Why and when to clear cookies on your Samsung tablet

Cookies are small files that websites store on your tablet to remember things about you — your login information, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences. Most of the time they make browsing faster and easier. But they also let websites and advertisers track where you go and what you do, even after you leave their site.

Clearing cookies regularly removes that tracking history and frees up storage space. You might clear them after shopping online, before logging into a sensitive account on a shared tablet, or just as part of keeping your device tidy. The process takes less than a minute and doesn't affect your saved passwords unless you choose to delete those too.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Samsung tablets use either Samsung Internet or Google Chrome as the default browser, and each has its own cookie-clearing menu in settings.
  • You can clear cookies without deleting passwords, or clear both at once — the choice is yours in the settings menu.
  • Clearing cookies does not log you out of accounts automatically, but it may the next time you close and reopen the browser.
  • If you use multiple browsers on your tablet, you need to clear cookies in each one separately.

Clearing cookies in Samsung Internet

Samsung Internet is the default browser on most Samsung tablets. Open the app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings.

In Settings, tap Privacy. You will see an option called Delete browsing data. Tap it. A menu will appear with checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure Cookies and site data is checked. You can leave Passwords unchecked if you want to keep those saved. At the top, you can choose the time range — All time clears everything, or you can pick the last hour, day, or week. Tap Delete to finish.

Clearing cookies in Google Chrome

If you use Chrome instead, open the app and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap Settings.

Tap Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. A window will pop up. Make sure the Cookies and site data box is checked. At the top, choose your time range — All time removes everything, or pick a shorter window. Tap Clear data to finish.

What gets deleted and what stays

When you clear cookies, you remove the tracking files websites stored on your tablet. You also clear your browsing history if that box is checked. Passwords, bookmarks, and autofill information stay unless you specifically check those boxes too.

One thing to know: clearing cookies does not when ready log you out of accounts. You will stay logged in until you close the browser completely or until the next time you open it. Some sites may ask you to log in again after you clear cookies, depending on how they handle sessions.

Clearing cookies from specific websites only

If you want to clear cookies from just one website instead of everything, you can do that in both browsers. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage website permissions. Find the site you want to clear and tap it, then tap Clear.

In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Cookies and data. Find the site and tap the trash icon next to it. This approach is useful when you want to remove tracking from one site but keep your login cookies for others.

Setting up automatic cookie clearing

Both browsers can clear cookies automatically when you close them. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle on Delete browsing data on exit. Choose which data types to delete — make sure Cookies and site data is checked.

In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. Automatic clearing is useful if you share your tablet or use it for banking and shopping. Just remember that you will need to log in again each time you open the browser.

If you use other browsers

Samsung tablets can run Firefox, Opera, Edge, and other browsers. Each one stores and clears cookies separately. If you use multiple browsers, you need to clear cookies in each one.

The process is similar across all of them — look for Settings, then Privacy or Browsing Data, then find the option to clear cookies. Check your browser's help menu if you get stuck. The names of the menus vary slightly, but the concept is the same in every browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies log me out of my accounts?

Not when ready. You will stay logged in until you close the browser completely. The next time you open it, some sites may ask you to log in again. If you want to stay logged in, do not check the "Cookies" box — but this means tracking cookies stay on your tablet too.

Can I clear cookies without clearing my browsing history?

Yes. When you open the delete menu, uncheck Browsing history and leave only Cookies and site data checked. You can pick and choose which types of data to remove in both Samsung Internet and Chrome.

What if I clear cookies by accident?

You cannot undo it. The cookies are gone. If you were logged into accounts, you will need to log back in. If you want to prevent this, turn off automatic cookie clearing or be careful when tapping the delete button.

Do I need to clear cookies on a schedule?

No set rule exists. If you share your tablet, clear them regularly for privacy. If you use it alone and do not mind tracking, you can clear them once a month or less often. Automatic clearing on exit is a good middle ground.

Will clearing cookies slow down my tablet?

No. Clearing cookies frees up a tiny amount of storage, but the difference is not noticeable. It will not speed up or slow down your tablet in any meaningful way.