What cookies are and why you might want to clear 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, and sometimes your location or browsing habits. When you visit a website again, it reads that cookie file to recognize you.
Clearing cookies removes those stored files. This breaks the chain that lets websites and data brokers track your movement across the internet. If you're removing your information from data broker sites, clearing cookies prevents those same brokers from rebuilding a profile about you as you browse going forward.
Most people clear cookies for one of three reasons: to stop being tracked, to free up storage space on their computer, or to log out of accounts on a shared device. The steps are nearly identical regardless of which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies removes files websites stored on your computer to track your behavior and remember your activity.
- The process takes under two minutes and works the same way in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
- You can clear all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically every time you close it.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready if you need to sign back in.
How to clear cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up with a list of what you can delete. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, use the dropdown menu to select the time range — choose All time to delete everything, or pick a specific range like Last 24 hours or Last 7 days. Then click the blue Clear data button.
If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go back to Settings, click Privacy and security, and toggle on Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to clear cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click the Clear Data button.
A small window appears. Make sure both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content are checked, then click Clear. If you want to delete cookies automatically, stay in the Privacy & Security section and look for Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed — check that box.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the very top of your screen. Click Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Go to the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data, then click Remove All at the bottom right.
Safari will ask you to confirm — click Remove Now. If you want Safari to delete cookies when you close the browser, go back to the Privacy tab and look for Cookies and website data — select Never from the dropdown menu.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens showing what you can delete. Check Cookies and other site data. At the top, select your time range — All time clears everything. Click the blue Clear now button. To make Edge delete cookies automatically, stay in Privacy, search, and services and toggle on Clear browsing data under Clear browsing data, then check Cookies and other site data.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once you clear cookies, you'll be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login — your email, bank, social media, or shopping accounts — you'll need to sign in again. Have your passwords ready, or use your password manager if you have one set up.
Websites may also load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing cookies, because they're rebuilding their stored data about your preferences. This is temporary and usually unnoticeable.
Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history or saved passwords unless you specifically check those boxes in the same window. It also does not prevent websites from collecting new cookies the moment you visit them again — it only removes the old ones.
Automatic cookie clearing and privacy settings
All modern browsers let you set them to delete cookies automatically when you close the browser. This is the easiest way to prevent data brokers from building a long-term profile of your browsing. The downside is that you'll need to log in to your regular accounts each time you open the browser.
You can also adjust your browser's privacy settings to block third-party cookies — the ones that track you across multiple websites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data and select Block third-party cookies. Firefox blocks them by default. In Safari, go to Privacy and check Prevent cross-site tracking. Edge has similar options under Privacy, search, and services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear cookies, you'll see checkboxes for different types of data — cookies, history, cached images, passwords, and others. Only the items you check will be deleted. Leave the passwords box unchecked if you want to keep them.
Do I need to clear cookies on my phone too?
Yes, if you use a phone or tablet to browse. The process is similar: open your browser's settings, find the option to clear browsing data or cookies, and select the time range. On iPhone Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. On Android Chrome, tap the three dots > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data.
If I clear cookies, will websites still track me?
Clearing cookies removes one tracking method, but websites can still track you through other means — your IP address, browser fingerprinting, and login accounts. Blocking third-party cookies in your privacy settings and using a VPN or privacy-focused browser offers more protection, but no method stops all tracking.
How often should I clear cookies?
That depends on your privacy goals. If you're concerned about data brokers, clearing cookies weekly or setting your browser to delete them automatically when you close it is effective. If you just want to free up storage space, clearing them monthly is usually enough. Most people find automatic deletion the easiest approach.