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 your browsing history. They make websites load faster and let you stay signed in, but they also let advertisers track which sites you visit.
Clearing cookies removes that stored data. You might do this to free up storage space, stop advertisers from tracking you across websites, or sign out of accounts on a shared computer. Most people clear cookies once a month or when they notice their browser running slowly.
The process is different depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — but the basic steps are similar in all of them. You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are small files websites store on your computer to remember your login, preferences, and browsing activity.
- You can clear cookies manually through your browser's settings menu, usually under History or Privacy.
- Most browsers let you choose to delete all cookies or only those from a specific time period.
- You can set your browser to delete cookies automatically every time you close it, so you do not have to clear them manually.
- Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites and may slow down sites you visit often because they will have to reload your preferences.
How to clear cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left sidebar. Choose Clear browsing data.
A window will open with options for what to delete. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, you can choose the time range — All time will delete every cookie, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days will delete only recent ones. Click Clear data to finish.
If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically, go back to Settings and Privacy and security. Under Clear browsing data, turn on Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. From then on, all cookies will be removed each time you close the browser.
How to clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
A box will appear asking what you want to delete. Check Cookies and Site Data and leave Cached Web Content unchecked unless you also want to free up more storage space. Click Clear to remove the cookies.
To make Firefox delete cookies automatically, stay in Privacy & Security and scroll to Cookies and Site Data. Check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. You can also click Manage Exceptions to keep cookies from specific websites you trust.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs), then click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites that have stored data on your computer will appear. You can click on individual sites and select Remove, or click Remove All to delete cookies from every website at once. Click Done when you are finished.
To set Safari to delete cookies when you close the browser, go back to Privacy settings. Under Cookies and website data, select Never or Only from sites you visit from the dropdown menu. This prevents cookies from being stored in the first place.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. Select your time range at the top — All time removes every cookie, while other options let you delete only recent ones. Click Clear now to finish.
If you want Edge to delete cookies automatically, go back to Settings and Privacy, search, and services. Turn on Clear browsing data and then enable Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Select which data types to delete, including Cookies and other site data.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once you clear cookies, you will be signed out of most websites. The next time you visit a site you normally log into — email, social media, banking — you will need to enter your username and password again. Websites will also forget your preferences, so if you had customized settings or language choices, those will reset to the default.
Sites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing cookies, because the browser has to read your preferences and settings again. This slowdown is usually not noticeable. If you clear cookies regularly and find yourself frustrated by having to log back in, you can set your browser to keep cookies from sites you trust while deleting others.
Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill information — those are stored separately. If you want to remove those as well, you can do so in the same menu where you clear cookies.
When to clear cookies and how often
There is no single right answer for how often to clear cookies. If you share your computer with other people, clear cookies before you hand it over to them. If you are concerned about tracking, clearing cookies monthly or weekly will limit how much data advertisers can collect about your browsing.
If you rarely share your computer and do not mind targeted ads, clearing cookies once every few months is enough. The main reason to clear them is if your browser feels slow or if you notice it is taking longer to load pages — cookies take up storage space, and too many of them can affect performance.
A practical middle ground is to set your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it. This way you get the privacy benefit without having to remember to clear them manually, and you stay signed in while the browser is open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Cookies and saved passwords are stored in different places. Clearing cookies will not affect your passwords. If you want to delete saved passwords, you can do that separately in your browser's settings under Passwords or Autofill.
Can I delete cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can click the lock icon next to the website address in the search bar and manage cookies for that specific site. In Safari, use Manage Website Data to select individual sites and click Remove.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is a list of websites you visited. Cookies are files websites store on your computer. Clearing history removes the list; clearing cookies removes the stored data. You can do either one without doing the other.
If I clear cookies, will websites know I was there before?
No. Once you clear cookies, websites have no way to know you visited before unless you log back into an account. Your browsing history on your computer is separate from what websites know about you.
Do I need to restart my browser after clearing cookies?
No. The changes take effect when ready. You can keep browsing right away. If you set your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it, the deletion happens the next time you fully close and reopen the browser.