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. When you visit a website, it can place a cookie on your device that tracks what you looked at, what you bought, or that you were logged in. The next time you visit, the website reads that cookie and knows who you are without asking you to log in again.
Data brokers and advertisers use cookies to build a picture of your browsing habits across many websites. If you came here from information about data brokers, clearing cookies is one step toward reducing how much of your online behavior gets tracked and sold. Deleting cookies won't stop data collection entirely — your internet service provider and the websites you visit directly still see your activity — but it does remove one layer of tracking that follows you from site to site.
Clearing cookies also frees up storage space on your computer and can sometimes speed up your browser if you have accumulated thousands of them over months or years.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are files websites place on your computer to remember information about you, and clearing them removes one source of cross-site tracking.
- The steps to clear cookies differ by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu path and options.
- You can delete all cookies at once or choose a date range, such as "last 24 hours" or "all time", depending on what you want to remove.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so you may need to log back in after you clear them.
- Cookies return over time as you browse, so clearing them is most useful as a regular habit rather than a one-time action.
How to clear cookies in Google 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 open with options at the top. Make sure the time range is set to what you want — All time will delete every cookie Chrome has stored, while Last 24 hours or Last 7 days will delete only recent ones. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete your browsing history or cached images. Click Clear data and Chrome will remove the cookies when ready.
How to clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the section labeled Cookies and Site Data.
Click the button that says Clear Data. A small window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can also check Cached Web Content if you want to free up more space, but it is not necessary to remove cookies. Click Clear and Firefox will delete the cookies right away.
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 of macOS). Click the Privacy tab.
Click the button labeled Manage Website Data. A list of websites that have stored cookies on your computer will appear. To delete all of them at once, click Remove All. To delete only specific websites, click on a website name and then click Remove. When you are done, close the window and the cookies are deleted.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. At the top, select the time range you want — All time will delete all cookies, while other options let you choose a shorter period. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now and Edge will remove the cookies.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once you clear cookies, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site where you had an account, you will need to enter your username and password again. This is normal and expected — the cookie that remembered you is gone, so the website no longer knows who you are.
Websites will also forget your preferences. If a site had saved your language choice, your font size, or items in your shopping cart, those will be reset to defaults. Some websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit after clearing cookies because they have to rebuild information they had stored locally.
New cookies will begin to accumulate as soon as you start browsing again. If you want to reduce cookie buildup over time, most browsers have an option to delete cookies automatically when you close the browser. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data and toggle on Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. Firefox and Edge have similar options in their privacy settings.
The difference between clearing cookies and using private browsing
Private browsing (called Incognito in Chrome, Private Window in Firefox, InPrivate in Edge, and Private Browsing in Safari) is a mode where your browser does not save cookies, history, or other data from your session. When you close a private browsing window, everything from that session is deleted automatically.
Private browsing is useful if you want to browse without leaving a record on your computer, but it does not hide your activity from websites, your internet service provider, or your employer if you are using a work network. Websites can still see what you are doing and can still place cookies on your device during that session — they just get deleted when you close the window.
Clearing cookies from your regular browser is different. It removes cookies that have already been stored, but your browser will continue to accept new cookies from websites you visit unless you change your browser settings. If you want to prevent cookies from being stored in the first place, private browsing or adjusting your cookie settings in your browser's privacy menu is more effective than clearing cookies after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies in your browser's password manager. Clearing cookies will not affect saved passwords. You will still be able to use your browser's password autofill feature after you clear cookies, though you may need to log in once for the browser to recognize you again.
Can I clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Manage all cookies and site data, then search for the website name and click the trash icon. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Manage Website Data, find the site, and click Remove. Safari and Edge have similar options in their cookie management windows.
How often should I clear cookies?
There is no set schedule. If you are concerned about tracking, clearing cookies weekly or monthly is reasonable. If you want to reduce the burden of manual clearing, set your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it. This removes the need to remember to clear them yourself.
Will clearing cookies stop data brokers from tracking me?
Clearing cookies removes one tracking method, but data brokers collect information from many sources — your internet service provider, public records, purchase history, and direct data sales from websites. Clearing cookies is one step, but it is not a complete solution. Combining it with other steps, like contacting data brokers directly to request removal, is more effective.