What cookies are and where to find them
Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you — your login status, items in a shopping cart, or your preferred language. Your browser keeps these files in a dedicated folder and sends them back to websites when you visit. To see what cookies a website has stored, you open your browser's settings and navigate to the cookies section, which is usually called "Cookies and site data" or "Privacy and security".
The exact path depends on which browser you use. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all store cookies the same way — in your device — but the menu names and locations differ slightly. Once you know where to look in your specific browser, you can see which websites have stored cookies, delete them individually or in bulk, and set rules for which sites are allowed to store new ones.
Most people never need to look at their cookies. But if a website is not remembering you, if you want to clear out old data before selling a device, or if you want to prevent certain sites from tracking you, knowing how to access and manage cookies gives you control over what stays on your computer.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are stored in your browser's settings under a section usually named "Cookies and site data" or "Privacy and security", and the exact path varies by browser.
- You can view cookies by site, delete them one at a time or all at once, and set rules for which websites are allowed to store new ones.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites and remove saved preferences like language or font size.
- Blocking all cookies may break some websites, so most people block only third-party cookies, which track you across multiple sites.
How to view cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left menu. Click Cookies and other site data. You will now see a list of all websites that have stored cookies on your device, organized alphabetically.
Click on any website name to see what specific cookies that site has stored. Each cookie shows its name, domain, path, expiration date, and size. If you want to delete cookies from one website, click the trash icon next to its name. To delete all cookies at once, go back to the main Cookies page and click Clear all.
How to view cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the left menu. Scroll down to the "Cookies and Site Data" section. Click Manage Data to see all stored cookies organized by website.
Click on any website to expand it and see the cookies it has stored. To delete cookies from one site, select it and click Remove Selected. To delete all cookies, click Remove All at the bottom of the window. Firefox also lets you set rules for individual websites — right-click a site name and choose whether to always allow or always block cookies from that domain.
How to view cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions), then click the Privacy tab. You will see a section called "Cookies and website data" with a button labeled Manage Website Data. Click it to see all websites that have stored cookies.
The list shows each website and how much data it has stored. Click on any site to select it, then click Remove to delete its cookies. To remove all cookies at once, click Remove All. Safari does not show individual cookie names and details the way Chrome and Firefox do — it only shows which websites have stored data and lets you remove them by site.
How to view cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services in the left menu. Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and click Choose what to clear. You can also click Manage cookies and site permissions to see a full list of stored cookies organized by website.
Click on any website name to see the cookies it has stored. To delete cookies from one site, click the trash icon next to its name. To delete all cookies, use the "Clear browsing data" option at the top of the Privacy page and make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked before clicking Clear now.
Setting rules for which sites can store cookies
All modern browsers let you block cookies from certain websites while allowing them on others. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Sites that can always use cookies. Type in a website address and click Add to allow it, or go to "Sites that cannot use cookies" to block specific sites.
In Firefox, the process is similar: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, then use the "Manage Permissions" button to add websites to your allow or block list. Safari and Edge have comparable options in their Privacy settings. You can also set your browser to block third-party cookies — cookies from websites other than the one you are visiting — which reduces tracking without breaking most sites. This setting is usually found in the same Privacy section and is often turned on by default in newer browser versions.
What happens when you delete cookies
Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites. The next time you visit a site whose cookies you deleted, you will need to log in again. Websites will also forget your preferences — saved language, font size, dark mode settings, or items in your shopping cart — because those are often stored in cookies.
Deleting cookies does not delete your account or any data stored on the website's servers. It only removes the files on your device that let the website recognize you. If you log back in, the website will create new cookies and remember your preferences again. Some people delete all cookies regularly for privacy reasons, while others only delete them before selling or giving away a device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will blocking all cookies break websites?
Yes, many websites rely on cookies to function properly. Blocking all cookies may prevent you from logging in, cause shopping carts to empty, or break interactive features. Most people block only third-party cookies instead, which reduces tracking without breaking the sites they visit regularly.
Can I delete cookies from just one website?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, find the website in your cookies list and click the trash or delete icon next to its name. Safari does not show individual cookies, but you can select a website in the "Manage Website Data" window and click Remove to delete all its data at once.
Do cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies are tiny files, usually less than 1 kilobyte each. Even with thousands of cookies stored, they use almost no disk space and have no effect on your computer's speed. You do not need to delete them for performance reasons.
What is the difference between cookies and cache?
Cookies are small files that store information about you, like login status or preferences. Cache is a larger collection of files — images, scripts, web pages — that your browser saves to load websites faster on your next visit. Both are stored on your device, but they serve different purposes and are cleared separately in your browser settings.
If I clear cookies, will websites know I deleted them?
No. Websites cannot tell whether you cleared your cookies. They only know that when you visit next time, you do not have a cookie from them stored. From their perspective, you are a new visitor, and they will create a new cookie if you allow it.