The fastest way to clear cookies on your Samsung tablet
Open your web browser — Samsung tablets usually come with Samsung Internet or Chrome. Tap the three vertical dots (menu icon) in the top right corner, then select Settings. Scroll down and tap Privacy or Clear browsing data. A window will appear with checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure Cookies and site data is checked, then tap Clear or Delete. The cookies are gone when ready.
The exact wording and location of these options varies slightly between Samsung Internet and Chrome, but the path is the same: menu icon, settings, privacy or browsing data, then clear. If you use a different browser like Firefox or Edge, the steps are similar but the menu names may differ.
Key Takeaways
- Open your browser's menu (three dots), go to Settings, find Privacy or Clear browsing data, check Cookies and site data, and tap Clear.
- You can choose to clear cookies from all time or just the last hour, day, or week — select the time range before you tap Clear.
- Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready if you need to log back in.
- If you want cookies cleared automatically every time you close your browser, you can turn on that setting in Privacy options.
Clearing cookies in Samsung Internet step by step
Samsung Internet is the default browser on most Samsung tablets. Tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner of the screen. A menu will drop down. Tap Settings near the bottom of that menu.
In Settings, look for Privacy. Tap it. You will see an option that says Delete browsing data or Clear browsing data. Tap that option. A popup will appear with several checkboxes: Browsing history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, and sometimes others. Check the box next to Cookies and site data. You can check other boxes too if you want to clear those as well. At the top of the popup, you can choose a time range — All time will clear everything, or you can pick Last hour, Last day, Last week, or Last 4 weeks. Once you have made your choices, tap Delete or Clear. The process takes a few seconds.
Clearing cookies in Chrome on a Samsung tablet
If you use Chrome instead, the steps are nearly identical. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. Tap Privacy and security. Tap Clear browsing data.
A window will open. At the top, you will see a dropdown menu that says All time or shows a time range. Tap it to choose how far back you want to clear. Below that, make sure the checkbox next to Cookies and site data is checked. You can also check Cached images and files if you want to free up storage space. Tap Clear data. Chrome will clear the selected data in a few seconds.
What happens when you clear cookies
Cookies are small files that websites store on your tablet to remember information about you — your login status, your preferences, items in your shopping cart, and browsing history. When you clear them, websites forget who you are. The next time you visit a site where you were logged in, you will be logged out and will need to enter your username and password again.
Clearing cookies does not delete your bookmarks, your browsing history, or your saved passwords (unless you specifically check those boxes too). It only removes the small tracking files. Your tablet will run the same speed afterward — clearing cookies does not speed up your device, though it does free up a tiny amount of storage space.
Setting cookies to clear automatically
If you want your tablet to clear cookies every time you close your browser, you can turn on that setting. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and look for an option called Delete browsing data on exit or Clear data on exit. Toggle it on. From then on, cookies will be cleared automatically when you close the app completely.
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and turn on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. This does the same thing — every time you fully close Chrome, cookies are deleted. Note that this does not happen if you just minimize the app; you have to close it completely.
Clearing cookies for a specific website
You do not have to clear all cookies at once. If you only want to clear cookies for one website, you can do that too. In Samsung Internet, visit the website, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Site settings, and look for Cookies or Storage. Tap the website name and select Clear or Delete. In Chrome, tap the lock icon or info icon next to the website address at the top, tap Cookies and site data, and tap the trash icon next to the cookie you want to remove.
This approach is useful if you want to stay logged into most sites but need to clear data for one specific site — for example, if a website is not loading correctly and you suspect a corrupted cookie is the cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear browsing data, you have the option to check or uncheck Passwords as a separate item. If you only check Cookies and site data, your saved passwords will remain on your tablet.
Why do websites ask me to accept cookies when I visit them?
Websites use cookies to track your activity and show you targeted ads. Many countries now require websites to ask your permission before storing cookies. Accepting cookies lets the site remember you; declining means the site will not store tracking data, though you may see fewer personalized ads.
Can I clear cookies without clearing my browsing history?
Yes. When you open the Clear browsing data window, you will see separate checkboxes for Cookies, Browsing history, Cached images, and other data types. Check only the box for Cookies and site data and leave the others unchecked. Only cookies will be deleted.
What if I clear cookies and a website still will not load?
Try clearing the cache (cached images and files) as well as cookies. If the site still does not work, try closing and reopening your browser completely, or restart your tablet. If the problem continues, the issue may be with your internet connection or the website itself, not your tablet's stored data.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Clearing cookies occasionally is a good privacy practice, but it is not required for your tablet to work properly. If you are concerned about tracking, clearing cookies once a month or before visiting sensitive websites is reasonable. If privacy is not a concern, you can leave them alone.