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 — your login details, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences, or which ads you have seen. When you visit a website again, it reads that cookie file to recognize you and load your settings faster.
Clearing cookies removes these stored files. You might do this to free up a small amount of disk space, to log out of websites completely, to stop a site from remembering your browsing history, or to reset how a website behaves when you visit it next. Clearing cookies does not delete your passwords or your browser history unless you specifically choose those options too.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are small files websites store on your computer to remember you; clearing them removes these files but does not delete passwords or browsing history unless you choose that option.
- The steps to clear cookies differ by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu path and options.
- You can clear all cookies at once or set your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so you will need to log back in the next time you visit.
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 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 what you want — All time clears everything, or you can choose Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to clear your cache or browsing history. Click Clear data and you are done.
How to clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click the button that says Clear Data.
A small window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can also check Cached Web Content if you want to clear temporary files, but leave it unchecked if you only want cookies gone. Click Clear and the cookies are removed.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen (not inside the browser window, but at the very top). Select Settings or Preferences depending on your macOS version. Click the Privacy tab.
Click the button labeled Manage Website Data. A list of websites and their stored data will appear. To remove all of it at once, click Remove All. To remove only specific websites, select them from the list and click Remove. Click Done when finished.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. At the top, select your time range — All time is the default. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now. If you want Edge to clear cookies automatically every time you close the browser, toggle on the switch labeled Clear browsing data under Clear browsing data in the same settings menu.
Set your browser to delete cookies automatically
Instead of clearing cookies manually each time, you can tell your browser to delete them when you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data, then toggle on Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, then select Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data and toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.
If you turn on automatic deletion, you will be logged out of most websites when you close your browser, and you will need to log back in the next time you visit. This is more private but less convenient for sites you use regularly.
What happens after you clear cookies
After clearing cookies, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you will see the login page instead of your account. Websites will not remember your preferences, and you may see ads you have already seen before, since the site can no longer track which ads it has shown you.
Clearing cookies does not affect your saved passwords, your browsing history, or your bookmarks — those are stored separately. If you want to delete those too, the clear browsing data window in each browser has separate checkboxes for each type of data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. If you want to delete saved passwords, you need to go to your browser's password settings and remove them there. Clearing cookies alone will not affect your passwords.
Can I clear cookies from just one website?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can visit a website, click the lock icon or info icon next to the URL, and find an option to clear that site's data. In Safari, use the Manage Website Data window to select individual sites before clicking Remove.
What if I clear cookies and a website stops working?
Some websites rely on cookies to function properly. If a site behaves strangely after you clear cookies, try refreshing the page or logging back in. If the problem continues, the website may have a technical issue unrelated to cookies.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
No. Clearing cookies is optional and depends on your privacy preferences. If you are concerned about tracking or want to log out of sites completely, clearing them is useful. If you prefer convenience and do not mind websites remembering you, you can leave them alone.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing cache?
Cookies are small files that store login information and preferences. Cache is temporary copies of images, videos, and web pages that help websites load faster. Clearing cache frees up more disk space but does not log you out of websites. You can clear either one independently.