What cookies are and why you might want to delete 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, sites you've visited. Most cookies are harmless, but some track your browsing across many websites to build a profile of your interests. If you're removing yourself from data broker sites, clearing cookies removes one way those sites can recognize you when you return.
Your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) stores cookies automatically. Clearing them won't break your computer or delete your files — it just removes these tracking files and the record of where you've been online. You'll need to log back into websites you use regularly, but that's the only real inconvenience.
The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use, but the principle is the same: you go into settings, find the privacy or history section, and delete cookies and browsing data from a specific time period or all time.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies removes files websites use to track you across the internet and recognize you on return visits.
- The process takes two to three minutes and works the same way in all major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
- You will need to log back into websites you use regularly after clearing cookies, but no files or settings are permanently lost.
- For maximum privacy, clear cookies when you close your browser by turning on automatic clearing in your browser settings.
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 from the dropdown. On the left side of the screen, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says Time range. Click it and select All time to delete all cookies, or pick a specific range like Last 7 days if you only want to remove recent ones. Make sure the box next to Cookies and other site data is checked. You can leave the other boxes checked or unchecked depending on whether you want to clear your browsing history and cached images too. Click Clear data and you're done.
Clearing cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left side. Scroll down to the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data.
A window appears. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You'll see a dropdown for time range — select Everything to clear all cookies or choose a specific period. Click Clear and the cookies are removed. Firefox will also show you how many cookies and how much data were deleted.
Clearing 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 the section Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear.
A window will open. At the top, select your time range — All time clears everything, or pick Last 7 days or another option. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now. Edge also offers an option to automatically clear data every time you close the browser, which you can turn on in the same Privacy settings if you want.
Clearing cookies in Safari (Mac)
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. You'll see a button that says Manage Website Data — click it.
A list of websites and their stored data appears. You can select individual sites and click Remove, or click Remove All to delete cookies from every site at once. Click Done when finished. Safari doesn't have a time-range option like other browsers, so this method removes all stored data.
Setting your browser to clear cookies automatically
If you want cookies deleted every time you close your browser, you can turn this on in settings. In Chrome, go to Settings, click Privacy and security, and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and under Cookies and Site Data, check the box for Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Edge, go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and toggle on Clear browsing data under Clear browsing data. In Safari, go to Preferences, click Privacy, and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. With this setting on, you'll stay logged out of most sites, but your browsing won't be tracked across sessions.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once cookies are deleted, websites won't recognize you when you visit them next. You'll need to log back into email, social media, banking sites, and anywhere else you have an account. Websites may also forget your preferences — things like language choice or whether you prefer dark mode. This is temporary; the moment you log back in, new cookies are created.
Clearing cookies does not delete your passwords (those are stored separately), your bookmarks, your browsing history (unless you checked that box), or any files on your computer. It only removes the small tracking files and the record of sites you've visited, if you chose to clear history as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. If you want to delete saved passwords, you have to do that in a different section of your browser settings. Clearing cookies only removes the tracking files, not your login credentials.
Do I need to clear cookies on my phone too?
Yes, if you want to remove tracking data from your phone's browser. The steps are similar — go to settings in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox on your phone and look for the option to clear browsing data or cookies. Phone browsers work the same way as desktop browsers.
What's the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is the list of websites you've visited. Cookies are files those websites stored on your computer. You can clear one without clearing the other. Clearing history removes the record that you visited a site; clearing cookies removes the files that site left behind to track you.
If I clear cookies, will websites load slower?
No. Cookies speed up login and remember preferences, but they don't affect how fast a page loads. You might notice you have to log in more often, but page speed won't change.
How often should I clear cookies?
That depends on your privacy concerns. If you're working to remove yourself from data brokers, clearing cookies once a month or whenever you visit those sites is reasonable. Some people clear them weekly or monthly as routine maintenance. There's no harm in clearing them frequently.