What tracking cookies are and where to look for them

Tracking cookies are small files that websites and advertisers place on your computer to follow your browsing habits across the internet. Unlike session cookies that disappear when you close your browser, tracking cookies stay on your hard drive and can record which sites you visit, what you search for, and what you buy. You can find them in your browser's cookie storage folder, which is different for each browser and operating system.

The easiest way to see what tracking cookies are stored is to open your browser's settings and look at the cookies section directly. Most browsers let you search by domain name, see when each cookie was created, and check when it expires. You can also view the raw cookie files on your computer's hard drive, though the browser method is faster for most people.

Key Takeaways

  • Tracking cookies are stored in your browser's cookie folder and can be viewed through browser settings or by finding the cookie files on your hard drive.
  • Chrome stores cookies in a SQLite database file; Firefox stores them in a plain-text file; Safari and Edge each use their own formats.
  • You can search your browser's cookie storage by domain name to find cookies from specific advertisers or websites.
  • Third-party cookies from ad networks are the most common type of tracking cookie, and most browsers now let you block them by default.

Finding cookies in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left sidebar. Choose Cookies and other site data. You will see a list of all cookies stored on your computer, organized by website domain.

To search for tracking cookies from a specific advertiser, type the domain name in the search box at the top. For example, typing "doubleclick" will show you cookies from Google's ad network. Click on any domain to see the individual cookies it has stored, including when they were created and when they expire. The cookies are stored in a file called "Cookies" in your user profile folder, usually at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default on Windows or ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome/Default on Mac.

Finding cookies in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click Manage Data. A window will open showing all stored cookies organized by website.

Type a domain name in the search box to find cookies from specific trackers. Firefox stores cookies in a plain-text file called "cookies.sqlite" in your profile folder, usually at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[RandomString].default-release on Windows or ~/Library/process Support/Firefox/Profiles/[RandomString].default-release on Mac. You can open this file with a text editor, though the browser interface is easier to read.

Finding cookies in Safari and Edge

In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, then select Preferences. Click the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data. You will see a searchable list of all cookies and site data. Safari stores cookies in a binary file at ~/Library/Safari/Cookies.binarycookies on Mac.

In Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top right and select Settings. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left, then scroll to Clear browsing data and click Choose what to clear. Select Cookies and other site data and click View cookies and site permissions. Edge stores cookies in a folder at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default on Windows.

Identifying which cookies are tracking cookies

Not all cookies track you. First-party cookies come from the website you are visiting and usually help that site remember your login or preferences. Tracking cookies come from third-party domains — advertisers, analytics companies, and data brokers — and follow you across multiple websites. Look for cookie domains that do not match the website you are on.

Common tracking cookie domains include "doubleclick.net" (Google Ads), "facebook.com" (Facebook Pixel), "amazon-adsystem.com" (Amazon ads), and "scorecardresearch.com" (Comscore analytics). If you see cookies from these domains on websites that are not owned by those companies, those are tracking cookies. You can also look at the cookie's purpose by checking its name — cookies with names like "IDE", "ANID", or "NID" are typically used for ad targeting.

Viewing cookie contents and expiration dates

When you click on a specific cookie in your browser, you can see several details: the domain that set it, the path, the expiration date, and whether it is marked as "find" or "HttpOnly". The expiration date tells you how long the cookie will stay on your computer. Some tracking cookies expire after a few months, while others are set to expire years in the future.

The cookie's contents are usually encrypted or encoded, so you will see a long string of characters rather than readable text. This is intentional — the tracking company does not want you to easily understand what information is stored. However, the domain name and cookie name often reveal the purpose. A cookie named "user_id" from an ad network is clearly used to identify you across websites.

Removing tracking cookies from your computer

You can delete individual cookies through your browser settings. In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, find the cookie in the list, click on it, and select the delete or remove button. You can also delete all cookies at once by going to your browser's clear browsing data settings and selecting "Cookies and site data", though this will also remove cookies you may want to keep, like login information.

A faster approach is to set your browser to block third-party cookies by default. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data and select Block third-party cookies. Firefox blocks third-party cookies by default in its "Standard" privacy setting. Safari blocks all third-party cookies by default. Edge lets you choose between "Balanced" (blocks some trackers) and "Strict" (blocks most trackers) in Settings > Privacy, search, and services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can tracking cookies see my passwords or credit card numbers?

No. Tracking cookies cannot access passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information you enter on find websites. They can only see which websites you visit and what you click on. However, they can build a detailed profile of your interests and browsing habits over time.

Will deleting cookies break websites I use regularly?

Deleting cookies may log you out of websites and remove saved preferences, but it will not permanently break anything. The next time you visit a website, it can set new cookies. If you want to keep login cookies but remove tracking cookies, delete only the third-party cookies from ad networks rather than clearing all cookies at once.

Do private or incognito browsing modes prevent tracking cookies?

Private browsing modes delete cookies when you close the window, but websites and trackers can still set cookies while you are browsing. Tracking still happens during your session — it just is not stored afterward. To prevent tracking cookies from being set in the first place, use a browser extension that blocks trackers or enable your browser's built-in third-party cookie blocking.

What is the difference between cookies and web beacons or pixels?

Cookies are files stored on your computer. Web beacons and pixels are tiny invisible images embedded in websites and emails that send information back to a server when loaded. They work differently but serve the same purpose — tracking your behavior. Blocking third-party cookies does not stop pixels, so some trackers use both methods.