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CoderLegion
CoderLegion

Posted on • Originally published at kodblems.com

Auto-clear Chrome browsing data on exit

The amount of data that the Google Chrome browser collects and stores can be overwhelming. This can not only be considered as a breach in privacy, but also this data can be accessible to other users who have access to your computer and specifically to your Google Chrome browser. This is why many users would like to set their Chrome browser to automatically clear all browsing data from Chrome every time we close it.

Google collects browsing data from users, and what better way to do it through your Google Chrome Web browser. This not only allows them to know the behavior of users to offer personalized ads, but as "compensation" it offers improvements and facilities to users.

However, this is not to the liking of all Google Chrome users and many wonder if they can delete this browsing information automatically when we exit the web browser. Well, the answer is yes, since Google Chrome incorporates a setting that allows you to delete all browsing data every time you close the web browser on your Windows computer, Mac or any other device.

However, the Google Chrome configuration is not the only way to delete browsing data every time you close the browser, but on Windows computers we can also use both the registry editor and the Local Group Policy Editor.

It should be noted that in this tutorial when we talk about deleting browsing data from Google Chrome we refer to the deletion of: download history, cookies, site data, cache, passwords, site settings, login data. the hosted application, etc.

How to automatically clear Chrome browsing data when you close it
Open the Google Chrome browser.

Click on the three vertical dots icon.

In the menu you will have to select the option: Configuration

Now a window will open in whose left menu you will have to select the option: Security and privacy

In the central part of the window, a series of options are displayed, among which you will have to click on: Cookies and other site data.

You will be sent to the screen where you must activate the option switch: Clear cookies and site data when closing all windows.

Finally, you just have to restart your Chrome browser and you're good to go.

How to automatically clear Chrome browsing data on exit using the Windows Registry Editor.
Open the Windows registry editor.

Once in the editor window you will have to go to:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies

In the Policies key in the left menu you will have to right click.

In the context menu you will have to click on: New > Key

The key should be named as: Chrome

Now you have to right click on the Chrome key.

In the menu select again: New > Key

And this new key should be renamed as: ClearBrowsingDataOnExitList

Select ClearBrowsingDataOnExitList and in the main part of the window you will have to right click for the context menu you will have to select: New > String Value

Name this new string value as: 1

After naming it you will have to double left click to open the window and in its Value information field you will have to enter any of the following values:

browsing_history
download_history
cookies_and_other_site_data
cached_images_and_files
autofill
password_signin
site_settings
hosted_app_data

Save the value by clicking OK.

Important Note: You will have to create as many String Values (2, 3, 4...) inside ClearBrowsingDataOnExitList as Chrome data/information that we want to clear when exiting the browser.

The last thing will be to restart your Windows computer so that when you are back in Google Chrome, when you exit the program, you will see how your data is completely deleted.
How to automatically delete Chrome browsing data when closing it using Local Group Policy Editor.
Open Windows Local Group Policy Editor.

Once here you will have to go to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Classic Administrative Templates (ADM) > Google > Google Chrome

Now in the central part of the window you will have to double click on the option: Clear browsing data on exit

This will open a window in which you will have to check the option: Enabled

Automatically the Show button will be activated on which you will have to click

In the new window, in the Value field you will have to enter the following lines:

browsing_history
download_history
cookies_and_other_site_data
cached_images_and_files
autofill
password_signin
site_settings
hosted_app_data

Once you have entered the data to be deleted, you must click OK.

Repeat the action in the previous window in which you will also have to click OK to save the changes.

Close the editor and restart your computer and you're done.

Top comments (1)

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giancannavaro profile image
GianCannavaro

This is a great tool
Saved,, gonna try it