What cookies are and why you might want to delete 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 which ads you have seen. Most cookies are harmless and make websites work better. But over time they pile up, take up storage space, and some track your browsing across multiple sites. Clearing them out is a normal maintenance task that takes a few minutes and causes no permanent damage.
When you delete cookies, you will be logged out of most websites and may need to enter your password again the next time you visit. Your browser will also forget things like saved form information. This is temporary — websites will create new cookies the moment you visit them again. Clearing cookies does not affect your files, photos, or passwords stored in your browser's password manager (unless you specifically delete those too).
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored in your browser, not your computer itself, so you delete them through your browser's settings menu.
- The steps differ between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but all browsers let you clear cookies in under one minute.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically every time you close it.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of websites and erase saved form information, but this is temporary and harmless.
- If you want to keep cookies from specific websites you trust, most browsers let you protect them before clearing the rest.
How to clear cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. Make sure the time range at the top is set to All time if you want to delete every cookie on your computer. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete your browsing history or cached images. Click the blue Clear data button. Chrome will delete the cookies in a few seconds and show you a confirmation message.
How to clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the section labeled Cookies and Site Data, click the button that says Clear Data.
A small window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. The time range should already be set to delete everything. Click Clear. Firefox will remove all your cookies when ready. If you want to delete only cookies from a specific time period, click the dropdown menu next to "Time range for clearing" before you click Clear.
How to clear cookies in Safari and Microsoft Edge
Safari (Mac): Click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Settings. Go to the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data. Select All websites in the list on the left, then click Remove All. A confirmation message will appear — click Remove Now.
Microsoft Edge: Click the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear. Set the time range to All time. Check the box for Cookies and other site data and click Clear now.
Set your browser to delete cookies automatically
If you want your browser to delete cookies every time you close it, you can turn on this setting instead of clearing them manually. This is useful if you use a shared computer or want to minimize tracking.
Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. Turn on the toggle next to Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Under Cookies and Site Data, check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
Safari: Click Safari > Settings > Privacy. Check the box next to Remove all website data when quitting Safari.
Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Turn on the toggle for Clear browsing data and choose Every time you close the browser.
How to protect cookies from websites you trust
If you have websites where you want to keep cookies (like your email or banking site), you can protect them before clearing the rest. Most browsers let you add sites to an exception list so their cookies stay even when you delete everything else.
Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Sites that can always use cookies. Click Add and type the website address (for example, gmail.com). Those cookies will never be deleted.
Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Exceptions. Type the website address and click Allow. Firefox will keep that site's cookies when you clear data.
Safari and Edge: These browsers do not have a built-in exception list, but you can manually delete only certain cookies through their "Manage Website Data" or "Manage cookies and site data" windows by selecting specific sites and clicking remove.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is thinking that clearing cookies will delete your passwords. It will not — passwords are stored separately in your browser's password manager. If you want to delete passwords too, you have to check that box separately during the clearing process.
Another mistake is clearing cookies and then wondering why you are logged out of everything. This is normal and expected. straightforward log back in to the websites you use regularly, and new cookies will be created.
Do not worry about clearing cookies breaking your computer or browser. Cookies are designed to be deleted, and your browser will recreate them as needed. There is no downside to clearing them regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear cookies, your browser will still remember your passwords unless you specifically check the box to delete them too. You will be logged out of websites, but you can log back in with your saved password.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing cache?
Cookies store information about you and your preferences. Cache stores copies of images, videos, and web pages so websites load faster next time. They are separate things. You can clear one without clearing the other, though most people clear both at the same time.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Cookies take up very little space and do not slow down your computer. You only need to clear them if you want to free up storage, reduce tracking, or if a website is not working properly. If you use a shared computer, clearing cookies regularly is a good privacy habit.
Will clearing cookies speed up my computer?
Probably not noticeably. Cookies are tiny files and do not use much storage or processing power. If your computer is slow, clearing cookies alone will not fix it. However, clearing cookies as part of regular maintenance is still a good idea.
Can I clear cookies from just one website?
Yes. In most browsers, go to the "Manage Website Data" or "Cookies and Site Data" section, find the website in the list, and click remove. This deletes only that site's cookies while keeping all others.