What cookies are and why you might want to remove 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 programs or viruses. When you visit a website again, it reads the cookie to recognize you and load your settings faster.
You might want to delete cookies to free up storage space, stop websites from tracking your activity, or clear out login information if you share your computer with others. Removing cookies does not damage your computer; it straightforward erases these stored files and forces websites to ask for your information again the next time you visit.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are small text files websites store on your computer to remember your preferences and login information.
- The steps to delete cookies differ depending on which web browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge each have their own process.
- You can delete all cookies at once or choose to keep cookies from specific websites you trust.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites and force you to sign in again the next time you visit.
- You can set your browser to delete cookies automatically every time you close it if you prefer not to store them.
How to 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 pop up. Make sure the time range at the top is set to All time if you want to remove all cookies, or choose a specific date range. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck any other options you do not want to delete — for example, leave Browsing history unchecked if you only want to remove cookies. Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right.
Chrome will delete the cookies and close the window. You are now signed out of most websites. The next time you visit a site, it will not remember you until you sign in again.
How to delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security.
Scroll down to the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data. A small window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. Click Clear to remove all cookies when ready.
If you want more control, you can click Manage Data instead to see a list of all websites that have stored cookies on your computer. You can then select individual sites and click Remove Selected to delete only those cookies while keeping others.
How to delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Safari, then select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab.
Click the button labeled Manage Website Data. A list of all websites that have stored data on your computer will appear. To remove all of them at once, click Remove All. To delete cookies from specific websites only, select the site names you want to remove and click Remove.
Close the settings window when you are done. Safari will delete the selected cookies, and you will be logged out of those websites the next time you try to visit them.
How to delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services.
Under the section Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear. A window will open. At the top, set the time range to All time for a complete removal, or pick a specific date range. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now to delete them.
Edge will remove the cookies and close the window. You will be logged out of websites until you sign back in.
Set your browser to delete cookies automatically
If you do not want to manually delete cookies each time, you can tell your browser to remove them automatically when you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings, click Privacy and security, and turn on the toggle for Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and under Cookies and Site Data, check the box for Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and turn on Clear browsing data under the Clear browsing data section, then select what you want cleared.
With this setting on, your browser will erase cookies every time you close it completely. You will need to sign in to websites each time you visit, but no cookies will remain stored on your computer.
What happens after you delete cookies
Once you delete cookies, websites will no longer recognize you when you visit. You will be logged out of your email, social media, shopping sites, and any other accounts. The next time you visit these sites, you will need to sign in again with your username and password.
Some websites may load more slowly the first time you visit after deleting cookies, because they no longer have your stored preferences. For example, a news site might not remember your language choice, or a shopping site might not remember items in your cart. These settings will be restored once you visit the site and the website creates a new cookie.
Deleting cookies does not affect your browsing history, saved passwords, or bookmarks — only the small preference files that websites store. If you want to delete those other things as well, you can do so separately through your browser settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies take up very little storage space, so removing them will not noticeably speed up your computer or free up meaningful disk space. Deleting cookies is mainly useful for privacy and clearing login information, not for improving performance.
Can I delete cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Firefox and Safari, you can see a list of websites and remove cookies from specific sites only. In Chrome and Edge, the process is less straightforward — you can use the browser's site settings to block cookies from individual websites going forward, but removing existing cookies from one site at a time is not as straightforward.
What is the difference between deleting cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is a list of websites you have visited. Cookies are files websites store on your computer. Deleting one does not delete the other. You can clear your browsing history without touching cookies, or delete cookies without erasing your history. Most browsers let you choose which one to clear.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No. Cookies do not harm your computer and do not need regular removal unless you want to for privacy reasons or to log out of accounts. If you share your computer with others, you may want to delete cookies before handing it over so they cannot see your login information.
Will websites still work after I delete cookies?
Yes. Websites will work normally, but they will not remember you until you sign in again. Some features may work slightly differently — for example, a streaming service might not remember your watch history or recommendations — but the site itself will function as it should.