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How to Clear SSL State and Browser Cache in Chrome and Edge

Clear cached files in Chrome or Edge without deleting cookies, and learn how the separate Windows Clear SSL State option works.
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To clear browser cache, remove Cached images and files in Chrome or Edge; you do not need to delete cookies. On Windows, Clear SSL State is a separate option in Internet Options, reported in Microsoft-hosted community guidance. These steps remove stored data but cannot guarantee a fix for every loading or SSL error.

Choose what you need to clear

  • Cached images and files: locally stored page content that can help sites load faster. Removing it may mean a page fetches that content again and seems slower the next time you visit.
  • Cookies and site data: separate from cached files. Deleting them may sign you out of sites or remove preferences. If you only want to clear cache, leave cookies unchecked.
  • Saved passwords and autofill: separate categories; leave them unchecked unless you intend to delete them too.
  • SSL state: a Windows-level session-state clearing option, not the browser cache. The Windows route below comes from a Microsoft-hosted community answer, not a current official Chrome or Edge how-to.

For a single-site cookie issue, removing data for that site can be narrower than deleting cookies for all sites. See Google’s instructions for deleting Chrome cookies from a specific site or Microsoft’s instructions for deleting Edge cookies from a specific site.

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Clear cached files in Chrome desktop

  1. Open Chrome and open Delete browsing data from the browser menu. As a shortcut, Google says you can type “Delete browsing data” in the address bar and choose the action chip.
  2. Choose a time range, such as Last hour or All time.
  3. Select Cached images and files. Select cookies, history, or another category only if you also intend to remove it.
  4. Select Delete data.

Google explains that cached images and files include text and images retained from visited pages to help those pages open faster. Cookie and site data are separate categories. If you delete cookies while signed in with sync enabled, some deleted data may also be removed from other devices and your Google Account. Google says deleting cookies while signed in refreshes the Google cookies that keep you signed in; to delete Google cookies, sign out of Chrome first. See Google’s Chrome browsing-data instructions and its cookie guidance.

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Clear cached files in Edge desktop

  1. Open Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
  2. Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
  3. Choose a time range.
  4. Select Cached images and files. Select cookies or other categories only if you want to remove them too.
  5. Select Clear now.

Microsoft describes cached images and files as local copies of pages, images, and other media used to load content faster on a later visit. Cookies and other site data are distinct and can include sign-in details, preferences, location, or media licenses; deleting cookies may sign you out of most sites. The cited Edge instructions apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. See Microsoft’s Edge browsing-data instructions.

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How Chrome and Edge differ

What you need Chrome desktop Edge desktop
Open the clearing controls Delete browsing data from the browser menu, or search that phrase in the address bar and choose the action chip (Google) Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear (Microsoft)
Cache category Cached images and files (Google) Cached images and files (Microsoft)
Set a time range Yes (Google) Yes (Microsoft)
Confirmation button Delete data (Google) Clear now (Microsoft)
Synced-device scope Google notes that some deleted data may be removed from other devices and the Google Account when signed in with sync enabled (Google) Microsoft documents choosing current-device-only or synced-device deletion (Microsoft)

Decide whether Edge deletion should affect other devices

Before clearing Edge data, decide whether to remove it only from this device or across devices where Edge sync is enabled. Microsoft’s instructions say to turn sync off for current-device-only deletion. With sync on and you signed in, synced items are cleared across synced devices; the selected categories and time range still determine what is removed. See Microsoft’s Edge guidance on clearing synced browsing data.

Clear SSL state in Windows separately

  1. Open Internet Options in Windows.
  2. Select the Content tab.
  3. Select Clear SSL State.

This route is described in a Microsoft-hosted Q&A answer about Edge 81 from 2020. The answer characterizes the action as clearing session state rather than deleting a certificate; it is not a currently verified official Chrome or Edge instruction. It is separate from clearing cached files in either browser. See the Microsoft-hosted Q&A answer.

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If the problem remains

Clearing cache or SSL state is a troubleshooting step, not proof that stored data caused the problem. If the error persists, continue diagnosing the connection or site; Google’s Chrome troubleshooting guidance includes checks beyond browsing-data deletion, such as firewall or antivirus interference. See Google’s Chrome connection troubleshooting guide. Menu wording and available choices can vary by browser version, platform, and language; the steps above are for desktop.

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