Clear your cookies in Edge with three clicks

Open Microsoft Edge and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac). This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly. Select the time range at the top — "All time" removes everything Edge has stored — then check the box next to "Cookies and other site data" and click "Clear now".

If you prefer using the menu: click the three-dot icon in the top right corner, select "Settings," then "Privacy, search, and services." Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear" and follow the same steps as above.

Edge will clear cookies when ready. You'll be signed out of most websites you visit regularly, since cookies are what keep you logged in. This is intentional — it removes the tracking data that follows you across the web.

Key Takeaways

  • The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens Edge's clearing tool in one step, faster than navigating menus.
  • Select "All time" to remove every cookie Edge has stored; selecting a shorter period like "Last 24 hours" only clears recent ones.
  • Clearing cookies signs you out of websites, which is normal — cookies store login information along with tracking data.
  • You can set Edge to clear cookies automatically every time you close the browser if you want ongoing privacy without manual steps.

Set Edge to clear cookies automatically when you close it

If you want Edge to clear cookies without you having to remember, turn on automatic clearing. Click the three-dot menu, go to "Settings," then "Privacy, search, and services." Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser."

Once that's on, click "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser" (the link below the toggle). Check "Cookies and other site data" and any other data you want removed automatically. From then on, Edge will clear those items every time you close the browser completely.

This setting does not affect your current browsing session — you stay logged in while Edge is open. Only when you fully close the browser does the clearing happen.

Understand what cookies actually are and why they matter

A cookie is a small file a website stores on your computer. It contains information like your login details, what you put in your shopping cart, or your preferences for that site. When you return to the website, it reads the cookie to remember you.

The problem is that many cookies are not created by the website you're visiting — they're created by advertising networks and data brokers that track you across dozens of websites. These tracking cookies build a profile of your browsing habits, interests, and behavior. They're sold to advertisers, insurance companies, and other businesses that use the data to target you with ads or set prices.

Clearing cookies removes both types: the useful ones that let you stay logged in, and the tracking ones that follow you around the internet. This is why you get signed out of everything when you clear them.

The difference between clearing cookies and clearing your entire browsing history

Clearing cookies removes only the small files websites store on your device. Clearing your entire browsing history removes cookies plus the list of websites you visited, files you downloaded, passwords you saved, and cached images and files.

If you only want to remove tracking data and don't care about hiding where you've been, clearing just cookies is enough. If you want to erase all evidence of your browsing, you need to clear the full history. In the same "Clear browsing data" window, you can check multiple boxes — "Browsing history," "read history," "Cookies and other site data," and others — to clear whatever you want.

Clear cookies from specific websites instead of everything

If you want to keep cookies from sites you trust but remove cookies from others, you can clear them one site at a time. Click the lock icon or information icon next to the website address in the address bar. Click "Cookies and site permissions," then find the cookie you want to remove and click the trash icon next to it.

This approach takes longer if you have many sites to clean up, but it's useful if you want to stay logged into your email or bank while removing tracking cookies from news sites or shopping sites you visited.

Why clearing cookies alone may not be enough for privacy

Cookies are one way companies track you, but not the only way. Websites also use tracking pixels (invisible images that report back to advertisers), local storage (similar to cookies but harder to clear), and fingerprinting (collecting details about your device and browser to identify you without cookies).

Clearing cookies removes the most common tracking method, but a determined advertiser can still follow you using other techniques. For stronger privacy, consider using Edge's "InPrivate" browsing mode, which doesn't store cookies at all during that session. You can also use a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo instead of Bing, and install a browser extension that blocks tracking scripts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?

Not unless you specifically check the "Passwords" box in the clear browsing data window. Cookies and passwords are stored separately. If you only check "Cookies and other site data," your saved passwords stay on your device. You'll need to enter them again when you log back in, but Edge can offer to save them again.

What happens if I clear cookies from a website I use every day?

You'll be logged out the next time you visit. When you log back in, the website creates a new cookie. If the site had stored your preferences (like dark mode or language), you may need to set those again. Most major websites remember your preferences separately from your login cookie, so you usually only have to log in again.

Can I clear cookies without closing Edge?

Yes. Use Ctrl + Shift + Delete or the Settings menu to clear cookies while Edge is still open. You stay logged into any websites you're currently visiting, but the cookies are removed from your device. The next time you refresh a page or visit a new site, you'll see the effect.

Does clearing cookies stop ads from following me?

It stops cookie-based tracking, which is the most common method. Advertisers can still follow you using other techniques like fingerprinting or pixel tracking. For stronger ad blocking, use Edge's built-in tracking prevention (set to "Strict" in Settings > Privacy) or install a dedicated ad blocker extension.