What cookies are and why clearing them matters
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, sites you have visited, and sometimes your location or browsing habits. Websites use this data to recognize you when you return, but advertisers and data brokers also use cookies to track you across the internet and build profiles about your interests and behavior.
Clearing your cookies removes these tracking files from your device. This stops websites from using old cookies to identify you, though it does not prevent new cookies from being created the next time you browse. If you are working to limit what data brokers know about you, clearing cookies is one step — it removes the tracking trail on your end, but does not change what data brokers have already collected from other sources.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are files websites store on your device to track your activity, and clearing them removes that tracking data from your computer.
- Each browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — has its own cookie storage, so you need to clear cookies in every browser you use.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready or use a password manager before you start.
- Clearing cookies stops old tracking but does not prevent new cookies from being created, and does not change what data brokers already hold about you.
How to clear cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left menu. Choose Clear browsing data.
A window will appear with options. Make sure the time range at the top is set to All time so you clear all cookies, not just recent ones. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave other boxes unchecked unless you also want to clear your browsing history or cached images. Click Clear data to finish.
How to clear cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data.
A small window will pop up. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. Click Clear. Firefox will clear all cookies stored on your device. You can also check the box for Cached Web Content if you want to free up storage space, though this is separate from cookie tracking.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab.
Click Manage Website Data. A list of websites and their stored data will appear. Click Remove All to delete all cookies at once, or select individual websites and click Remove if you want to keep cookies from specific sites. Click Done when finished.
How to clear 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 will open. Set the time range to All time. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now. Edge will remove all stored cookies from your device.
What happens after you clear cookies
You will be logged out of most websites. When you visit a site you normally use — email, social media, banking — you will need to log in again. This is normal and expected. If you use the same password across multiple sites, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password so you do not have to remember or type each one.
Websites will start creating new cookies as soon as you visit them again. Clearing cookies is not a permanent solution to tracking — it is a one-time removal of the files currently on your device. To reduce tracking over time, you can adjust your browser settings to limit third-party cookies or use a browser extension that blocks trackers, though these tools work differently in each browser.
The difference between clearing cookies and private browsing
Private browsing (called Incognito in Chrome, Private Window in Firefox, and InPrivate in Edge) prevents your browser from storing cookies and history while you are in that mode. When you close the private window, no cookies are saved. This is useful for one-time browsing, but it does not clear cookies that were already stored before you opened the private window.
Clearing cookies removes files that are already on your device. Private browsing prevents new files from being stored in the first place. For reducing tracking, clearing existing cookies and then using private browsing for sensitive browsing offers more protection than either method alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites, but your saved passwords remain in your browser's password manager. You can log back in using those saved passwords, or you can clear passwords separately if you want to remove them too.
Do I need to clear cookies in every browser I use?
Yes. Each browser stores its own cookies. If you use Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, you need to clear cookies in all three. Clearing cookies in Chrome does not affect cookies stored in Firefox or Safari.
Will clearing cookies stop data brokers from tracking me?
Clearing cookies removes tracking files from your device, but data brokers collect information from many sources beyond cookies — public records, purchase history, and data sold by other companies. Clearing cookies is one step, but it does not remove you from data broker databases. You would need to contact brokers directly to request removal of your information.
Can I clear cookies automatically every time I close my browser?
Yes. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome and toggle it on. Firefox has a similar option under Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data. This removes cookies each time you close the browser, though you will be logged out of sites more frequently.