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. When you visit a website again, it reads that cookie to recognize you without making you log in again.
Most cookies are harmless and make browsing faster. But they also let websites track where you go and what you do, and old cookies can slow down your browser or cause websites to load incorrectly. Clearing them out periodically is a normal maintenance task, like emptying a trash can.
You have three main choices: clear cookies from a specific website, clear all cookies from a date range you choose, or clear everything at once. The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Edge, or Firefox are the most common on Windows 10.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are files websites store on your computer to remember you; clearing them periodically helps your browser run faster and limits tracking.
- In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, choose your time range, check "Cookies and other site data", and click Clear Data.
- In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data, select what time period you want, check "Cookies and other site data", and click Clear Now.
- In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, then click Clear Data or remove individual cookies one at a time.
- You can set any of these browsers to clear cookies automatically every time you close it, so you do not have to remember to do it manually.
Clearing cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button) and select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy and Security. Then click Clear Browsing Data. A window will pop up with options.
At the top of that window, you will see a dropdown that says "All time" or a date range. Click it and choose how far back you want to go — "All time" clears everything, "Last hour" clears only the most recent cookies, or "Last 7 days" is a common middle ground. Below that, make sure the box next to Cookies and other site data is checked. You can uncheck the other boxes if you only want to remove cookies and leave your browsing history alone.
Click the blue Clear Data button. Chrome will remove the cookies you selected and close the window. You are done.
Clearing cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy, Search, and Services. Under the "Clear Browsing Data" section, click Choose What to Clear.
A window will appear. At the top, select the time range you want — "All time", "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 3 months". Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck anything else you want to keep.
Click Clear Now. Edge will remove those cookies when ready.
Clearing cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right. Select Settings.
Click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the "Cookies and Site Data" section. You will see a button that says Clear Data.
Click it. A small window opens. Make sure "Cookies and Site Data" is checked, then click Clear. Firefox removes all cookies at once — you cannot choose a date range the same way you can in Chrome or Edge.
If you want to remove cookies from only one website instead of all of them, stay in the "Cookies and Site Data" section and click Manage Data. Type the website name in the search box, click it to select it, and click Remove Selected.
Setting your browser to clear cookies automatically
If you do not want to clear cookies manually every few weeks, you can tell your browser to do it for you every time you close it.
In Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data. Check the box that says "Clear Cookies and Other Site Data When You Quit Chrome". From now on, Chrome will erase all cookies the moment you close the browser completely.
In Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services. Scroll down to "Clear Browsing Data". Turn on the toggle next to "Choose What to Clear Every Time You Close the Browser". Then click "Choose What to Clear Every Time You Close the Browser" and check "Cookies and Other Site Data".
In Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Under "Cookies and Site Data", click the dropdown next to "Delete Cookies and Site Data When Firefox Is Closed" and select "Always". You can also click "Manage Exceptions" if there are websites you want to stay logged into.
What to expect after clearing cookies
After you clear cookies, you may notice that websites ask you to log in again the next time you visit them. That is normal — the cookie that remembered your login is gone. You will type your password once, and the website will create a new cookie.
Some websites may also look slightly different or load a little slower the first time you visit after clearing cookies, because they are rebuilding their memory of your preferences. This usually takes only a second or two.
If you cleared cookies from a website you use frequently and do not want to log in again, you can add that site to an exception list so future cookie clears skip it. In Chrome and Edge, this is under Settings > Privacy > Cookies > Manage Exceptions. In Firefox, use the "Manage Exceptions" button in the Cookies and Site Data section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies in a password manager. Clearing cookies will not affect them. You may have to log in again because the cookie that remembered you is gone, but your actual password stays safe.
Can I clear cookies from just one website?
Yes. In Chrome and Edge, go to Settings > Privacy > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Cookies and Site Data, search for the website name, and click Remove. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data, find the site, and click Remove Selected.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is the list of websites you visited — it shows up when you type in the address bar. Cookies are files websites store on your computer. Clearing one does not clear the other. You can clear cookies without touching your history, or vice versa.
Do I need to clear cookies if I use private browsing mode?
No. Private or Incognito mode does not store cookies at all — they disappear the moment you close that window. You only need to clear cookies from your regular browsing.
Why does a website keep asking me to accept cookies after I clear them?
That is a cookie consent banner, which is separate from tracking cookies. Websites are required by law in many places to ask permission before storing certain types of cookies. Clearing cookies removes the record of your choice, so the website asks again. You can usually click "Reject All" to skip tracking cookies.