Try a reload first. Cache stores reusable website files; cookies can remember a session or preference. Clear only what matches the problem.
Clear only the desktop Chrome cache
- Save unfinished work and reload the problem page. If it still looks old, open Chrome’s three-dot menu and choose Delete browsing data.
- Choose the time range that includes the problem. Older data may require All time.
- Select Cached images and files. Leave Cookies and other site data, browsing history and passwords unselected. Inspect every selected category before proceeding.
- Choose Delete data, return to the website and reload it. The first visit can download the website’s files again.
- Repeat the same action and check the image or layout. If nothing changes, check the connection and the website’s status or support.
Desktop Chrome menu paths are from Google’s documentation. Names vary by language and version; Android, iPhone and Safari have different steps. Deleting cookies can sign you out.
Remove data for one website
- Save work and make sure you can sign in again before removing site data.
- Open Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies.
- Choose See all site data and permissions, then search for the website’s domain.
- Check the domain carefully, use its Delete control and confirm. This removes that site’s data, not just its cached pictures.
- Open the site again, sign in if needed and repeat the failed action. If it still fails, check cookie blocking, extensions and the service’s support.
Removing a website’s data can also reset locally stored preferences. Our experiment below uses test values, not a real account.
What changed in our cache and cookie experiment
We used an isolated Chromium profile with a test cookie, a local preference and a cacheable image. A second visit reused the image; after clearing cache, the server received a new image request.
| Action | Test cookie | Local preference |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Kept | Kept |
| Delete cookies | Removed | Kept |
| Remove cookies and local storage | Removed | Removed |
Measured on 3 November 2026 · Chromium 151.0.7922.34 · macOS
Clearing cache kept our cookie and preference; deleting cookies kept the preference; removing both cookies and local storage removed both. Commands were automated in an isolated browser, not clicked through the settings UI. A real service can end a session for other reasons.
Choose the smallest useful action
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| What you notice | Try first | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| An old image or broken layout | Reload, then consider cached files | Cookies need not be your first target |
| A login loop on one site | Check that site’s cookies and data | Removing them can sign you out |
| Many unrelated sites fail | Check the connection or service status | Clearing data may not address the cause |
01Know what you are removing
Think of cache as a reusable copy of a shop’s window display. Cookies are more like a claim ticket the shop can recognize on your next visit. Removing one is not the same as removing the other.
02Check the result
Reopen the affected page and repeat the action that failed. Note what changed. If the same issue remains, check the site’s status or official support instead of repeatedly deleting data.