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, items in your shopping cart, your preferences, or your browsing history on that site. They make websites faster and more convenient because you don't have to re-enter the same information every time you visit.
You might want to delete cookies to free up storage space, improve browser speed, remove login information before you sell or give away your computer, or stop websites from tracking your activity across the internet. Clearing cookies is safe — the worst that happens is you'll have to log back into websites you use regularly.
The process differs slightly depending on which browser you use. All major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — let you clear cookies in a few clicks, and you can choose to delete all cookies at once or just the ones from specific websites.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored files that websites use to remember your login information and preferences, and clearing them won't damage your computer.
- Each browser has a different menu path to reach the cookie deletion tool, but all are found in Settings or Preferences.
- You can delete all cookies at once or remove cookies from only certain websites, depending on what you need.
- After clearing cookies, you will need to log back into websites you use regularly.
- You can set your browser to delete cookies automatically every time you close it if you prefer not to do it manually.
How to clear cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the window. Select Settings from the dropdown 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 every cookie, or choose a specific range like Last hour or Last 7 days. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck any other boxes if you only want to remove cookies and not other browsing information. Click Clear data at the bottom right.
If you want to delete cookies from only one website, go back to Privacy and security and click Cookies and other site data. Type the website name in the search box, click it when it appears, and click the trash icon next to it.
How to clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called the hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data.
A window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can also check Cached Web Content if you want to free up more space. Click Clear. Firefox will delete all cookies when ready.
To remove cookies from a single website, stay in Privacy & Security and scroll down to Cookies and Site Data. Click Manage Data. Type the website name in the search box, select it, and click Remove Selected.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari. Click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen (not inside the browser window — on your Mac's main menu). Click Settings or Preferences depending on your macOS version. Click the Privacy tab.
Click Manage Website Data. You will see a list of all websites that have stored cookies on your computer. To delete all of them at once, click Remove All. To delete cookies from one website, find it in the list, click it, and click Remove.
Alternatively, you can clear cookies through the History menu. Click History in the menu bar, then click Clear History. Choose how far back you want to go — All history will delete all cookies, while Last hour or Last day will delete only recent ones. Make sure Cookies is selected in the dropdown, then click Clear History.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. Set the time range to All time for a complete deletion, or pick a shorter period. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck anything else you don't want to delete. Click Clear now.
You can also set Edge to clear cookies automatically. In the same Privacy, search, and services section, toggle on Clear browsing data under "Clear browsing data". Then toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Edge will then delete your selected data each time you close the browser completely.
Set your browser to delete cookies automatically
If you don't want to manually clear cookies, you can configure your browser to do it for you every time you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings, click Privacy and security, and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and under Cookies and Site Data, check Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, the option is in Privacy, search, and services — toggle on Clear browsing data and then toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.
This approach means you won't have to remember to clear cookies manually, but you will be logged out of websites each time you close your browser completely. It's a good option if you share your computer with others or use public computers.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once you delete cookies, websites will no longer remember your login information, preferences, or shopping cart contents. The next time you visit a site you use regularly, you'll need to log in again. Some websites may also load slightly slower the first time because they don't have your stored preferences.
Clearing cookies will not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, or bookmarks unless you specifically selected those options when clearing data. It also won't affect your computer's performance in any lasting way — cookies take up very little storage space.
If you deleted cookies from a website by mistake and want to restore your login, you can use the "Forgot password" link on that site's login page to regain access. Most sites will send you a password reset link to your email address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear cookies, you will see an option to also clear saved passwords, but it is unchecked by default. You have to actively select it to delete passwords. If you only check the cookies box, your passwords stay intact.
Can I delete cookies from one website without deleting all of them?
Yes. Every browser lets you target specific websites. In Chrome, go to Privacy and security, click Cookies and other site data, search for the website name, and click the trash icon. Firefox, Safari, and Edge have similar options in their cookie management sections. You can delete one site's cookies while keeping all others.
What's 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 but leaves the cookies, so websites can still recognize you. Clearing cookies removes the stored files but doesn't erase the fact that you visited those sites. Most browsers let you clear them separately or together.
Do I need to restart my computer after clearing cookies?
No. Clearing cookies takes effect when ready. You don't need to restart your browser or computer. You can start using websites right away, though you may need to log back in.
Why do some websites ask me to accept cookies?
Websites use cookies to track your activity and show you targeted ads. Many countries require websites to ask your permission first. You can usually click "Reject" or "Decline" to refuse non-essential cookies, though some sites may limit features if you do. Clearing cookies regularly is another way to limit tracking.