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 language preference, or which ads you've seen. They make websites faster and more convenient, but they also let companies track which sites you visit.
Deleting cookies clears that stored information. After you delete them, websites won't remember you until you log back in, and advertisers lose some of their tracking data. Most people delete cookies to free up storage space, reduce tracking, or start fresh with a website that's misbehaving.
The process is different depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — but the steps are straightforward and take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are small files websites store on your computer to remember your preferences and track your activity.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
- The steps differ by browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu location and naming.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites, so you'll need to sign back in.
- You can also delete cookies from individual websites without clearing all of them.
How to clear 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 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 anything else you don't want to delete. Click Clear data.
If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go back to Settings > Privacy and security and turn on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called the hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select 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 stored on your computer.
To delete cookies automatically, scroll down in the same Privacy & Security section and find Cookies and Site Data. Check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Safari, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites and their stored data will appear. To delete all of it, click Remove All. To delete cookies from specific websites, select them from the list and click Remove. Click Done when finished.
Safari does not have a built-in option to delete cookies automatically when you close the browser, but you can set it to reject cookies from third-party websites. In the Privacy tab, check Prevent cross-site tracking.
How to clear 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 will pop up. 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. Click Clear now.
To make Edge delete cookies automatically, go back to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and scroll down to Clear browsing data. Turn on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser, then click Choose what to clear every time you close the browser again and check Cookies and other site data.
How to delete cookies from a single website
You don't have to delete all your cookies at once. Most browsers let you remove cookies from just one website while keeping the rest.
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. Type the website name in the search box. Click the trash icon next to it. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Manage Data, search for the site, and click Remove Selected. In Safari, click Manage Website Data in the Privacy settings, find the site, and click Remove. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Manage cookies and site permissions > Cookies and data stored, search for the site, and click the trash icon.
What happens after you delete cookies
Once you delete cookies, you'll be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that used to remember you, you'll need to sign in again. Websites may also load slightly slower because they no longer have your saved preferences.
Deleting cookies does not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill information — those are stored separately. If you want to delete those too, look for Clear browsing data or Clear history in your browser's settings and check the appropriate boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies are tiny files that take up almost no storage space. Deleting them won't noticeably speed up your computer. If your computer is slow, the problem is usually something else — too many programs running at once, a full hard drive, or malware.
Can I delete cookies without deleting my saved passwords?
Yes. When you clear browsing data, your browser shows you checkboxes for different types of data. Uncheck Passwords or Autofill and check only Cookies and site data. Your passwords will stay saved.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No, but some people do it monthly or quarterly for privacy reasons. If you're concerned about tracking, turning on Do Not Track in your browser settings or using a privacy-focused browser extension is often more effective than manually deleting cookies.
What's the difference between clearing cookies and clearing cache?
Cookies store information about you — login details, preferences, tracking data. Cache stores copies of web pages, images, and videos so websites load faster next time. Deleting cache frees up more storage space, but deleting cookies is better for privacy.
If I delete cookies, will websites know I deleted them?
No. Websites cannot tell whether you deleted cookies. They only know that the next time you visit, the cookie is no longer there, so they'll treat you like a new visitor.