What Vivaldi stores — and what each item clears
Vivaldi is built on Chromium, so it stores data the same way its bigger relative does. History lives in an SQLite database called History inside the profile folder. Cached files pile up in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Vivaldi\User Data\Default\Cache, and cookies sit in the Network subfolder, encrypted with Windows DPAPI so no other program can read them. The Delete Browsing Data dialog simply empties the parts you tick — it never touches bookmarks, notes, saved sessions or the browser's own settings.
Two categories deserve a second thought before you tick them. Cookies and Site Data is what keeps you logged in to sites and holds shopping carts; clearing it signs you out everywhere. Passwords and autofill data are listed separately, so a routine cleanup that skips them loses nothing you type regularly.
- Browsing history — every page you visited; address-field suggestions are drawn from it and disappear too
- Download history — the list of downloads; the files themselves on disk are not deleted
- Cookies and site data — logins, carts and site permissions; clearing them signs you out of sites
- Cached images and files — offline copies of pages; the first revisit of each site loads a bit slower
- Passwords and autofill form data — removed only if you tick them explicitly
Clearing data in Vivaldi, step by step
Open the Vivaldi menu — the V logo in the top-left corner — and go to Tools → Settings, then to the Privacy section, or simply type vivaldi://settings/privacy into the address field. Under Browsing Data, click Delete Browsing Data; or skip the menus entirely and press Ctrl+Shift+Del. In the dialog choose the period: Last Hour, Last Day, Last 7 Days, Last 2 Weeks, Last Month or The Beginning. Tick the categories, click Delete Data, and Vivaldi wipes them in a second or two.
If you would rather not do this by hand every time, the same Privacy page offers Delete Data Between Sessions — pick which categories Vivaldi drops automatically when the browser closes. For a one-off deep clean of the cache, close Vivaldi and delete the contents of %LOCALAPPDATA%\Vivaldi\User Data\Default\Cache. Vivaldi rebuilds the folder on the next start, and pages simply load from the network again.
What to expect afterwards — and when to repeat
Right after clearing, sites load a little slower on the first visit, and you are signed out wherever cookies went. Neither effect lasts: the cache refills within a day of normal browsing, and logging back in is a one-time chore. Nothing on disk outside the Vivaldi profile folder is touched.
How often to repeat depends on habits — once every couple of months is plenty for most people, monthly for heavy browsing on a small SSD. If the goal is disk space rather than privacy, tick only Cached Images and Files and leave cookies alone. You keep your logins and still free the bulk of the space.
Questions and Answers
How do I delete all history in Vivaldi at once?
Press Ctrl+Shift+Del, set the time range to The Beginning, tick Browsing History (plus anything else you want gone) and click Delete Data.
Where is Vivaldi's cache stored on Windows?
In %LOCALAPPDATA%\Vivaldi\User Data\<profile>\Cache — Default is the first profile, additional ones are Profile 1, Profile 2 and so on. Delete the contents only with Vivaldi closed.
Does clearing cookies in Vivaldi sign me out of websites?
Yes, cookies hold your sessions. Leave Cookies and Site Data unchecked to stay logged in, and clear only the cache instead.
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