Where to find your cookies and what you're looking at

Cookies are small files your browser stores when you visit websites. They remember login information, what's in your shopping cart, and your preferences — but they also let websites and advertisers track where you go. You can see what cookies are stored on your computer right now, and delete the ones you don't want.

The steps differ slightly by browser, but the principle is the same: you open your browser settings, find the cookies section, and you can view them by website or delete them all at once. Most people find it faster to just clear cookies regularly rather than reviewing each one individually, but if you want to see what's actually there, here's how.

Key Takeaways

  • Cookies are stored in your browser's settings under Privacy, History, or Site Data — the exact name depends on which browser you use.
  • You can see cookies grouped by website, and most browsers let you delete cookies from a single site without clearing the rest.
  • Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites and reset your preferences, so do this when you have time to log back in.
  • You can set your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it, or to ask permission before any website stores a cookie.

How to view cookies in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Privacy and security on the left side. Click Cookies and other site data.

You'll see a list of websites that have stored cookies on your computer. Click on any website name to see what data that site has stored — usually login tokens, session information, and tracking identifiers. If you want to delete cookies from just one site, click the trash icon next to its name. To clear all cookies, go back to the main Privacy and security page and click Clear browsing data, then check the box for Cookies and other site data and select your time range.

How to view cookies in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Manage Data.

You'll see a searchable list of every website that has stored cookies. Type a website name to find it, or scroll through the full list. Click on a site name to see what it has stored, then click Remove Selected to delete just that site's cookies. To clear all cookies at once, go back to the Privacy & Security page and click Clear Data under Cookies and Site Data.

How to view cookies in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings, then click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.

You'll see a list of websites with stored data. Click on any site to see details, then click Remove to delete just that site's cookies, or click Remove All to clear everything. Safari doesn't show as much detail about individual cookies as Chrome or Firefox do, but you can still see which sites are storing data on your computer.

How to view cookies in Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.

Check the box for Cookies and other site data and click Clear now. To see cookies before you delete them, click Manage cookies and site permissions instead, then Cookies and data stored. You'll see a list of websites; click on any site to see what it has stored, then use the trash icon to delete individual cookies or groups.

Setting your browser to handle cookies automatically

Rather than manually clearing cookies every time, you can tell your browser to delete them automatically. In Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, go to your Privacy settings and look for an option like Clear cookies when you close the browser or Delete cookies on exit. Turning this on means you'll be logged out of most websites each time you close your browser, but you won't accumulate tracking cookies over time.

You can also set your browser to block third-party cookies — the ones that advertisers use to follow you across different websites. In Chrome, go to Privacy and security and select Block third-party cookies. Firefox blocks them by default. Safari blocks them by default too. Edge lets you choose between Balanced (blocks some), Strict (blocks most), or Off. Blocking third-party cookies won't log you out of websites you use regularly, but it will reduce how much advertisers can track your browsing.

What to do if a website stops working after you clear cookies

If you clear all your cookies and then find that a website won't let you log in or keeps resetting your preferences, the site is relying on cookies to remember you. You have a few options: log back in and let the site store new cookies, add that specific website to an exception list so your browser doesn't delete its cookies, or just accept that you'll need to log in again next time.

Most browsers let you create a whitelist of sites whose cookies you want to keep. In Chrome, go to Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Sites that can always use cookies. In Firefox, go to Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Exceptions. This way you can clear cookies from tracking sites while keeping login information for the services you actually use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can websites see my cookies if I'm using a different browser?

No. Cookies are stored separately in each browser. If you use both Chrome and Firefox, they each have their own cookie storage, and websites can't see cookies from one browser when you're using the other. This is why you might need to log in again if you switch browsers.

Is it safe to delete all my cookies at once?

Yes, it's safe. You'll be logged out of most websites and lose any saved preferences, but deleting cookies won't damage your computer or your accounts. You can log back in whenever you need to. The only downside is inconvenience, not security risk.

What's the difference between cookies and tracking pixels?

Cookies are files stored on your computer; tracking pixels are tiny images embedded in websites and emails that send information back to the advertiser. You can't see or delete pixels the way you can with cookies, but blocking third-party cookies in your browser settings reduces how much data pixels can collect about you.

Do I need to clear cookies if I use private or incognito mode?

No. Private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome, Private in Firefox and Safari) doesn't store cookies at all — they're deleted automatically when you close the window. If you want to avoid accumulating cookies, using private mode for browsing is simpler than clearing them manually.

Why do some websites ask me to accept cookies when I visit?

Those are cookie consent notices, required by privacy laws in Europe and some other places. Clicking "Accept" lets the website store cookies for tracking and analytics. You can usually click "Reject" or look for a "Manage preferences" option to choose which types of cookies you allow, though some sites make rejecting harder than accepting.