Where cookies live and why you might want to remove them
Cookies are small files your browser stores when you visit websites. They remember your login information, shopping cart contents, and browsing preferences. Over time, your browser collects hundreds or thousands of them, and some track your activity across multiple sites.
You might delete cookies to free up storage space, stop websites from tracking your movement online, or clear out login information before you sell or give away your computer. Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites, so you will need to sign back in the next time you visit them.
The steps differ depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge each stores and removes cookies in a different location. The process takes less than a minute once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored files in your browser that websites use to remember your preferences and login information.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of websites and may slow down your browsing temporarily while sites rebuild their stored data about you.
- Each browser has its own cookie storage location, but all of them let you delete cookies through the settings or preferences menu.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
How to 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 pop up. Make sure the time range at the top is set to All time if you want to delete every cookie. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete your browsing history or cached images. Click Clear data and the cookies are gone.
If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go back to Settings and Privacy and security. Scroll down to Clear browsing data and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data.
A box will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can choose to clear data from just today, the last hour, or all time. Click Clear and Firefox removes the cookies when ready.
To have Firefox delete cookies automatically when you close it, stay in Privacy & Security and look for Cookies and Site Data. Check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
How to delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites and their stored data will appear. To delete all of it at once, click Remove All. To delete cookies from specific websites, select them from the list and click Remove. Click Done when finished.
Safari does not have a built-in option to delete cookies automatically on close, but you can set it to reject cookies from third-party websites. In the Privacy tab, uncheck Allow cross-site tracking. This stops advertisers from following you across the web, though it does not delete existing cookies.
How to delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens. Set the time range to All time to delete every cookie. Check Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now and Edge removes them.
To delete cookies every time you close Edge, go back to Settings and Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down and toggle on Clear browsing data under Clear browsing data. Then toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. The next time you close Edge, it will ask which data to delete.
What happens after you delete cookies
Websites will not recognize you the next time you visit them. You will be logged out of email, social media, shopping sites, and any other service that uses cookies to keep you signed in. You will need to enter your username and password again.
Some websites may load more slowly the first time you visit after deleting cookies, because they have to rebuild their stored information about your preferences. This slowdown is temporary and usually not noticeable.
Deleting cookies does not affect your saved passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically choose to delete those as well. Each of these is stored separately from cookies.
Deleting cookies from specific websites instead of all at once
If you want to keep most cookies but remove them from just one or two websites, most browsers let you do that. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Manage all cookies and site data. Search for the website name and click the trash icon next to it.
In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data. Find the website and click Remove Selected. In Edge, the process is similar: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Manage cookies and site data. Search for the site and click the X next to it.
Safari does not have a search function in its cookie manager, so you have to scroll through the list manually to find the website you want to remove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
Deleting cookies will not slow down your computer overall. You might notice websites load slightly slower the first time you visit them after deletion, because they have to rebuild their stored data. This effect is temporary and usually not noticeable.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No. Cookies take up very little storage space, and modern computers have plenty of room for them. You only need to delete cookies if you want to stop websites from tracking you, clear your login information before sharing your computer, or if a website is not working properly and clearing cookies fixes it.
What is the difference between deleting cookies and clearing browsing history?
Cookies are files websites store on your computer to remember information about you. Browsing history is a list of websites you have visited. Deleting one does not delete the other. You can clear your browsing history without touching cookies, or delete cookies without erasing your history.
Can I delete cookies without deleting my saved passwords?
Yes. When you clear browsing data in any browser, you choose which types of data to delete. Uncheck the box for passwords and check only the box for cookies. Your saved passwords will stay on your computer.
Why do some websites ask me to accept cookies when I visit?
Websites use cookies to track your activity and show you targeted ads. Many countries require websites to ask for your permission before storing cookies. You can usually click Reject or Manage preferences to limit which cookies the site stores, though some features may not work if you reject all cookies.