Delete cookies through your browser settings in under two minutes

Cookies are small files your browser stores when you visit websites. They remember your login information, shopping cart contents, and browsing preferences. Deleting them clears that stored data and can free up disk space. The process differs slightly by browser, but all modern browsers let you delete cookies from a settings menu without needing additional software.

Most people delete cookies to improve privacy, reset a website that is not working correctly, or remove login information before sharing a computer. You can delete all cookies at once or target specific websites. The steps take less than two minutes on any major browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all store the delete-cookies option in their settings or preferences menu under "Privacy" or "History".
  • You can delete all cookies at once or choose a date range — for example, cookies from the last hour or the last week.
  • Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites and reset your saved preferences on those sites.
  • Cookies return when ready when you visit websites again, so deleting them is not a permanent privacy measure.

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 appear with options. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, choose your time range — All time deletes every cookie, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days delete only recent ones. Click Clear data to finish.

Delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (menu button) in the top right. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data.

A box will pop up. Check that Cookies and Site Data is selected. Click Clear to remove all cookies when ready. If you want to delete cookies from only a specific time period, use the Time range to clear dropdown at the top of the Privacy & Security page instead.

Delete cookies in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data to see all stored cookies and site data.

You can select individual websites and click Remove, or click Remove All to delete everything at once. Click Done when finished. Safari does not offer a time-range option like Chrome and Firefox, so this method removes all cookies or lets you pick specific sites.

Delete cookies in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.

A window opens. Check that Cookies and other site data is selected. Choose your time range from the dropdown — All time, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, or Last 4 weeks. Click Clear now to delete the cookies.

What happens after you delete cookies

You will be logged out of most websites when ready. The next time you visit a site, you may need to log in again or re-enter preferences like language or theme settings. Websites will start collecting new cookies as soon as you visit them, so deleting cookies is not a permanent change.

If a website is behaving oddly — pages not loading correctly, buttons not responding, or settings not saving — deleting that site's cookies often fixes the problem. Some people delete cookies monthly for privacy reasons, though modern browsers also offer private browsing modes that do not store cookies at all.

Delete cookies from specific websites only

You do not have to delete all cookies. Most browsers let you remove cookies from one website while keeping others. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Manage all cookies and site data. Search for the website name and click the trash icon next to it.

In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data. Type the website name in the search box and click Remove Selected. In Safari and Edge, use the Manage Website Data or Manage cookies and site data option to find and remove individual sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?

No. Cookies are tiny files — typically a few kilobytes each — so they use almost no disk space. Deleting them will not noticeably speed up your computer. The main reason to delete cookies is privacy or to fix a website that is not working correctly.

Can I delete cookies without deleting my passwords?

Yes. When you open the clear-browsing-data window, you will see separate checkboxes for cookies, passwords, and other data. Uncheck Passwords and check only Cookies and site data to keep your saved passwords while removing cookies.

Do I need to restart my browser after deleting cookies?

No. The deletion takes effect when ready. You can continue browsing right away. Websites will start storing new cookies as soon as you visit them.

What is the difference between deleting cookies and using private browsing?

Private browsing (Incognito in Chrome, Private Window in Firefox) prevents your browser from storing cookies in the first place. Deleting cookies removes files that were already stored. Private browsing is useful if you want to browse without leaving a trace; deleting cookies is useful if you want to clear old data.