Chromium Cli Clear Cache

6 min read Oct 02, 2024

How to Clear Chromium Browser Cache Using the Command Line Interface (CLI)

The Chromium browser, the foundation for several popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Opera, stores a significant amount of data in its cache. This data can include website files, images, scripts, and other information that speeds up page loading times. However, over time, this cache can become outdated, corrupted, or even contain unwanted information. In these situations, clearing the cache can be a valuable solution.

Why Clear the Chromium Cache?

There are several reasons why you might want to clear the cache in your Chromium-based browser:

Troubleshooting website issues: A corrupted or outdated cache can sometimes cause websites to load incorrectly or display errors. Clearing the cache can help resolve these issues.
Improving privacy: The cache stores information about your browsing history, cookies, and other data. Clearing the cache can help enhance your privacy and security.
Freeing up storage space: The cache can occupy a considerable amount of disk space. Clearing it can free up storage space and improve system performance.
Ensuring website updates: When a website updates its content or design, the cached version may still be displayed. Clearing the cache ensures that you see the latest changes.

Clearing the Chromium Cache Using the CLI

You can use the Chromium Command Line Interface (CLI) to clear the cache. Here's how:

Open the terminal or command prompt. You can do this by searching for "cmd" in the Windows search bar or by opening the terminal application on Linux and macOS.
Navigate to the Chromium installation directory. The location may vary depending on your operating system and how you installed Chromium. You can usually find it in the following locations:
- Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Chromium\Application\
- macOS: /Applications/Chromium.app/Contents/MacOS/
- Linux: /opt/google/chrome/ or /usr/bin/chromium
Run the following command:
```
chromium --user-data-dir=./  --disk-cache-dir=./ --disk-cache-size=0 --disk-cache-disabled
```
This command starts Chromium with the following options:
- --user-data-dir=./: This option tells Chromium to use the current directory as its user data directory.
- --disk-cache-dir=./: This option specifies the location of the disk cache, which is also set to the current directory in this case.
- --disk-cache-size=0: This option sets the maximum size of the disk cache to 0, effectively disabling it.
- --disk-cache-disabled: This option explicitly disables the disk cache.
Note: You can replace ./ with any other directory you prefer.
Close the Chromium window that opens. This will clear the cache and start a fresh session.

Alternative Methods

While the CLI approach is effective, you can also clear the cache through the Chromium browser itself. Here's how:

Open Chromium.
Go to the "Settings" menu. You can usually access it by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of the window.
Select "Privacy and security" from the left-hand menu.
Click on "Clear browsing data."
Select the desired time range and tick the box for "Cached images and files."
Click "Clear data."

Tips for Managing the Chromium Cache

Use the "incognito" or "private" mode: This mode temporarily disables the cache, cookies, and browsing history.
Clear the cache regularly: It's a good practice to clear the cache periodically to maintain privacy and performance.
Use a browser extension: There are several browser extensions that can help you manage the cache, such as "Cache Killer" and "Clear Cache."

Conclusion

Clearing the Chromium browser cache can resolve various issues, improve privacy, and enhance performance. You can use the command line interface (CLI) for a quick and efficient solution or follow the steps outlined above for clearing the cache directly through the browser. Remember to manage your cache regularly to ensure a smooth browsing experience.