Where to find and delete cookies on Samsung tablets
Cookies are small files that websites store on your tablet to remember your login information, preferences, and browsing history. To delete them on a Samsung tablet, you go into your web browser's settings—the exact path depends on which browser you use, but the process takes less than a minute.
If you use Samsung Internet (the browser that comes pre-installed), open the app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings, then Privacy, then Delete browsing data. A window will appear with checkboxes; make sure Cookies and site data is checked, then tap Delete.
If you use Google Chrome, open the app and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Check the box next to Cookies and site data, choose your time range at the top (or select All time to delete everything), then tap Clear data.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Internet and Chrome both store the delete option under Settings, but the exact menu names differ between the two browsers.
- You can choose to delete cookies from just today, the last week, the last month, or all time—selecting All time removes every cookie your tablet has stored.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites and remove saved preferences like language and font size.
- Cookies are not the same as browsing history; deleting one does not automatically delete the other.
What happens when you delete cookies
When you delete cookies, websites will no longer remember you. The next time you visit a site where you were logged in, you will need to enter your username and password again. Sites that remembered your preferences—like your preferred language, dark mode settings, or items in your shopping cart—will reset to their defaults.
Deleting cookies does not remove your browsing history (the list of websites you visited) or your saved passwords. If you want to delete those as well, you can check the additional boxes in the same Clear browsing data window. Your bookmarks and saved passwords remain unless you specifically check those boxes too.
Choosing what time period to delete
Both Samsung Internet and Chrome let you pick how far back to delete. When you tap Delete browsing data or Clear browsing data, a dropdown menu at the top shows options like Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, and All time.
Choose Last hour or Last 24 hours if you only want to clear recent activity—for example, if you just used a public tablet and want to remove cookies from that session. Choose All time if you want to delete every cookie your tablet has ever stored. The default is often All time, so check before you tap the final delete button.
Clearing cookies automatically on Samsung tablets
If you delete cookies often, you can set your browser to delete them automatically every time you close it. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle on Delete browsing data on exit. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and toggle on Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
When this setting is on, your cookies disappear as soon as you fully close the browser app. This is useful if you share your tablet or use it in public, but it also means you will be logged out of websites every time you reopen the browser. You can still save passwords separately so you do not have to type them in each time.
The difference between cookies, cache, and browsing history
Cookies, cache, and browsing history are three separate things, and deleting one does not delete the others. Cookies are small files websites use to remember you. Cache is temporary data (images, scripts, and page layouts) that your browser stores to load websites faster next time. Browsing history is the list of websites you visited.
When you open the Clear browsing data window, you will see checkboxes for all three. Most people check Cookies and site data and Cached images and files together, since both improve privacy. Browsing history is separate—you can delete it without touching cookies, or vice versa, depending on what you need.
Troubleshooting: cookies keep coming back
If you delete cookies but they seem to return when ready, a website may be using a technique called "supercookies" or persistent identifiers that work differently than standard cookies. These are harder to remove and may require additional steps. Try clearing your cache and cookies together, then restart your browser completely by closing and reopening it.
Another reason cookies may seem to return is that you are visiting the same websites, and they are creating new cookies as soon as you land on them. This is normal—websites create fresh cookies every time you visit. If you want to prevent this, use your browser's Private or Incognito mode, which does not store cookies at all once you close the window.
Using Private or Incognito mode to avoid cookies
If you do not want your tablet to store cookies in the first place, open a private browsing window instead of the regular browser. In Samsung Internet, tap the menu icon and select Secret mode. In Chrome, tap the menu icon and select New Incognito tab. Websites will still create cookies during your session, but they disappear as soon as you close the private window.
Private mode is useful when you are using a shared tablet or a public device. It does not store cookies, browsing history, or search history. However, websites can still see what you are doing while the window is open, and your internet service provider can still see which sites you visit. Private mode only protects your data from being stored on the device itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies log me out of everything?
Yes, deleting cookies will log you out of most websites. The next time you visit a site, you will need to sign in again. If you have saved passwords turned on, the browser may fill in your username and password automatically, so you only need to tap the login button.
Can I delete cookies from just one website?
In Samsung Internet, open the website, tap the menu icon, go to Settings > Site settings, find the website in the list, and tap Clear data. In Chrome, tap the menu icon, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings, find the website, and tap Clear data. This removes only that site's cookies without affecting others.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Cookies take up very little space and do not slow down your tablet. Delete them if you are concerned about privacy, if you share your tablet with others, or if a website is not working correctly. Otherwise, they are harmless and actually make browsing more convenient by keeping you logged in.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing cache?
Cookies remember information about you (login status, preferences). Cache stores website files (images, videos, code) to load pages faster. Clearing cache frees up storage space and can fix slow websites. Clearing cookies removes your login information and preferences. You can do either one independently.
Will clearing cookies improve my tablet's performance?
Cookies use very little storage, so deleting them will not noticeably speed up your tablet. Clearing cache may help slightly if you have accumulated a lot of temporary files. If your tablet is slow, restarting it or closing unused apps usually makes a bigger difference than clearing cookies.