What clearing cookies does and why you might want to
Clearing cookies removes the small files that websites store on your iPad to remember you. These files track your login information, what you've browsed, and your preferences on sites you visit. Clearing them logs you out of most websites, makes your browsing history on those sites disappear from the site's perspective, and can free up a small amount of storage space.
You might clear cookies if a website isn't working right, if you want to remove your login information before handing your iPad to someone else, or if you're concerned about tracking. Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history — that's a separate action — and it does not remove files you've downloaded.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies logs you out of most websites and removes files those sites stored about your browsing.
- On iPad, you clear cookies through Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, then choose what time period to clear.
- Clearing cookies is different from clearing browsing history, though you can do both at the same time.
- If you use Chrome, Firefox, or another browser app instead of Safari, the steps are different — each app has its own cookie storage.
How to clear cookies in Safari on iPad
Safari is the built-in browser on iPad. To clear cookies in Safari, open the Settings app on your home screen, then scroll down and tap Safari. Scroll down again until you see "Clear History and Website Data" — it's a red button near the bottom.
When you tap it, a popup appears asking what time period you want to clear. You can choose "the last hour", "today", "today and yesterday", or "all time". Pick the one that matches what you want to remove, then tap "Clear History and Data" in the popup. The cookies from that time period are now gone.
If you want to clear cookies without clearing your browsing history, that option is not available in Safari's main settings. The "Clear History and Website Data" button removes both at once. If you need to keep your history but remove cookies only, you would need to use a different browser app.
How to clear cookies in Chrome on iPad
If you use Google Chrome instead of Safari, the steps are different because Chrome stores its own cookies separately. Open Chrome, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap "Privacy", then tap "Clear Browsing Data".
A popup appears with options at the top: "All time", "Last 7 days", "Last 24 hours", or "Last 4 weeks". Choose the time period you want, then make sure the checkbox next to "Cookies and Site Data" is checked. Tap "Clear Browsing Data" at the bottom right. Chrome now removes the cookies from that time period.
How to clear cookies in Firefox on iPad
Firefox also stores cookies separately from Safari. Open Firefox, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, then tap Settings. Tap "Data Management", then tap "Clear Private Data".
A list of options appears. Make sure "Cookies" is checked, then tap "Clear Private Data" at the bottom. Firefox removes all cookies when ready. Unlike Safari and Chrome, Firefox does not let you choose a time period — it clears all cookies at once.
What happens after you clear cookies
After you clear cookies, you'll be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you'll need to enter your username and password again. Websites may also forget your preferences — for example, if a news site remembered that you prefer dark mode, it will go back to light mode until you log in again and reset that preference.
Some cookies are permanent and come back the moment you visit the site again, because the site sets them again automatically. This is normal. Clearing cookies is not a permanent block — it's a one-time removal of what's currently stored.
The difference between cookies and browsing history
Cookies and browsing history are two separate things. Your browsing history is a list of websites you've visited — it's stored on your iPad and only you can see it (unless someone else uses your iPad). Cookies are files that websites themselves store on your iPad to remember information about you.
When you clear cookies, websites forget about you, but your iPad still remembers which sites you visited. When you clear browsing history, your iPad forgets which sites you visited, but the websites' cookies may still be there. Most people clear both at once, but you can do them separately if you need to.
When clearing cookies won't fix a problem
If a website is broken or slow, clearing cookies might help — sometimes a corrupted cookie file causes a site to malfunction. But if clearing cookies doesn't fix it, the problem is usually something else: the website itself is down, your internet connection is slow, or your iPad needs to be restarted.
Restarting your iPad is often faster than clearing cookies. Hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to turn off your iPad. Wait a few seconds, then hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears. After your iPad restarts, try the website again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Cookies and saved passwords are stored separately. Clearing cookies logs you out, but your saved passwords stay on your iPad. The next time you visit a site, you can usually tap the password field and your iPad will offer to fill in your saved password.
Can I clear cookies from just one website?
In Safari, not easily — you clear all cookies from a time period at once. In Chrome, you can tap the three lines, go to Settings, tap "Privacy", then "Clear Browsing Data", and some versions let you choose specific sites, but this varies. The simplest approach is to clear all cookies from the time period you want.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
No. Clearing cookies is optional and only necessary if a site isn't working, you want to remove your login, or you're concerned about tracking. Cookies take up very little storage space, so they won't slow down your iPad or fill it up.
What's the difference between clearing cookies and private browsing?
Private browsing (called "Private" in Safari and "Incognito" in Chrome) prevents your iPad from storing cookies and history while you browse. When you close a private tab, nothing is saved. Clearing cookies removes what's already stored. Private browsing is useful if you want to browse without being tracked; clearing cookies is useful if you've already browsed and want to remove what was stored.
If I clear cookies, will websites load faster?
Usually not. Cookies are very small files, so they don't slow down your iPad. If a website loads slowly, the problem is usually your internet connection or the website itself, not cookies. Clearing cookies might help if a corrupted cookie file is causing a specific site to malfunction, but that's rare.