Delete cookies through your browser settings
The fastest way to delete cookies on a Samsung Galaxy tablet is through your browser's settings menu. The exact steps depend on which browser you use — Samsung Internet, Chrome, or Firefox are the most common — but all three follow the same general path: open the browser, find Settings, then look for a Privacy or Browsing Data option.
On Samsung Internet, tap the three-line menu icon in the bottom right corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Privacy. You will see an option for "Delete browsing data" — tap it, make sure "Cookies and site data" is checked, then tap Delete. The browser will clear all stored cookies when ready.
If you use Chrome, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Tap Privacy and security, then Delete browsing data. A window will appear with options for what to delete. Make sure "Cookies and site data" is checked, then tap Delete data. Chrome will remove all cookies from your tablet.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Internet, Chrome, and Firefox all store cookies in their Settings menu under a Privacy or Browsing Data section.
- Deleting cookies removes stored login information, preferences, and tracking data from websites you have visited.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close the app.
- Some websites may load more slowly or ask you to log in again after you delete cookies.
- Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history, passwords, or autofill information unless you specifically check those boxes too.
Delete cookies automatically when you close the browser
If you want your tablet to delete cookies without you having to do it manually each time, you can turn on automatic deletion. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle on "Delete browsing data on exit." In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security, then turn on "Delete cookies and site data when you exit Chrome."
When this setting is on, your browser will clear all cookies the moment you close the app completely. This means you will need to log in to websites again the next time you visit them, but it also means tracking cookies and stored data are removed automatically. This is useful if you share your tablet with other people or if you want to limit how much information websites collect about you.
Understand what cookies do and why you might delete them
Cookies are small files that websites store on your tablet to remember information about you. They can store login details so you do not have to type your password every time, remember items in your shopping cart, or track which websites you visit so advertisers can show you targeted ads.
Most cookies are harmless, but some people delete them for privacy reasons — to prevent websites from building a profile of your browsing habits. Deleting cookies can also free up a small amount of storage space on your tablet, though the amount is usually negligible. If you notice a website is not working properly or keeps asking you to log in, deleting cookies for that specific site sometimes fixes the problem.
Delete cookies for a single website instead of all at once
You do not have to delete all your cookies. If you want to clear cookies from just one website, you can do that too. In Samsung Internet, tap the address bar, then tap the lock icon or information icon next to the website name. Tap "Cookies and site permissions" or "Site settings," then look for an option to delete data for that site.
In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, then Settings > Site settings > Cookies. You will see a list of websites that have stored cookies on your tablet. Tap the website you want to clear, then tap "Clear and reset." This removes only that website's cookies while leaving all others intact.
Check your storage after deleting cookies
After you delete cookies, you can verify that the action worked by checking your tablet's storage. Go to Settings > Apps > [Your Browser Name] > Storage, then tap "Clear cache" if you want to remove temporary files as well. Clearing the cache removes stored images and data from websites, which takes up more space than cookies alone.
If you want to see how much space your browser is using before and after deletion, note the storage amount in the Settings menu, delete your cookies and cache, then check again. Most people will not notice a significant change in available storage from deleting cookies alone, but combined with clearing the cache, the difference can be measurable on older tablets with limited space.
Prevent cookies from being stored in the first place
If you do not want websites to store cookies at all, you can disable them in your browser settings. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle off "Cookies." In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies, then select "Block all cookies."
Be aware that blocking all cookies will break many websites. You may not be able to log in, complete purchases, or use certain features. A middle ground is to block third-party cookies only — these are cookies from advertisers and tracking companies, not from the website you are visiting. In Chrome, this option is under Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies, where you can choose "Block third-party cookies in Incognito."
Use Incognito or Private mode to browse without storing cookies
Both Samsung Internet and Chrome offer a private browsing mode where cookies are not stored at all. In Samsung Internet, tap the three-line menu, then tap "Secret mode." In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, then tap "New Incognito tab." Any cookies created while you are in this mode will be deleted the moment you close the tab.
Private mode is useful when you are using a shared tablet or a public device and do not want your activity tracked. Websites will still see you as a new visitor each time, and you will need to log in again, but nothing is stored on the tablet after you close the window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies log me out of websites?
Yes. Cookies store your login session, so deleting them will log you out of most websites. The next time you visit a site where you were logged in, you will need to enter your username and password again. Some websites may remember you if you had checked a "Remember me" box, but most will require you to log in fresh.
Do cookies slow down my tablet?
Cookies take up very little space and do not noticeably slow down your tablet. A few thousand cookies might use only a few megabytes of storage. If your tablet is running slowly, the problem is almost certainly not cookies. Clearing the browser cache, which stores images and other files from websites, can help more than deleting cookies alone.
Can I delete cookies without deleting my passwords?
Yes. When you delete browsing data, you will see separate checkboxes for "Cookies and site data" and "Passwords." Make sure only the cookies box is checked, and your saved passwords will remain. This way you can clear cookies while keeping your login information stored.
What happens if I never delete cookies?
Nothing harmful will happen if you never delete cookies. They will accumulate over time and use a small amount of storage, but they will not damage your tablet or make it unsafe. Deleting cookies is mainly a privacy choice — it prevents websites from building a long-term profile of your browsing habits.
Do I need to delete cookies on my Samsung tablet if I use a VPN?
A VPN hides your internet address from websites, but it does not prevent cookies from being stored on your tablet. Websites can still see and store cookies in your browser. If you want to prevent tracking, you should delete cookies separately from using a VPN. The two tools work differently and do not replace each other.