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, or your preferences for how a site should look. They are not programs or viruses; they are just text files. Most cookies are harmless and make browsing faster and easier.
You might want to delete cookies if you are concerned about privacy, if you share a computer with other people, or if a website is not working correctly. Clearing cookies can also free up a small amount of storage space, though the amount is usually negligible. The process is straightforward and takes less than a minute in any modern browser.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored files that websites use to remember your information, and deleting them does not harm your computer or browser.
- The steps to delete cookies differ slightly between browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have their own menu paths.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites, so you will need to sign back in afterward.
- If you want to keep cookies from specific websites you trust, most browsers let you protect those sites before clearing the rest.
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. 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 everything, or choose a specific range like Last hour or Last 7 days. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes checked or unchecked depending on what else you want to remove. Click Clear data and you are done.
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 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. You can also check Cached Web Content if you want to clear temporary files. Click Clear. Firefox will remove all cookies when ready. If you want to delete cookies from only a specific time period, use the Clear Recent History option instead, which you can find by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac).
How to delete cookies in Safari and Microsoft Edge
In Safari on a Mac, click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Clear History. Choose how far back you want to clear — all history will remove all cookies, or you can pick a specific time range. Click Clear History. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
In 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. Check the box for Cookies and other site data, set the time range to All time, and click Clear now.
Setting your browser to delete cookies automatically
If you want cookies deleted every time you close your browser, you can turn on this setting instead of clearing them manually. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check the box for 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, search, and services and toggle on Clear browsing data under the Clear browsing data section. Keep in mind that turning this on means you will be logged out of websites every time you close your browser.
Protecting cookies from websites you trust
Before you clear all your cookies, you can tell your browser to keep cookies from specific websites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Sites that can always use cookies. Type in the website address and click Add. Those sites will keep their cookies even when you clear the rest.
In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Exceptions. Type the website address in the box and click Allow. In Safari and Edge, you can use the same approach through their respective privacy settings, though the exact menu names vary slightly. This way you stay logged into the sites you use most while still clearing cookies from everywhere else.
What happens after you delete 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, if a news site was set to show you articles in a particular order, it will go back to the default view.
Your browsing speed may feel slightly different, though most people do not notice a change. Some websites may load a bit slower the first time you visit them after clearing cookies, because they have to read certain files again instead of pulling them from the stored cookie data. This is temporary and happens only on the first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies damage my computer or browser?
No. Cookies are just small text files, and deleting them cannot harm your computer or browser. Your browser will continue to work normally, and you can always create new cookies by visiting websites again.
What is the difference between deleting cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is a list of websites you have visited. Cookies are files websites store on your computer. You can delete one without deleting the other. Most browsers let you choose which types of data to clear when you use the clear data tool.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No, it is not necessary. Cookies do not slow down your computer or take up meaningful storage space. Delete them only if you are concerned about privacy, if you share a computer, or if a website is not working correctly.
Can I delete cookies from just one website?
Yes. In most browsers, you can right-click on a website and select an option like Site settings or View site information, then find the option to delete cookies for that specific site. You can also use the Manage Exceptions or Manage Data option in your privacy settings to remove individual sites.
Will deleting cookies log me out of my email or bank account?
Yes, it will. Cookies are how websites keep you logged in. After you delete cookies, you will need to sign back into your email, bank, and other accounts. Make sure you know your passwords before you clear cookies, or use your browser's password manager to store them securely.