What cookies are and why you might want to delete them
A cookie is a small file that a website stores on your computer or phone. It holds information the website wants to remember about you — your login details, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or a record that you visited. When you return to that website, it reads the cookie and uses that information.
Most cookies are harmless and make websites work better. But some cookies track your behaviour across many websites to build a profile of your interests, which advertisers then buy. Others can stick around longer than you want. Deleting cookies removes that stored information and can reduce tracking, though it also means you'll have to log back into websites and lose saved preferences.
Whether to delete cookies depends on your own comfort level. If you're on a shared computer, deleting cookies removes traces of where you've been. If you're concerned about tracking, deleting them regularly is one layer of protection. If you just want websites to work smoothly, you might delete them rarely or never.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are files websites store on your device to remember information about you, and deleting them removes that stored data but also logs you out of websites.
- Most browsers let you delete all cookies at once or set them to delete automatically when you close the browser.
- You can also delete cookies from specific websites only, which keeps you logged into sites you use regularly while removing tracking data from others.
- Deleting cookies reduces some forms of tracking but does not stop your internet service provider or the websites themselves from recording what you do.
How to delete all cookies at once in major browsers
The fastest way is to clear all cookies in one action. The exact steps depend on which browser you use.
In Chrome: Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac). A window titled "Clear browsing data" appears. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked. At the top, select the time range — "All time" clears everything, or pick a specific range like "Last 24 hours". Click "Clear data".
In Firefox: Open Firefox and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac). A window titled "Clear Recent History" appears. In the dropdown at the top, select the time range. Make sure "Cookies" is checked. Click "Clear Now".
In Safari: Open Safari, then go to History menu at the top and click "Clear History". A dropdown appears asking how far back to clear — pick "all history" to remove all cookies. Click "Clear History".
In Edge: Open Edge and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows). A window titled "Clear browsing data" appears. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, select your time range, and click "Clear now".
How to delete cookies from specific websites only
If you want to remove tracking from certain sites but stay logged into others, you can delete cookies one website at a time.
In Chrome: Click the lock icon or info icon to the left of the website address at the top. Click "Cookies and site data". A list of cookies from that site appears. Click the trash icon next to each one, or click "Remove all" to delete them all at once.
In Firefox: Click the shield icon to the left of the website address. Under "Enhanced Tracking Protection", click the arrow next to "Cookies blocked on this page" to see the list. You can also go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click "Manage Data" to search for and delete cookies from specific sites.
In Safari: Go to Safari menu, then Preferences, then Privacy. Click "Manage Website Data". Search for the website name, select it, and click "Remove".
In Edge: Click the three-dot menu at the top right, then Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Under "Clear browsing data", click "Choose what to clear". You can also click the lock icon next to the website address and manage cookies from there.
How to set cookies to delete automatically
Rather than manually deleting cookies every time, you can tell your browser to delete them automatically when you close it. This means you stay logged in while the browser is open, but cookies vanish once you shut it down.
In Chrome: Click the three-dot menu at the top right, then Settings. On the left, click Privacy and security. Under "Cookies and other site data", select "Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome". From now on, all cookies will clear when you close the browser completely.
In Firefox: Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) at the top right, then Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under "Cookies and Site Data", check the box that says "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed".
In Safari: Go to Safari menu, then Preferences, then Privacy. Check the box that says "Remove all website data when quitting Safari".
In Edge: Click the three-dot menu at the top right, then Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under "Clear browsing data", turn on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser". Then click "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser" and make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked.
What deleting cookies does and does not do
Deleting cookies stops websites from using stored cookies to recognize you, and it removes some tracking data. But it does not stop all tracking. Your internet service provider can still see which websites you visit. The websites themselves log your visits even without cookies. And if you log back in, they start a new cookie and resume tracking.
Deleting cookies also does not remove data that websites have already collected about you — it only removes the cookie file itself. If a website has already built a profile of your interests, deleting the cookie does not erase that profile from their servers.
For stronger privacy, consider using your browser's private or incognito mode, which does not save cookies or history at all. You can also use a browser extension that blocks tracking cookies, though these work differently than deleting cookies manually.
Why you might want to keep some cookies
Cookies make websites work better in real ways. Without them, you have to log in every time you visit Gmail, your bank, or social media. You lose your shopping cart on online stores. Websites forget your language choice or dark mode preference. For sites you use regularly and trust, keeping cookies is usually worth the trade-off.
A middle ground is to delete cookies from tracking and advertising networks while keeping cookies from sites you actively use. Most browsers let you do this by blocking third-party cookies — cookies set by advertisers rather than the website itself. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can turn this on in Settings under Privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my browser or computer?
No. Deleting cookies frees up a tiny amount of storage space, but the difference is not noticeable. Cookies are small files, usually measured in kilobytes. Clearing them will not speed up your browser or make your computer run faster.
Do I need to delete cookies if I use private or incognito mode?
No. Private and incognito mode does not save cookies at all — they are deleted automatically when you close the window. You only need to manually delete cookies if you use regular browsing mode.
Can websites tell if I deleted their cookies?
Websites cannot see into your computer to know whether you deleted a cookie. But they will notice that you no longer have the cookie when you visit next time, so they will create a new one. From their perspective, it looks like a new visitor.
What's the difference between deleting cookies and blocking them?
Deleting cookies removes files that are already stored. Blocking cookies prevents new ones from being created in the first place. You can block third-party cookies (used for tracking) while allowing first-party cookies (used by the website itself) in your browser settings.
If I delete cookies, will I lose my passwords?
Passwords are usually stored separately from cookies, so deleting cookies does not erase your saved passwords. However, you will be logged out of websites, so you may need to enter your password again the next time you visit.