Clearing cookies on your phone removes one way websites track you between visits
Cookies are small files that websites store on your phone to remember who you are and what you do there. When you clear them, you erase that record — websites can no longer use old cookies to recognize you or follow your activity across the web. This is useful after you've removed yourself from data broker sites, because it stops new tracking from starting while you're browsing.
The steps differ depending on whether you use iPhone or Android, and which browser you use. The process takes two to five minutes and you can do it from your phone's settings without installing anything new.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies removes files websites use to track you, but does not delete your accounts or change your passwords.
- On iPhone, you clear cookies through Settings > Safari (or your browser app) > Clear History and Website Data.
- On Android, you clear cookies through your browser's settings menu, usually under Privacy or Clear Browsing Data.
- Clearing cookies logs you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready if you need to sign back in.
- Cookies return when ready when you visit websites again unless you turn on private browsing mode.
Clearing cookies on iPhone
If you use Safari (the built-in browser), go to Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap "Clear History and Website Data" at the bottom. A menu will appear asking what time period to clear — choose "All time" to remove everything. Tap "Clear History and Data" to confirm.
If you use Chrome, Firefox, or another browser app, the steps are slightly different. Open the browser app itself. Look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines or three dots, depending on the browser). Tap Settings or Preferences. Find the option for "Clear browsing data" or "Privacy". Select "All time" as the date range, make sure "Cookies and site data" is checked, and tap Clear.
Clearing cookies on Android
Open your browser app. Tap the menu icon (usually three dots in the top right corner). Tap Settings. Look for "Privacy" or "Clear browsing data" — the exact wording varies by browser. Tap it. A menu will appear with options for what to clear. Make sure "Cookies and site data" is checked. Select "All time" as the date range. Tap "Clear data" or "Clear browsing data" to finish.
If you use Chrome specifically, the path is: tap the three dots > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data. Make sure the time range is set to "All time" and that "Cookies and site data" is selected before you tap Clear.
What happens when you clear cookies
You will be logged out of most websites and apps. If you use Gmail, Facebook, banking apps, or shopping sites, you will need to sign back in the next time you visit. Have your passwords ready, or use a password manager if you have one set up.
Websites will no longer recognize you as a returning visitor. Some sites may load more slowly the first time you visit after clearing, because they have to rebuild their records of your preferences. This is temporary and usually unnoticeable.
Clearing cookies does not delete your accounts, change your passwords, or remove information you've already posted online. It only removes the tracking files stored on your phone.
The difference between clearing cookies and private browsing
Private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome, Private in Safari and Firefox) prevents your browser from storing cookies in the first place while you're in that mode. When you close the private window, nothing is saved. This is useful if you want to browse without being tracked during a single session, but it does not clean up cookies from your past browsing.
Clearing cookies removes what has already been stored. Private browsing prevents new storage from happening. You can use both: clear your cookies now, then use private mode going forward if you want to reduce tracking. Keep in mind that private mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider or from the websites you visit — it only hides it from your browser's local storage.
Why clearing cookies matters after removing yourself from data brokers
Data brokers collect information about you from many sources, including cookies that websites drop on your phone. When you remove your information from a data broker site, you stop one source of their data. Clearing cookies stops websites from creating new tracking files that could feed into other brokers' databases later.
This is not a complete privacy solution — your internet service provider, the websites you visit, and apps on your phone can still track you in other ways. But clearing cookies regularly removes one layer of tracking and makes it harder for brokers to build a complete picture of your online behavior.
How often you should clear cookies
There is no single right answer. Some people clear cookies weekly, others monthly. If you are concerned about tracking, clearing them every week or two is reasonable. If you are less concerned, clearing them once a month is enough to reduce most tracking.
You can also set your browser to clear cookies automatically when you close it. On iPhone Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, then toggle on "Close tabs" (this clears data when you close Safari). On Android Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data, then toggle on "Clear browsing data" and choose "On exit".
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. Clearing cookies will not affect your saved passwords, though you may need to enter them again if you clear cookies and then visit a site that required you to log in.
Can I clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes, but the process is different on each browser. In Safari on iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, find the site you want, and swipe left to delete it. In Chrome on Android, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data, tap "Advanced", and select specific sites before clearing. Most people find it easier to clear all cookies at once.
Do I need to clear cookies on my phone if I use a computer too?
Yes. Cookies are stored separately on each device. Clearing cookies on your phone does not affect cookies on your computer, and vice versa. If you want to reduce tracking across all your devices, you will need to clear cookies on each one.
Will clearing cookies stop websites from tracking me?
It will stop cookie-based tracking, but not all tracking. Websites can still recognize you by your IP address, login information, or fingerprinting (a technique that identifies you based on your browser settings). Clearing cookies is one useful step, but not a complete privacy solution.