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 and they do not damage your machine, but they do track your activity across the web.
You might want to delete cookies to clear out old login information, stop websites from remembering your activity, free up a small amount of disk space, or reduce the amount of tracking data stored locally. Removing cookies will not break your computer, but it will log you out of most websites and clear any saved preferences until you visit them again.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored in a specific folder on your computer that your browser manages, and deleting them does not affect your files or programs.
- The fastest way to remove cookies is through your browser's settings menu — usually under Privacy, History, or Clear Browsing Data.
- You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
- Removing cookies will log you out of websites and erase saved passwords and preferences until you visit those sites again.
- Different browsers store and delete cookies in different locations, so the steps vary between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
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, then click Privacy and security on the left side. Choose Clear browsing data.
A window will open with options at the top. Make sure the time range is set to All time if you want to remove every cookie, or pick a specific date range. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data and uncheck anything else you want to keep. Click Clear data and the cookies will be deleted when ready.
If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go back to Settings > Privacy and security and scroll down to Clear browsing data. Toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
A box will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked and Cached Web Content is unchecked unless you want to remove both. Click Clear and the cookies are gone.
To have Firefox clear cookies automatically, stay in Privacy & Security and find the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. Firefox will then remove all cookies each time you shut down the browser.
How to delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab.
Click Manage Website Data to see all stored cookies and site data. Select All at the bottom left to highlight every entry, then click Remove. Confirm by clicking Remove Now.
To delete cookies automatically in Safari, stay in the Privacy tab and look for Cookies and website data. Choose Never from the dropdown if you want Safari to refuse all cookies, or From visited to allow only cookies from sites you actively visit. There is no automatic-delete-on-close option in Safari like other browsers offer.
How to delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens showing what will be deleted. Set the time range to All time for everything, or pick a specific range. Check Cookies and other site data and click Clear now.
To make Edge delete cookies automatically, go back to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and scroll to Clear browsing data. Toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Then toggle on Cookies and other site data so it deletes those files each time you shut down Edge.
What happens after you delete cookies
Once cookies are removed, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that used to remember you, you will need to log in again. Websites will not remember your preferences — font sizes, language choices, or layout settings you had saved will reset to defaults.
Shopping carts will empty if they were stored as cookies rather than in your account. Some websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit after deleting cookies because they have to rebuild their stored data about you. None of this causes any damage to your computer or your files.
Deleting cookies from a single website
You do not have to delete all cookies at once. Most browsers let you remove cookies from 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 and click the trash icon next to it. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data, search for the site, and click Remove Selected. In Safari, click Manage Website Data in the Privacy tab, find the site, and click Remove. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy > Cookies and other site data > Manage, search for the site, and click the trash icon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies take up very little space — usually just a few megabytes total even if you have thousands of them. Deleting them will not noticeably speed up your machine. The only change you might notice is that websites load slightly slower the first time you visit them after deletion because they have to recreate their stored data about you.
Can I delete cookies without deleting my passwords?
Yes. When you clear browsing data, your browser shows you separate checkboxes for cookies, passwords, autofill information, and other data. Uncheck Passwords and check only Cookies and site data to delete cookies while keeping your saved passwords intact.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is a list of websites you visited — it is stored separately from cookies. Clearing history removes that list so others cannot see where you have been online. Clearing cookies removes the files websites stored on your machine. You can clear one without clearing the other.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No. Deleting cookies is optional and depends on your privacy preferences. If you want to reduce tracking, delete them regularly or set your browser to delete them automatically. If you prefer to stay logged in and have websites remember your preferences, you can leave them alone indefinitely.
Will deleting cookies log me out of my email or bank account?
Yes. Most websites use cookies to keep you logged in. After you delete cookies, you will need to log back in to email, banking sites, social media, and any other account-based service. This is why many people delete cookies selectively or set deletion to happen only when they close the browser.