What Is IndexedDB and Why Should You Care?
However, this power comes with significant storage implications—individual web applications can store hundreds of megabytes or even multiple gigabytes in IndexedDB. Email clients cache entire mailboxes, productivity apps store complete document collections, games save graphics assets and level data, and streaming services pre-cache media for offline viewing. Over time, as you use various web apps, IndexedDB accumulates substantial data across dozens of domains. Unlike cache which browsers manage automatically, IndexedDB persists indefinitely until manually cleared, potentially consuming 5-20GB on devices used for years without maintenance. Understanding IndexedDB and managing it properly is essential for maintaining browser performance and controlling what data resides on your device.
How to Manually Clear IndexedDB
Browsers don't always make IndexedDB cleaning obvious or accessible through simple menus. Here's how to clear it in each major browser using both settings and developer tools:
Chrome & Microsoft Edge
Method 1 (Settings): Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Site settings → View permissions and data stored across sites. Search for a specific site and click the trash icon next to its stored data to remove everything including IndexedDB. Method 2 (Developer Tools): Press F12 to open DevTools, go to the Application tab, expand IndexedDB in the left sidebar, right-click individual databases, and select Delete database. You can inspect database contents before deleting to understand what data will be lost. Use Ctrl+Shift+Delete and check 'Site data' to clear all IndexedDB across all sites simultaneously.
Mozilla Firefox
Method 1 (Settings): Visit about:preferences#privacy in the address bar, scroll to Cookies and Site Data section, and click Manage Data button. Find the specific website and click Remove Selected to delete its IndexedDB and other storage. Method 2 (Developer Tools): Press F12 to open Developer Tools, go to the Storage tab, expand IndexedDB in the left panel, right-click databases or specific object stores, and select Delete. Firefox's comprehensive data view lets you inspect database contents, see storage sizes, and selectively remove individual entries before full deletion if needed.
Safari (macOS & iOS)
Desktop Safari: Open Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data, search for the specific site storing IndexedDB data, and press Remove to delete all its stored data including IndexedDB. Or use Safari > Clear History and select 'all history' to remove IndexedDB alongside other browsing data. Developer method: Enable Developer menu (Preferences > Advanced), open Web Inspector (⌘+Option+I), go to Storage tab, expand IndexedDB, and delete specific databases. iOS Safari: Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data > Remove All Website Data clears IndexedDB along with other storage. Safari provides less granular control than Chrome/Firefox but offers simpler all-or-nothing clearing.
When Should You Clean IndexDB?
Clear IndexedDB after uninstalling or stopping use of progressive web apps (PWAs)—the app may be gone from your screen but its database persists indefinitely consuming space. When troubleshooting persistent login issues, sync failures, or data conflicts in web applications, clearing IndexedDB forces fresh data structures that often resolve mysterious problems. After major browser updates or when moving browser profiles, clearing IndexedDB ensures compatibility with new browser versions and prevents conflicts from legacy data formats. Generally, clearing IndexedDB every 2-3 months as part of comprehensive browser maintenance prevents unlimited accumulation while allowing web apps to function efficiently with reasonable cached data between cleanings.
Automate IndexedDB Cleanup for Effortless Maintenance
Manually digging through browser settings and developer tools to clear IndexedDB is tedious, technical, and easy to forget—especially when managing storage across dozens of web applications you use regularly. Automated cleanup eliminates the burden of manual maintenance while ensuring consistent, thorough cleaning. Our Cache & Data Cleaner Extension provides comprehensive IndexedDB management alongside cache, cookies, and local storage cleanup.
Best Practices for IndexDB Management
A few simple habits can keep IndexDB from becoming a burden:
- 1Clear data from apps you’ve stopped using.
- 2Periodically audit storage with your browser’s site-data tools.
- 3Pair IndexDB cleaning with cache and cookies removal for overall browser hygiene.
- 4Use retention rules in our extension to automatically delete data older than a set period.
Common Myths About IndexDB
These myths persist because IndexedDB operates behind the scenes without user-visible indicators showing its size, contents, or impact. Unlike downloads which appear in an obvious folder or cookies which users hear about constantly, IndexedDB remains hidden technical infrastructure that users only discover when troubleshooting problems or checking storage usage. Understanding the truth about IndexedDB—what it does, what happens when you clear it, and how it differs from other storage—enables confident, safe maintenance that improves browser performance and privacy without breaking the web applications you depend on daily.
IndexedDB Myths Debunked
Let's clarify the most common misconceptions preventing users from properly managing IndexedDB storage:
Myth: Deleting IndexedDB Breaks All Your Websites
FACT: Clearing IndexedDB doesn't break websites—it resets web applications to a clean state, similar to their first-run experience. Well-designed web apps automatically recreate necessary IndexedDB databases and re-sync data from servers when they detect empty databases. You might experience slightly longer initial load times while apps re-download and cache data, and some offline-capable apps may require re-syncing before they work offline again. Settings and preferences stored in IndexedDB will reset to defaults, requiring reconfiguration. However, actual site functionality remains intact—no permanent damage occurs. Think of clearing IndexedDB like clearing an app's cache: temporary inconvenience, zero functional damage.
Myth: IndexedDB Is Just Another Name for Cache
FACT: IndexedDB and cache are fundamentally different storage mechanisms serving distinct purposes. Cache stores copies of static website assets (images, CSS, JavaScript files, fonts) to speed up repeated page loads by avoiding re-downloads—browsers automatically manage cache and clear it when space is needed. IndexedDB stores structured application data (messages, documents, user-generated content, app state, settings) that applications expect to persist indefinitely across sessions—browsers never automatically clear IndexedDB without user action. Cache uses simple file storage; IndexedDB uses complex database structures with indexes, queries, and transactions. Clearing cache is routine maintenance; clearing IndexedDB requires understanding which apps you use and whether they've synced data to servers.
Myth: Clearing IndexedDB Erases Your Passwords
FACT: Login credentials and saved passwords are NOT stored in IndexedDB—they're saved in your browser's dedicated password manager (a separate encrypted database) or in cookies for active sessions. Clearing IndexedDB has zero effect on your saved passwords, autofill data, or current login sessions. You'll remain logged into your accounts and your browser will continue autofilling passwords normally after clearing IndexedDB. However, web applications may store other data in IndexedDB that affects your experience: theme preferences, user settings, cached content, offline data. You might need to reconfigure some app settings after clearing, but login credentials specifically are completely unaffected. This myth likely stems from confusion about different browser storage types.
IndexedDB Management for Different Users
Not everyone interacts with IndexedDB-heavy applications the same way. Choose the management approach matching your web app usage:
Basic Web Users (No Heavy Web Apps)
Minimal IndexedDB usage from occasional web app visits. Most websites you use don't leverage IndexedDB extensively—traditional websites, blogs, news sites, and simple e-commerce don't create large databases. Clear IndexedDB every 3-6 months as general maintenance, more to prevent long-term accumulation than address immediate problems. You likely won't notice performance improvements since IndexedDB consumption is naturally limited. Focus on clearing cache and cookies which provide more benefit for traditional browsing. Basic users can treat IndexedDB clearing as low-priority optional maintenance rather than critical regular task.
Web App Users (Gmail, Office 365, Notion, Slack)
Moderate to heavy IndexedDB usage from productivity and communication tools. Web-based email, document editors, project management, and collaboration tools store substantial data locally for offline access and performance. Clear IndexedDB every 4-6 weeks for apps you use daily—they accumulate hundreds of megabytes as they cache messages, documents, and state. Before clearing, ensure these apps have synced to servers (check sync indicators) to prevent losing unsynced work. After clearing, expect 2-5 minute initial load while apps re-download essential data. Balance between cleanup benefits (freed space, resolved issues) and re-sync inconvenience. Web app users benefit from selective clearing: wipe old/unused apps completely, refresh active apps periodically.
Power Users & Developers (Testing, Development Work)
Extensive IndexedDB usage from development, testing, or heavy web app reliance. Developers testing PWAs generate massive IndexedDB accumulation from repeated app installs, test data creation, and debugging sessions. Clear IndexedDB weekly or after intensive development/testing sessions to prevent gigabytes of accumulation. Use browser developer tools regularly to inspect database contents, sizes, and structure. Create separate browser profiles for development (frequent aggressive clearing) vs. personal use (preserve app data). Automate clearing on browser close for development profiles. Power users should monitor IndexedDB consumption closely—Chrome DevTools shows per-domain storage in Application tab, Firefox shows it in about:devtools-toolbox Storage panel.
Web Game & Media App Users
Extreme IndexedDB usage from browser-based games and streaming services. Web games store graphics assets, level data, save files, and game state in IndexedDB—individual games can consume 1-5GB. Streaming services pre-cache media for offline viewing, accumulating gigabytes. Clear IndexedDB for games you've finished or abandoned—completed games provide no value but consume massive space. For active games, clearing loses local progress unless synced to cloud saves (check if game supports cloud sync). Media apps usually re-download cached content automatically. Heavy gaming/media users benefit most from aggressive automated clearing with exceptions for active games only.
Creating a Safe IndexedDB Cleaning Routine
Establish clear categories: aggressively clear IndexedDB from web apps you've abandoned or rarely use (no risk of data loss since you're not using them), periodically clear from active apps after verifying sync and backup, and carefully preserve IndexedDB for offline-critical applications where re-syncing is costly or impossible. Use automation selectively—set rules that clear old/unused sites automatically while requiring manual confirmation for active applications you depend on. Test your cleaning routine on less-critical apps first to understand behaviors before applying to mission-critical web applications. The goal is confident, regular IndexedDB maintenance that improves performance and privacy without data loss anxiety preventing any action at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about browser cookies answered
Will clearing IndexDB delete my saved work?
If a web app stores drafts or offline files in IndexDB, clearing it can remove them. Make sure you’ve synced or exported important items before deletion.
Does IndexDB take up much space?
It can. Heavy apps like email clients or design tools may save hundreds of MB or even several GB if you don’t clean it.
Is IndexDB cleaning safe?
Yes — it’s a supported maintenance action in all major browsers. Just remember some sites may reload resources or re-sync after cleaning.
How often should I clear IndexDB?
Every few months is enough for most users, or sooner if an app behaves strangely or your disk space is low.
Can I automate IndexDB cleaning?
Definitely. Our extension lets you include IndexDB in scheduled cleanups alongside cache, cookies, and other storage data.
