• Windows
  • Browsers

Chrome on Windows: the profile is bigger than the cache

Where Chrome keeps everything on a PC, which folder is actually large, and what clearing browsing data does not touch.

5 min read

Chrome on Windows keeps everything under one folder, and the part that grows is not the part people clear.

Where it is

$root = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Google\Chrome\User Data"
Get-ChildItem $root -Directory -EA SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object {
  $s = (Get-ChildItem $_.FullName -Recurse -Force -File -EA SilentlyContinue | Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum
  [PSCustomObject]@{ MB = [math]::Round($s/1MB); Profile = $_.Name }
} | Sort-Object MB -Descending | Select-Object -First 10

User Data holds a folder per profile: Default, then Profile 1, Profile 2 and so on. Each is a complete browser with its own history, extensions, cookies and site storage.

What is inside a profile

FolderWhat it isClearing it
Cache, Code CachePages and compiled scriptsSlower first load, nothing else
Service WorkerOffline data for web appsWeb apps resync
IndexedDB, Local StorageSite state and sessionsSigns you out of sites
ExtensionsInstalled extensions and their dataRemove through the browser
History, CookiesBrowsing dataClearing browsing data covers these

The part clearing browsing data misses

Clear browsing data removes history, cookies and the cache. It does not remove extension storage, and it does not remove other profiles. On a machine where several people or several accounts use Chrome, the profiles are the size and none of them are touched by that dialog.

Profiles nobody uses

Every time Chrome is signed into with a different account it creates a profile, and nothing removes one when it stops being used. Manage them from the profile picture in the top right, Manage profiles, where deleting one removes its folder.

Doing it across every browser

Get-ChildItem "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Google\Chrome","$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Edge","$env:APPDATA\Mozilla\Firefox","$env:LOCALAPPDATA\BraveSoftware" -EA SilentlyContinue |
  ForEach-Object {
    $s = (Get-ChildItem $_.FullName -Recurse -Force -File -EA SilentlyContinue | Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum
    [PSCustomObject]@{ MB = [math]::Round($s/1MB); Browser = $_.FullName }
  } | Sort-Object MB -Descending

Most machines have three or four browsers installed and one in daily use. The others are still holding full profiles, which is the fastest win here. Edge is the same layout and so is every other Chromium browser.

Common questions

Where does Chrome store its cache on Windows?

Under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data, in a folder per profile, with Cache, Code Cache, Service Worker, IndexedDB and Local Storage inside each.

Does clearing browsing data free up much space?

Less than expected. It clears history, cookies and the cache, but not extension storage and not other profiles, and on most machines the profiles are where the size is.

Why does Chrome have several profile folders?

Because signing in with a different account creates one, and nothing removes it afterwards. Manage profiles from the profile picture removes both the profile and its folder.

Is it safe to delete Chrome's Cache folder?

Yes, with Chrome closed. It is rebuilt as you browse. Deleting Local Storage or IndexedDB instead signs you out of sites and clears what web apps stored.

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