The fastest way to clear cookies on a Samsung tablet
Open the Chrome app (or whichever browser you use), tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Make sure Cookies and site data is checked, set the time range to All time if you want to remove everything, then tap Clear data. The cookies are gone when ready.
If you use Samsung Internet instead of Chrome, the steps are nearly identical: tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Delete browsing data. Check Cookies and site data and tap Delete.
On older Samsung tablets running Android 8 or earlier, the menu locations may differ slightly, but the principle is the same — find Settings in your browser, look for Privacy or Browsing Data, and select the option to clear cookies.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome and Samsung Internet both store the clear cookies option under Settings > Privacy, accessible from the menu button in the top or bottom right corner.
- You can choose to clear cookies from the last hour, day, week, month, or all time — selecting All time removes every cookie stored on your tablet.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so you will need to sign back in the next time you visit them.
- Cookies are small files websites use to remember your preferences and login information, and clearing them does not delete your browsing history or passwords unless you specifically select those options too.
Why you might want to clear cookies
Cookies are files that websites store on your tablet to remember who you are and what you like. They speed up browsing because sites do not have to ask for your preferences every time you visit. But they also let advertisers track which sites you visit, and old cookies can sometimes cause a website to load incorrectly or show outdated information.
Clearing cookies is useful if a website is behaving strangely, if you want to remove tracking data before selling or giving away your tablet, or if you share your tablet with other people and want to log out of your accounts. It is also a good privacy step if you use public Wi-Fi.
The difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history
Cookies and browsing history are two separate things. Your browsing history is the list of websites you have visited — clearing it removes that list. Cookies are the small files websites store on your device to remember you. You can clear one without clearing the other.
When you tap Clear browsing data, the browser shows you checkboxes for different types of data: cookies, history, cached images, passwords, and more. By default, most browsers check only history and cookies. If you want to clear only cookies and leave your history intact, uncheck Browsing history before you tap Clear data.
What happens after you clear cookies
You will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit Gmail, Facebook, your bank, or any other site where you were signed in, you will need to enter your username and password again. This is because the cookie that proved you were logged in is now gone.
Websites will also forget your preferences. If you had set a site to dark mode or chosen a language, it will revert to the default. Saved items in shopping carts will disappear. This is temporary — as soon as you sign back in and use the site, it will create new cookies and remember your choices again.
How to clear cookies automatically on Samsung tablets
Both Chrome and Samsung Internet can clear cookies automatically when you close the browser. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and toggle on Clear browsing data. The browser will then delete cookies, history, and cached images every time you close it completely.
In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and look for Delete browsing data on exit. Toggle it on. From that point forward, your cookies will be cleared automatically.
This option is useful if you share your tablet or use it on public networks, because it means you do not have to remember to clear cookies manually. The downside is that you will be logged out of sites every time you close the browser, which can be inconvenient if you visit the same sites frequently.
Clearing cookies from a specific website only
If you want to clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them, Chrome and Samsung Internet both allow this. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Cookies and site data. You will see a list of websites that have stored cookies on your tablet. Tap the one you want to remove, then tap Clear.
In Samsung Internet, the process is similar: Settings > Privacy > Cookies. Find the website in the list and tap it to delete its cookies only. This is helpful if one particular site is misbehaving but you want to stay logged in to everything else.
Cookies versus cache and temporary files
Cookies are not the same as cached images and files. Cache is a collection of images, videos, and web pages that your browser stores locally so sites load faster the next time you visit. Temporary files are similar — they are pieces of websites stored on your device.
When you clear browsing data, you can choose to clear cache and temporary files separately from cookies. If a website is loading slowly or showing old images, clearing the cache often helps more than clearing cookies. Most people clear both at the same time, but if you want to stay logged in to sites while still speeding up your browser, uncheck Cookies and site data and check only Cached images and files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear browsing data, you will see a checkbox for Passwords — if you do not check it, your saved passwords stay on your tablet. You can clear cookies without touching passwords, or vice versa.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Clearing cookies once a month or when a site misbehaves is enough for most people. If you are concerned about tracking or privacy, clearing them weekly is reasonable. If you share your tablet with others, clearing them before you hand it over is a good idea.
What if I clear cookies and a website still does not work?
Try clearing the cache as well. Go to Clear browsing data, check Cached images and files, and clear that too. If the problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the browser app itself, or try a different browser like Firefox or Edge to see if the issue is specific to one app.
Can I clear cookies without clearing my browsing history?
Yes. When you tap Clear browsing data, uncheck Browsing history and leave Cookies and site data checked. Only the cookies will be removed. Your list of visited websites will stay intact.