A cholesteric liquid crystal display device and a control method for reducing inrush current when clearing the screen. The cholesteric liquid crystal display device includes a cholesteric liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal drive unit. The cholesteric liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of pixel matrix. After the liquid crystal drive unit receives a data latch enable signal, it applies a reset voltage to the plurality of pixel matrix to clear the screen displayed on the cholesteric liquid crystal display panel. The input time of the data latch enable signal received by the liquid crystal driving unit is different, and the corresponding signal time portion is shifted with each other.