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 whether you were logged in. The next time you visit, the website reads that cookie to recognize you.
Some cookies are necessary — they keep you logged into your email or remember items in your shopping cart. Others track your behavior across many websites to build a profile used for targeted ads. Deleting cookies removes these stored files, which can limit how much websites know about your browsing habits and can free up storage space on your device.
Deleting cookies also clears login information, so you may need to sign back into accounts after you delete them. If you want to remove your information from data brokers specifically, clearing cookies is one step, but it works alongside other methods like contacting brokers directly or using opt-out services.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are files websites store on your device to remember information about you, and deleting them removes that stored data.
- Most browsers let you delete all cookies at once through settings, or you can delete cookies from specific websites only.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of most accounts, so you will need to sign back in afterward.
- Clearing cookies is different from clearing your browsing history, though most browsers let you do both at the same time.
- Deleting cookies does not stop websites from placing new cookies on your device the next time you visit.
How to delete 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 open with several options. At the top, choose the time range — All time will delete all your cookies, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days will delete only recent ones. Make sure the box next to Cookies and other site data is checked. Click Clear data to finish.
If you want to delete cookies from only one website, go to that website in Chrome. Click the lock icon or information icon to the left of the web address at the top. Click Cookies and site data, find the cookie you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it.
How to delete 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 Clear Data.
A window will appear. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can choose to clear all cookies or just those from the current session. Click Clear to remove them.
To delete cookies from a specific website, go to that site in Firefox. Click the shield icon to the left of the web address. Click the X next to Cookies to remove cookies from that domain only.
How to delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites that have stored cookies will appear. You can click on individual websites and click Remove to delete their cookies, or click Remove All to delete all cookies at once. Click Done when finished.
How to delete cookies in Edge
Open Microsoft 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 will open. Select the time range at the top — All time removes all cookies, while other options remove only recent ones. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now to delete them.
The difference between deleting cookies and clearing your browsing history
Deleting cookies removes only the files websites stored on your device. Clearing your browsing history removes the list of websites you visited. You can do one without the other, though most people do both at the same time.
If you clear your history but not your cookies, websites will still have the files they stored about you, but you will not see a record of where you went. If you clear cookies but not history, you will still see a list of sites you visited, but those sites will not recognize you the next time you return.
Most browsers let you choose which types of data to clear when you open the clearing window. You can check only Cookies and site data if you want to leave your history intact, or check both if you want to remove all traces of your browsing.
What happens after you delete cookies
After you delete 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 sign in again. Websites will not recognize you, so personalized content or saved preferences will not appear until you log back in.
Websites can place new cookies on your device when ready after you delete the old ones. Visiting a website after clearing cookies does not prevent it from storing new information about you. If you want to limit cookie tracking over time, you can use your browser's privacy mode or adjust cookie settings to block third-party cookies.
Some websites may not work properly without cookies. If a site seems broken after you clear cookies, try signing back in or refreshing the page. If problems continue, you may need to adjust your browser's cookie settings to allow that specific website to store cookies.
How to prevent cookies from being stored in the first place
Most browsers have a privacy mode or incognito mode that does not store cookies or browsing history. In Chrome, click the three dots and select New incognito window. In Firefox, click the menu and select New Private Window. In Safari, click File and select New Private Window. In Edge, click the three dots and select New InPrivate window.
You can also adjust your cookie settings to block third-party cookies, which are used for tracking across multiple websites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data and select Block third-party cookies. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and under Enhanced Tracking Protection, select Strict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies stop data brokers from tracking me?
Deleting cookies removes one way data brokers collect information, but it is not a complete solution. Data brokers also buy information from other sources like public records, purchase history, and phone numbers. Deleting cookies helps, but you may also need to contact brokers directly or use opt-out services to remove your information from their databases.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
How often you delete cookies depends on your privacy preferences. Some people delete them weekly or monthly, while others only delete them when they notice their device is slow. There is no required schedule — it is a personal choice based on how much tracking you want to limit.
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
Deleting cookies may free up a small amount of storage space, but the impact on speed is usually not noticeable unless you have thousands of cookies stored. If your device is running slowly, the problem is more likely caused by other factors like too many programs running at once or a full hard drive.
Can I delete cookies from one website without deleting all of them?
Yes. All major browsers let you delete cookies from specific websites. Look for the lock or information icon next to the web address, click it, find the cookies section, and delete individual cookies or all cookies from that site only.
What if a website asks me to accept cookies?
When a website shows a cookie notice, you can usually click Reject or Decline to refuse non-essential cookies. Some websites require you to accept cookies to use them, but you can always delete those cookies later. Rejecting cookies upfront prevents them from being stored in the first place.