What cookies are and why you might want to clear them

Cookies are small files that websites store on your tablet to remember information about you — your login details, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences. They make browsing faster and more convenient. Over time, though, they can pile up and slow your tablet down, or you might want to clear them for privacy reasons before selling or giving away your device.

Clearing cookies is straightforward on a Samsung Galaxy tablet. The steps depend on which browser you use — Samsung Internet (the built-in browser) and Google Chrome are the most common, and each has its own menu for clearing browsing data.

Key Takeaways

  • Cookies are stored files that websites use to remember your login information and preferences, and clearing them can speed up your tablet or protect your privacy.
  • Samsung Internet and Google Chrome both have a "Clear browsing data" or similar option in their settings menu, usually found by tapping the three-line menu icon.
  • You can choose to clear only cookies or all browsing data (history, cached images, passwords) depending on what you need.
  • Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready or use a password manager before you start.

Clearing cookies in Samsung Internet

Samsung Internet is the default browser on most Galaxy tablets. To clear cookies, open the browser and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings.

In Settings, tap Privacy. You will see an option called Delete browsing data. Tap it. A window will pop up with checkboxes for different types of data — cookies are usually grouped under Cookies and site data. Make sure that box is checked, then tap Delete at the bottom. The cookies are now cleared.

If you want to clear only cookies and leave your browsing history intact, uncheck the other boxes before tapping Delete. You can also set Samsung Internet to clear cookies automatically every time you close the browser — in the same Privacy menu, look for Delete browsing data on exit and toggle it on.

Clearing cookies in Google Chrome

If you use Google Chrome on your tablet, open the app and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap Settings. Then tap Privacy and security (or just Privacy depending on your tablet's version).

Tap Clear browsing data. A menu will appear with options for what to delete. Make sure Cookies and site data is checked. At the top, you can choose the time range — All time will clear every cookie ever stored, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days will clear only recent ones. Choose what you need, then tap Clear data.

Chrome also lets you set it to clear cookies automatically. In the same Privacy and security menu, toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you close Chrome. This way you do not have to remember to clear them manually.

What happens after you clear cookies

Once cookies are cleared, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you will need to enter your username and password again. Websites may also forget your preferences — for example, if a news site remembered that you wanted articles in dark mode, it will go back to light mode until you change it again.

Your browsing speed may improve slightly, especially if your tablet has been in use for a long time and accumulated thousands of cookies. The difference is usually small on modern tablets, but clearing cookies is still a good maintenance habit, particularly if you share your tablet with others or plan to sell it.

Clearing cookies for a specific website only

If you only want to clear cookies for one website rather than all of them, both Samsung Internet and Chrome let you do that. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage website permissions. Find the website in the list and tap it, then tap Clear.

In Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and site data. You will see a list of websites. Find the one you want to clear, tap it, and tap Clear. This approach is useful if you want to log out of one account without losing your login information everywhere else.

Clearing cache and other browsing data at the same time

Cookies are just one type of data your browser stores. When you clear browsing data, you can also remove your browsing history (a list of every site you visited), cached images and files (copies of web pages stored locally to load faster next time), and saved passwords. The same menus that let you clear cookies let you choose which of these to delete.

If you are preparing to give your tablet to someone else or sell it, clearing all browsing data is a good idea. Uncheck only the boxes for data you want to keep — for example, you might want to keep saved passwords if you are just doing routine maintenance, but clear everything if the tablet is leaving your hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?

Only if you check the box for passwords when you clear browsing data. By default, most browsers separate passwords from cookies. If you want to clear cookies but keep passwords, make sure the password checkbox is unchecked before you tap Delete.

Can I clear cookies from just one app instead of the whole browser?

No — cookies are stored by the browser itself, not by individual apps. If you want to clear cookies from a website you visited in an app (like Facebook or Instagram), you need to clear them in the browser where you logged in. Apps have their own separate data that you can clear in your tablet's Settings under Apps.

What if I clear cookies by accident and need to undo it?

Clearing cookies cannot be undone. However, if you were logged into websites, you can log back in with your password. If you forgot a password, use the "Forgot password" link on the website to reset it. Going forward, consider writing down important passwords or using a password manager.

Do I need to clear cookies regularly?

Not necessarily. Clearing cookies once every few months is fine for most people. If you share your tablet with others or visit sensitive websites (like banking), clearing cookies more often is a good idea. You can also set your browser to clear cookies automatically when you close it.

Will clearing cookies speed up my tablet?

Slightly, but usually not noticeably on newer tablets. Cookies are small files and do not take up much space. If your tablet is running slowly, the problem is more likely too many apps running at once or not enough free storage space.