What cookies are and why you might want to remove them
Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you — your login details, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences, or your browsing history on that site. They are not programs and they do not harm your computer by existing.
You might want to remove them for privacy reasons, to free up a small amount of storage space, or to force a website to forget your settings and start fresh. Clearing cookies also logs you out of most websites, so you will need to sign back in afterward.
The steps differ depending on which web browser you use. The three most common are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox. Each one stores and deletes cookies in a slightly different place.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are small files websites store on your computer to remember your login, preferences, and browsing activity on that site.
- You can delete all cookies at once or delete cookies from a single website, depending on your browser and what you want to accomplish.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites and may reset your saved preferences on those sites.
- The steps to delete cookies are different in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, but all three take less than one minute.
- You can set your browser to delete cookies automatically every time you close it, or to block third-party cookies while keeping site cookies.
How to delete all 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 pop up. At the top, make sure the time range is set to All time if you want to delete every cookie. If you only want to delete cookies from the last day or week, select that option instead.
Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck any other boxes if you do not want to delete your browsing history, cached images, or other data. Then click Clear data. The cookies are now gone.
How to delete all cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section labeled Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear. A window will open.
Set the time range to All time at the top if you want to delete all cookies. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now. The cookies are deleted.
How to delete all cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the section called Cookies and Site Data. Click the button labeled Clear Data. A small window will appear.
Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. Click Clear. All cookies are now removed from your computer.
How to delete cookies from a single website
If you only want to remove cookies from one website instead of all of them, the process is faster in most browsers.
In Chrome: Go to the website, click the lock icon or information icon to the left of the web address at the top, click Cookies and site data, then click the trash icon next to each cookie you want to delete, or click Remove all to delete all cookies from that site only.
In Edge: Go to the website, click the lock icon to the left of the web address, click Cookies and site permissions, then click the trash icon next to each cookie or click Remove all.
In Firefox: Go to the website, click the shield icon to the left of the web address, click the arrow next to Enhanced Tracking Protection, then click Manage cookies and delete the ones you want to remove.
How to automatically delete cookies when you close your browser
You can set your browser to delete all cookies every time you close it, so you do not have to do it manually.
In Chrome: Go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then turn on the toggle next to Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
In Edge: Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, then turn on the toggle next to Clear browsing data. Choose what data you want cleared — make sure Cookies and other site data is checked.
In Firefox: Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check the box next to Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
How to block third-party cookies without deleting all cookies
Third-party cookies are placed by advertisers and tracking companies, not by the website you are visiting. Many people delete these while keeping cookies from the websites themselves, so they stay logged in but see fewer targeted ads.
In Chrome: Go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then click Cookies and other site data. Select Block third-party cookies.
In Edge: Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, then under Tracking prevention, select Balanced or Strict. Balanced blocks most third-party trackers. Strict blocks more but may break some websites.
In Firefox: Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, scroll to Enhanced Tracking Protection, and select Standard (blocks some trackers) or Strict (blocks more).
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies take up almost no storage space — even thousands of them use less than a few megabytes. Deleting them will not speed up your computer or free up any noticeable amount of space. The main reason to delete them is privacy, not performance.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No, but some people do it weekly or monthly for privacy reasons. If you do not care about websites tracking your activity, you do not need to delete them at all. If you share your computer with other people, you might want to delete cookies before handing it over so they cannot see which sites you visited.
What happens if I delete cookies from a website I use often?
You will be logged out and will need to sign back in. Your saved preferences on that website may reset. Some sites remember your login for months using cookies, so deleting them means you have to enter your password again the next time you visit.
Can I recover cookies after I delete them?
No. Once you clear cookies, they are gone and cannot be recovered. If you deleted cookies by mistake and need to stay logged into a website, you will have to sign in again with your username and password.
Are cookies dangerous?
Cookies themselves are not dangerous — they are just text files. However, they do track your browsing activity across websites, which is why some people delete them for privacy. Blocking third-party cookies reduces tracking without deleting all cookies from sites you want to stay logged into.