where automatic cleaners stop being useful: the real win is understanding what each button does, not tapping Clear over and over.
If Chrome specifically is the space hog, see why is Chrome taking up so much space on Android for the deeper culprits like site data and offline pages.
Can I get my data back after clearing?
Clearing cache is non-destructive, so there's nothing to recover. Clearing storage is different: it has no Trash or 30-day bin. The only safety net is Chrome sync to your Google Account. Anything synced (bookmarks, saved passwords, history, open tabs) restores when you sign in; anything not synced, like a site you were logged into without saving the password, is gone. Back up first by turning sync on before you clear storage.
Want a calmer way to free space across the whole phone, not just Chrome? Our guide on how to free up space on Android without a factory reset walks through the safe order, and clean up phone storage covers the full picture.
FAQ
Does clearing Chrome cache delete my passwords?
No. Clear cache only removes temporary files. Saved passwords live in Chrome's data, which cache clearing doesn't touch. Only Clear storage / Clear data removes them, and even then they return if you sync to your Google Account.
Why does Chrome storage fill up again so fast?
Cache is meant to refill. Every site you load saves images and scripts locally to speed up your next visit. If the number climbs unusually high, the cause is usually site data, cookies, or offline pages rather than ordinary cache.
Will clearing Chrome data log me out of Gmail and other apps?
No. Clearing Chrome's data only signs you out of sites inside Chrome. Separate apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps keep their own logins and are unaffected.
If you'd rather see exactly what's safe to clear before you tap anything, the Cleanor app (Android preview) shows you what each pile of storage actually is, so you free space without guessing.