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 language preference, or which ads you have seen. They are not programs or viruses; they are just text files. Most cookies are harmless and make websites work better for you.
You might want to remove cookies if you are concerned about privacy, if a website is not working correctly, or if you are sharing a computer with other people and do not want them to see your browsing history. Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites and clear your saved preferences, so you will need to log back in the next time you visit.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored files on your computer that websites use to remember information about you, and they can be deleted without harming your computer.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of websites and clear saved preferences, so you will need to log back in afterward.
- The steps to delete cookies differ depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — but all take less than a minute.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
- Clearing cookies is different from clearing your browsing history, though most browsers let you do both at the same time.
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, then click Privacy and security on the left side. 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 all cookies, or choose a specific date range. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes unchecked if you only want to remove cookies. Click Clear data at the bottom right.
How to delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
Click the Clear Data button. A window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. Click Clear. If you want to delete cookies from a specific time period instead of all of them, go back to the Privacy & Security page, scroll to History, click Clear Recent History, set your time range, check Cookies, and click Clear Now.
How to delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Go to the Privacy tab.
Click Manage Website Data. You will see a list of websites that have stored cookies on your computer. You can click on a website and click Remove to delete cookies from just that site, or click Remove All to delete all cookies at once. Click Done when you are finished.
How to delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will pop up. Set the time range to All time if you want to delete all cookies. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now. If you want to clear data every time you close Edge, toggle on Clear browsing data at the top of the Privacy page.
How to automatically delete cookies when you close your browser
If you want your browser to delete all cookies every time you close it, you can turn on this setting instead of doing it manually. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data, then toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, then check Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Safari, go to Settings > Privacy, then click the dropdown next to Cookies and website data and select Never or From visited. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, then toggle on Clear browsing data and select Every time you close the browser. This setting means you will be logged out of websites each time you close your browser.
The difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history
Cookies and browsing history are two separate things. Your browsing history is a list of websites you have visited. Cookies are files that websites store on your computer. You can delete one without deleting the other.
Most browsers let you delete both at the same time using the same "Clear browsing data" or "Clear data" window. If you only want to remove cookies and keep your browsing history, make sure you uncheck the box for history before you click clear. If you want to remove your browsing history but keep cookies (so you stay logged into websites), uncheck the cookies box instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer or cause problems?
No. Deleting cookies will not harm your computer or make it run slower. It will only log you out of websites and remove saved preferences. Your computer will work exactly the same after you delete them.
Can I delete cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can search for a specific website in the cookies list and delete only that one. In Safari, click Manage Website Data, find the website in the list, and click Remove. This is useful if one website is not working correctly but you want to stay logged into others.
What happens if I delete cookies while I am logged into a website?
You will be logged out when ready. The website will not remember you the next time you visit until you log back in. If you are in the middle of something important (like filling out a form), save your work first before deleting cookies.
Do I need to restart my computer after deleting cookies?
No. You do not need to restart your computer. The changes take effect right away. You can continue using your browser normally after deleting cookies.
Is it safe to delete all cookies at once?
Yes, it is completely safe. Deleting all cookies will not damage your computer or any of your files. You will straightforward be logged out of all websites and lose any saved preferences, but you can log back in whenever you want.