Clear cookies through your browser settings in under five minutes

The fastest way to clear cookies depends on which browser you use, but the process is nearly identical across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Open your browser, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac, and a window will open showing your browsing data. Select "Cookies and other site data," choose the time range (usually "All time" if you want a complete clear), and click the delete button. The whole operation takes about 30 seconds.

If that keyboard shortcut does not work on your browser, you can reach the same menu through settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. In Firefox, choose Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data. In Safari, go to History > Clear History, then choose "all history" from the dropdown. In Edge, select Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data. All four browsers will then ask you to confirm what you want to delete and how far back.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the clear browsing data window in most browsers.
  • Select "Cookies and other site data" and choose "All time" to remove every cookie stored on your computer.
  • You can also reach this menu through your browser's Settings under Privacy or History, depending on which browser you use.
  • Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so save any work before you start.
  • Some browsers let you set cookies to clear automatically every time you close the browser.

What cookies are and why you might want to clear them

Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you. When you visit a shopping site, a cookie remembers what you put in your cart. When you log into email, a cookie keeps you signed in. When you visit a news site, a cookie tracks which articles you have read. Most cookies are harmless and make websites work better.

You might want to clear cookies for privacy reasons — to remove the record of sites you have visited — or because a website is not working correctly and a corrupted cookie is the cause. Clearing cookies also frees up a small amount of disk space, though the amount is usually measured in megabytes. If you share a computer with other people, clearing cookies removes the login information that would let someone else access your accounts.

How to clear cookies in Chrome

In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. The Clear browsing data window will open. Make sure the "Cookies and other site data" checkbox is checked. At the top, select the time range — "All time" will delete every cookie, while "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," or "Last 7 days" will delete only recent ones.

Click the blue "Clear data" button. Chrome will delete the cookies when ready and close the window. You will be logged out of most websites. If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data, then toggle on "Clear cookies and site data when you close Chrome."

How to clear cookies in Firefox

In Firefox, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. The Clear Recent History window will open. Make sure "Cookies" is checked in the list. At the top, select the time range — "Everything" will delete all cookies, while "Last Hour," "Last 2 Hours," or "Last 4 Hours" will delete only recent ones.

Click "Clear Now." Firefox will delete the cookies and close the window. To set Firefox to clear cookies automatically, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to "Cookies and Site Data," and check the box next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed." You can also click "Manage Exceptions" to keep cookies from specific sites you trust.

How to clear cookies in Safari

In Safari, the keyboard shortcut does not work. Instead, click the menu bar and select History > Clear History. A dropdown will appear asking how far back you want to clear — choose "all history" to delete every cookie. Safari will clear the data when ready.

To set Safari to clear cookies automatically, go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences on older Macs), click the Privacy tab, and check "Remove all cookies and website data when closing Safari." This will delete cookies every time you quit the browser, but you can click "Manage Website Data" to protect cookies from specific sites.

How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge

In Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows. The Clear browsing data window will open. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked. At the top, select the time range — "All time" will delete every cookie, while "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," or "Last 7 days" will delete only recent ones.

Click "Clear now." Edge will delete the cookies when ready. To set Edge to clear cookies automatically, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data, then toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser." You can then select which data types to clear automatically, including cookies.

What happens after you clear cookies

After you clear cookies, 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, a news site might stop remembering which articles you have read, or a shopping site might stop remembering your saved addresses.

Some websites may load more slowly the first time you visit after clearing cookies, because they have to rebuild the information they normally store in cookies. This slowdown is temporary and usually not noticeable. Your browsing history and saved passwords are separate from cookies and will not be deleted unless you specifically choose to clear those as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?

No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear browsing data, you will see checkboxes for both "Cookies" and "Passwords" — they are independent. You can clear cookies without touching passwords, or vice versa. If you want to delete passwords, you must check that box separately.

Can I clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them?

Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can click the lock icon next to the website address in the address bar, then click "Cookies" or "Site settings" to see and delete cookies for that specific site. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data, find the site in the list, and click "Remove."

What if I clear cookies and a website still does not work?

Try clearing your browser cache as well as cookies. Cache is separate from cookies and stores images and files from websites. In the Clear browsing data window, check both "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," then clear both. If the site still does not work, try a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser.

Is it safe to clear all cookies at once?

Yes, it is completely safe. Cookies are not system files — they are just small data files that websites create. Clearing them will not harm your computer or browser. The only downside is that you will be logged out of websites and may need to re-enter preferences, but there is no technical risk.

How often should I clear cookies?

There is no set schedule. Many people clear cookies monthly or when they notice a website is not working correctly. If you are concerned about privacy, you can set your browser to clear cookies automatically every time you close it. For most users, clearing cookies once or twice a year is sufficient.