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 your browsing history on that site. They are not viruses or malware. Most cookies are harmless and make websites work better.

You might want to clear them for privacy reasons, to free up storage space, or because a website is not working properly and clearing its cookies fixes the problem. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites you are signed into, so plan accordingly.

Key Takeaways

  • Clearing cookies removes the small files websites store on your computer, which will log you out of most sites and erase saved passwords unless you choose to keep them.
  • The steps differ by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu path and options for what to delete.
  • You can clear all cookies at once or choose a date range, and most browsers let you protect certain sites from being cleared.
  • Clearing cookies does not remove your browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill data unless you specifically select those options too.

Clear cookies in Google Chrome

Open Chrome and select the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then Privacy and security in the left menu, then Clear browsing data.

A window will appear with several options. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, choose your time range — All time clears everything, or pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months. Click Clear data.

If you want to protect certain websites from having their cookies cleared, go back to Privacy and security and select Cookies and other site data. Under Sites that can always use cookies, click Add and type the website address.

Clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and select the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Click Settings, then Privacy & Security in the left menu. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.

A box will pop up. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can clear all cookies or choose a time range using the dropdown at the top right. Click Clear.

To protect specific sites, go back to Privacy & Security and find Cookies and Site Data. Click Manage Exceptions, type the website address in the box, and click Allow.

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 versions), then click the Privacy tab.

Click Manage Website Data. A list of websites that have stored data on your computer will appear. You can select individual sites and click Remove, or click Remove All to clear everything at once.

Safari does not offer a time-range option like Chrome and Firefox do — you either remove specific sites or all of them. If you want to keep cookies from certain sites, do not select them when you click Remove All.

Clear cookies in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and select the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then Privacy, search, and services in the left menu. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.

A window will open. Check Cookies and other site data. At the top, select your time range — All time, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months. Click Clear now.

To protect specific websites, go to Privacy, search, and services and scroll down to Clear browsing data. Click Manage exceptions, type the website address, and click Add.

What happens after you clear cookies

You will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site you normally log into, you will need to enter your username and password again — unless you chose to keep saved passwords when clearing.

Websites may load slightly slower on your first visit because they no longer have stored preferences like your language, theme, or layout choices. These will rebuild as you browse. Shopping carts will be emptied. Personalized ads may become less targeted because the sites no longer have your browsing history stored locally.

Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history, your saved passwords, or your autofill information unless you specifically checked those boxes when clearing. Those are separate options in the same menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?

No, unless you specifically check the box for saved passwords when clearing. Cookies and passwords are stored separately. If you want to clear cookies but keep passwords, make sure only Cookies and site data is checked, not Passwords.

Can I clear cookies from just one website?

Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can visit a website, right-click, and select Inspect or Inspect Element, then go to the process or Storage tab to delete that site's cookies. In Safari, use Manage Website Data and select the specific site before clicking Remove.

How often should I clear cookies?

There is no set schedule. Clear them when a website is not working properly, when you want to improve privacy, or when you notice your computer is running slowly. Many people clear them monthly or when switching between personal and work browsing.

Will clearing cookies speed up my computer?

Slightly, if you have accumulated a large number of cookies over time. Cookies take up very little storage space individually, so the effect is usually small. If your computer is slow, clearing cookies alone is unlikely to fix it.

What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?

Browsing history is a list of websites you visited. Cookies are files those websites stored on your computer. Clearing history removes the list; clearing cookies removes the stored files. You can do either one without doing the other.