Delete all cookies at once from your browser settings
You can delete every cookie your browser has stored in one action through the settings menu. The exact steps depend on which browser you use, but the process takes less than a minute and clears cookies from all websites at once. After you delete them, websites will no longer remember your login information, shopping cart contents, or browsing preferences until you visit them again and new cookies are created.
Deleting cookies does not remove your browsing history, saved passwords, or other data unless you specifically choose to clear those too. You can delete cookies alone if you want to keep your saved passwords and autofill information intact.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete all cookies through your browser's settings menu in under one minute, and the exact steps vary by browser.
- After deletion, you will need to log back into websites and your saved preferences will disappear until you visit those sites again.
- Deleting cookies does not remove your passwords, history, or other browsing data unless you choose to clear those separately.
- You can set your browser to delete cookies automatically every time you close it, so you do not have to do this manually.
- Some websites may not work properly if you delete cookies while still logged in, so log out first when possible.
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 pop up with several options. Make sure the time range at the top is set to "All time" so you delete every cookie stored on your device. Check the box next to "Cookies and other site data" and uncheck any other boxes if you want to keep your history and passwords. Click "Clear data" and the process is complete.
Delete cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Select "Settings" and then click "Privacy & Security" on the left side. Scroll down to the "Cookies and Site Data" section and click "Clear Data."
A small window will appear. Make sure "Cookies and Site Data" is checked and "All" is selected as the time range. Click "Clear" and Firefox will delete all stored cookies. You can also check "Cached Web Content" at the same time if you want to free up storage space, though this is separate from cookies.
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 at the top of the window.
Click "Manage Website Data" to see all cookies and site data stored on your device. Click "Remove All" to delete every cookie at once, then click "Done." If you want to remove cookies from specific websites only, you can select individual sites from the list and click "Remove" instead.
Delete cookies in Edge
Open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select "Settings" and then click "Privacy, search, and services" on the left side. Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear."
A window will open with options for what to delete. Set the time range to "All time" at the top. Check the box for "Cookies and other site data" and uncheck anything else you want to keep. Click "Clear now" to delete all cookies from your device.
Set your browser to delete cookies automatically
Instead of deleting cookies manually each time, you can tell your browser to clear them automatically when you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data, then toggle on "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome." In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data and select "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed."
Safari automatically clears cookies after seven days by default, but you can change this in Settings > Privacy by selecting a different time period. Edge has a similar option under Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data. Keep in mind that if you turn on automatic deletion, you will be logged out of websites every time you close your browser.
What happens after you delete cookies
Once you delete cookies, websites will not remember you the next time you visit. You will need to log in again to email accounts, social media, and shopping sites. Your saved preferences like language choice, font size, or theme preference will reset to the website's defaults. Websites may also show you ads based on general location rather than your browsing history, since the tracking data stored in cookies is gone.
If you were in the middle of shopping and had items in your cart, those items may disappear because the cart information was stored in a cookie. For this reason, it is a good idea to log out of websites before deleting cookies, or to delete cookies when you are not actively using a website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies remove my saved passwords?
No. Cookies and passwords are stored separately. When you delete cookies, you can choose to keep your saved passwords by unchecking the password option in the clear data window. However, you will still need to log in again because the cookie that keeps you logged in will be gone.
Can I delete cookies from just one website?
Yes. In most browsers, you can go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and site data, then click "Manage" or "Manage Website Data" to see a list of all websites. Find the website you want and click "Remove" or the trash icon next to it. This deletes only that website's cookies while keeping all others.
What if a website stops working after I delete cookies?
Some websites rely on cookies to function properly. If a site is not working, try clearing your browser cache as well as cookies, or try accessing the site in a private browsing window. If the problem continues, the website itself may have a temporary issue unrelated to your cookies.
Do I need to restart my browser after deleting cookies?
No. Cookies are deleted immediately and your browser will continue working normally. However, you will need to log back into websites the next time you visit them since the login cookies are gone.
Is it safe to delete all cookies at once?
Yes, it is completely safe. Cookies are just small files that store information about your browsing. Deleting them will not harm your device or browser. The only downside is that you will lose saved login information and preferences until you visit those websites again.