What clearing cookies does and doesn't do
Clearing cookies from a website removes the small files that site stores on your device to remember you — your login, what you put in a shopping cart, pages you visited. When you clear them, that site forgets you were there. The next time you visit, you'll log in fresh and the site won't know your browsing history on it.
Clearing cookies from one site does not remove your information from that company's servers. If you have an account there, they still have your name, email, and purchase history. Clearing cookies is useful for privacy on your own device, but it doesn't stop a data broker from selling your information or a retailer from keeping records of what you bought. If you're trying to remove your personal information entirely, you'll need to contact the company directly or use a removal service — clearing cookies is a separate step that handles what's stored locally on your computer or phone.
Most people clear cookies to stop a site from tracking them across visits, to log out completely, or to free up storage space on their device. It's a quick action that takes under a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies removes only the files stored on your device, not the information the company keeps about you on their servers.
- The steps differ depending on whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, and whether you're on a computer or phone.
- You can clear cookies from a single website or from your entire browser at once.
- After clearing cookies, you'll need to log back in to sites where you had saved your login information.
Clear cookies in Chrome on a computer
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (the menu button). From the dropdown, select Settings.
On the left side of the Settings page, click Privacy and security. Then click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up. At the top, make sure the time range is set to what you want — All time will clear everything, or you can pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, or Last 4 weeks. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to clear your browsing history or cached images. Click Clear data.
If you want to clear cookies from only one website instead of all of them, take a different path: go to the three-dot menu, then Settings, then Privacy and security, then Cookies and other site data, then Manage all cookies and site data. Search for the website name in the search box. Click the trash icon next to it.
Clear cookies in Firefox on a computer
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data. A window appears. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. Click Clear.
To clear cookies from a single site, go to the three-line menu, select Settings, then Privacy & Security. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Manage Data. Type the website name in the search box. Click the website name when it appears, then click Remove Selected.
Clear cookies in Safari on a computer or iPhone
On a Mac: Open Safari. At the top of the screen, click Safari in the menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data. You'll see a list of websites. To remove all of them, click Remove All. To remove one site, click it in the list and then click Remove.
On an iPhone or iPad: Open Settings. Scroll down and tap Safari. Scroll down to Clear History and Website Data and tap it. Choose how far back you want to clear — the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time. Tap Clear History and Data. This clears cookies along with your browsing history. Safari on iPhone does not have a way to clear cookies from a single website without clearing your history.
Clear cookies in Edge on a computer
Open Microsoft Edge. 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. Set the time range at the top — All time clears everything. Check the box for Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now.
To clear cookies from one website only, go to the three-dot menu, then Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to Clear browsing data and click Manage what's cleared. Click Manage site permissions, then Cookies and data stored. Search for the website. Click it and select Remove.
Clear cookies on Android phones
The steps depend on which browser you use. In Chrome: Tap the three dots in the bottom right (or top right on some phones). Tap Settings. Tap Privacy. Tap Clear browsing data. Make sure Cookies and site data is checked. Tap Clear browsing data.
In Firefox: Tap the three lines at the bottom right. Tap Settings. Tap Delete browsing data. Make sure Cookies is checked. Tap Delete browsing data.
In Edge: Tap the three dots at the bottom right. Tap Settings. Tap Privacy. Tap Clear browsing data. Check Cookies and saved website data. Tap Clear.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once you clear cookies, websites you visit will no longer remember you. If you had saved your login information, you'll need to type your username and password again the next time you visit. Sites won't remember items you left in a shopping cart. Personalized recommendations based on your browsing will reset.
Your internet speed may feel slightly faster because your browser is no longer storing and loading those cookie files, though the difference is usually too small to notice. If a website was using cookies to track your activity across the web (which many do for advertising), that tracking stops once the cookies are gone — though the company may still track you through other methods like your IP address or login account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. Clearing cookies will not remove saved passwords. You'll still be able to log in automatically if your browser has your password saved — you just won't be logged in until you visit the site and log in again.
Do I need to clear cookies from every website?
No. You can clear all cookies at once from your entire browser, which is faster. Clearing cookies from individual websites is useful only if you want to keep cookies from other sites but remove them from one specific place.
How often should I clear cookies?
There's no set schedule. Many people clear cookies monthly or when they notice a site is behaving strangely. If you're concerned about tracking, clearing cookies weekly is reasonable. Some people clear them every time they close their browser, though this means logging in more often.
Will clearing cookies stop companies from tracking me?
Clearing cookies stops cookie-based tracking on your device, but companies can still track you through your login account, your IP address, or fingerprinting (a method that identifies you based on your browser settings). Clearing cookies is one privacy step, not a complete solution.
Can I clear cookies from a website without clearing my browsing history?
Yes. When you open the clear data window in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, you can uncheck browsing history and check only cookies. Safari on iPhone clears both together, but Safari on Mac lets you clear them separately.