Chrome's Clear Browsing Data dialog to make Time Range selection mandatory

In a move aimed at improving user control and preventing accidental data loss, Google is testing an update to Chrome’s clear browsing data (CBD) dialog. The proposed change would require users to actively select a time range before clearing their browsing history. By default, the dialog would prompt users to choose a specific timeframe, ensuring that data deletion becomes an intentional choice rather than an accidental error. This change is being tested in Canary as well as in field trials.

Generally, when users initiate the clear browsing data (CBD) process, the basic section of the dialog box defaults to the Last hour time range, with the Clear data button ready for action. In contrast, the advanced section starts with All time as the pre-selected option, with a highlighted Clear data button. This design has occasionally resulted in users, who intended to clear a specific portion of their data, accidentally erasing either the last hour’s worth or their entire browsing history.

Chrome’s Clear browsing data may default to the Select a time range option

To address this issue and prevent such accidental deletions, Google is testing a thoughtful update to the CBD dialog. This experiment also includes the option to clear the last 15 minutes of browsing data from Chrome on desktop.

The new ‘select a time range’ default option in the ‘Delete browsing data’ dialog requires users to actively choose a time frame before any data can be deleted. This additional step ensures that users make the right choice regarding the amount of data they wish to remove, thereby reducing the risk of unintentional data loss.

Google is currently conducting a field trial for the CBD Timeframe Range experiment. Based on feedback and outcome, they may add the ‘Last 15 minutes’ option and make ‘Select a time range‘ the default in the ‘Delete browsing data’ dialog.

When Google approves the change, in the future, when you open the ‘Delete browsing data’ dialog and accidentally click Delete data, nothing will happen with the Select a time range set by default. You must choose a value from the time range and click Delete data; only then your browsing history will be cleared. This is a thoughtful step taken by Google to safeguard your data from accidental deletions in Chrome.

Apart from this, Google is working to make managing certificates easier in Chrome as well as improve its startup performance with the help of Microsoft.