Whether you have Google Pixel 6, Samsung Galaxy S22, or another Android smartphone, your browser collects and stores data every time you use the web. 

This data creates your cookies and cache, and can often be useful. It keeps you signed in to your accounts and uploads frequently visited sites quickly,

But this data eventually builds up, taking up space on your phone while perhaps including cookies that track your browsing history for the purpose of providing personalized advertising. (I have been seeing eye-popping ads after visiting a few online stores to compare prices and styles, as well as TV shows related to my YouTube search.)

It does not hurt to delete this data periodically to keep your web browser stable, efficient, and, well, keep as few tracking cookies as possible.

For Android, the steps vary slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser application you use, so below we will discuss how to erase this data from Google Chrome (the default for most Android phones such as the Google Pixel line), browser. Samsung internet (usually suspended from the Galaxy phone series) and the Mozilla Firefox browser. You can also check out our unique guide on how to clear your cache in the iPhone web browser if you have a few Apple devices to uninstall, too.

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The "Clear Browsing Data" menu in Chrome on Android.

Google Chrome

You can delete your cookies and cache within the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping the Add button in the top right corner of the browser, which is displayed in a three-dot column, then press History, and Clear browsing data. You can also access this from the Chrome Settings menu, tap Privacy and Security, and Clear browsing data.

Chrome also provides Basic and advanced settings to clear your Browsing History, Cookies, and Site Data as well as Cached files and files. You can use the time range to choose whether you want to clear the entire history or selection of any from the last 24 hours to the last four weeks. Advanced Tapping will also provide you with access to Saved passwords, auto-fill form data, and site settings. After selecting the one you want to delete, press the blue Clear data button, and it will delete it without any further information, so just make sure you delete exactly what you want to complete.

Samsung Internet

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"Clear data" and "Clear cache" options for Samsung Internet.

There are two different ways you can clear your Samsung Internet browser cache and cookie data. You can delete it inside the browser itself, or you can log in with your phone's Settings app.

To clear while you are on a Samsung Internet browser application, first press the Options button in the lower right corner representing the three horizontal lines, then Settings, scroll down, and then press Personal Data, then press Clear Browser Data for the Options Options menu. to remove. . You can clear your browsing history, cookies, site data, cached files and files, Passwords, and automatically fill out forms in any combination. After you tap Delete data, you will then receive information that asks you to confirm your selection before deleting.

Going through the browser app itself provides a lot of customization of what you want to remove. However, if you want to access similar options in your phone's settings menu, open the Settings app and click on Apps, then scroll down and press Samsung Internet and then Storage.

Under Storage, you get different cache and data clearing options. Tap Clear Cache will delete the cache immediately, but Delete data brings a notification that all app data will be permanently deleted, including files, settings, accounts, and websites. Although it does not specify cookies, this "advanced" method should fill in all the remaining data, allowing you to restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were new.

Mozilla Firefox

Like Google Chrome, you can clear cookies and caches within the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this function, press the More button to the right of the address bar, which is represented by three vertical dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to Clear browsing data.

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The "Remove Browsing Data" menu from Mozilla Firefox for Android.

Of the three browsers we are talking about here, Firefox offers you many options under the Delete browsing data, allowing you to delete any existing tabs, your browsing history, site data, site permissions, and your download folder next to Cookies and Cached files.

Although you can not select the time range as much as you can in Chrome, you can specify more about what kind of data you would like to delete.

And Firefox also has an additional option for those who do not want to save their browsing data once they have finished using the application. Within Settings, there is Delete browsing data in the quit option, which prompts Firefox to delete any combination of these settings each time you close an application. It is a useful feature if you would like to keep the browser clean and, say, avoids accidentally giving your browser history to someone who may have stolen or received access to your phone.

To find out more, check out all you can about Google's new operating system, Android 12, including how to check when your phone will receive an update and how to download it. Also, check out CNET's list of the best Android apps.