Delete cookies in Windows using your web browser
Cookies are small files your browser stores when you visit websites. They remember your login information, shopping cart contents, and browsing preferences. Deleting them clears this stored data from your computer. The process differs slightly depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari — but each one takes less than a minute.
You do not need to uninstall anything or use a separate tool. Your browser has a built-in option to clear cookies, and you can choose to delete all of them at once or only the ones from a specific date range.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all have a "Clear browsing data" or "Clear history" menu that removes cookies in one step.
- You can delete all cookies at once or select a specific time period, such as the last hour or last 30 days.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites and remove saved passwords unless you specifically protect them.
- Cookies are not viruses or malware, but deleting them can improve privacy and free up a small amount of storage space.
Delete cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears.
On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data. A window will open with several options. At the top, choose your time range from the dropdown menu — you can select All time to remove every cookie, or pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months.
Make sure the Cookies and other site data checkbox is checked. You can leave other options unchecked if you only want to remove cookies. Click Clear data and the cookies will be deleted when ready.
Delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings.
Click Privacy & Security on the left side. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click the Clear Data button. A window will appear asking what you want to remove. Check the box next to Cookies and Site Data and leave other options unchecked if you only want to delete cookies. Click Clear to finish.
If you want to delete cookies from only a specific time period, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete instead. This opens the Clear Recent History window, where you can select your time range before clicking Clear Now.
Delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings.
Click Privacy, search, and services on the left side. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear. A window will open. Select your time range from the dropdown at the top — All time removes everything, or you can pick a shorter period.
Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now to delete the cookies. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open this window directly.
Delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Clear History.
A dropdown menu will appear asking how far back you want to clear. Choose All history to delete all cookies, or select Last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, or The last 7 days. Click Clear History to confirm.
Safari does not have a separate option to delete only cookies while keeping other browsing history. If you want more control, go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy and click Manage Website Data to see and delete individual cookies from specific websites.
What happens after you delete cookies
After deletion, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that used cookies to remember you, you will need to log in again. Websites will not remember your preferences, and your shopping cart will be empty.
Some websites may load more slowly the first time you visit them after clearing cookies, because they have to rebuild your preferences from scratch. This is temporary and returns to normal after a few visits.
Deleting cookies does not remove your browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill information unless you specifically checked those boxes during the clearing process. If you want to keep your passwords but delete cookies, make sure only the Cookies and site data option is checked.
When to delete cookies
You might delete cookies if you share your computer with other people and want to remove their login information, or if a website is not working properly and clearing cookies fixes the issue. Some people delete cookies regularly for privacy reasons, though this is not necessary for security.
Cookies themselves are not dangerous — they are just text files that store information. Deleting them will not protect you from viruses or malware. If you are concerned about privacy, you can also set your browser to delete cookies automatically every time you close it, rather than doing it manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies take up almost no storage space, so removing them will not noticeably speed up your computer or free up meaningful disk space. Deleting cookies is more about privacy and fixing website problems than improving performance.
Can I delete cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can click the lock icon or site icon next to the web address, then find an option to view or clear cookies for that specific site. In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data to select individual sites and remove their cookies.
What is the difference between deleting cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is a list of websites you visited. Cookies are files those websites stored on your computer. Clearing history removes the list; clearing cookies removes the stored files. You can do either one without doing the other.
Do I need to restart my browser after deleting cookies?
No. The cookies are deleted when ready, and your browser will continue to work normally. You do not need to close and reopen it, though you will need to log back into websites the next time you visit them.