Clear cookies in Edge through Settings in under two minutes
Open Microsoft Edge and select the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Choose Settings, then Privacy, search, and services from the left sidebar. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear. A window will appear with checkboxes for different data types — make sure Cookies and other site data is checked, then click Clear now.
If you want to clear cookies every time you close Edge automatically, stay in that same Settings section and toggle on Clear browsing data under "Clear browsing data". Edge will then delete cookies and site data each time you close the browser completely.
You can also clear cookies from a single website instead of all of them. Visit the site, click the lock icon or information icon next to the web address, select Cookies and site permissions, then click the trash icon next to the cookie you want to remove.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way to clear all cookies is Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear, then check Cookies and other site data and click Clear now.
- You can set Edge to automatically delete cookies every time you close the browser by toggling on Clear browsing data in the same Settings section.
- To remove cookies from just one website, click the lock or information icon next to the address bar, find Cookies and site permissions, and delete individual cookies.
- Clearing cookies removes stored login information, so you may need to sign back into websites after clearing them.
What cookies do and why you might want to clear them
Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you — your login status, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or sites you have visited. Most cookies are harmless and make browsing easier. However, some cookies track your activity across multiple websites to build a profile of your interests, which advertisers then use to target you with ads.
Clearing cookies removes all this stored data. After you clear them, websites will no longer remember you were there, so you may need to log back in. Tracking cookies are also deleted, which means advertisers lose the ability to follow your browsing across sites — at least until new cookies are created.
Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history, passwords, or autofill information unless you specifically check those boxes too. If you only want to remove tracking, clearing cookies alone is usually enough.
The difference between clearing all cookies and clearing them automatically
When you manually clear cookies through Settings, you remove every cookie stored on your computer at that moment. This is a one-time action. The next time you visit a website, it will create new cookies, and those will stay on your device until you clear them again.
If you turn on automatic clearing, Edge will delete all cookies the moment you close the browser completely — not when you close a single tab. This means you start fresh each session, but you will need to log back into websites every time you open Edge. Some people use this setting for privacy-focused browsing; others find it inconvenient.
A middle ground is to clear cookies manually once a week or once a month, depending on how much tracking concerns you. This keeps your device cleaner without requiring you to log in constantly.
How to clear cookies from specific websites only
If you want to remove cookies from one website but keep cookies from others, visit that website first. Look for the lock icon (if the site uses HTTPS) or an information icon next to the web address in the address bar and click it.
A panel will open showing site permissions and data. Select Cookies and site data to expand that section. You will see a list of cookies stored for that site. Click the trash icon next to any cookie to delete it individually, or click the trash icon at the top to remove all cookies for that site.
This method is useful if a website is misbehaving or you want to force it to forget you without clearing cookies from every other site you use.
Clearing cookies does not erase your browsing history
Cookies and browsing history are separate. Clearing cookies removes the files websites stored on your device, but it does not delete the list of websites you visited. If you want to remove your browsing history as well, you need to check that box separately in the Clear browsing data window.
To clear both at once, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear. Check both Cookies and other site data and Browsing history, then click Clear now. You can also set the time range — for example, clear only the last hour, the last day, or all time.
What happens after you clear cookies
After clearing cookies, you will notice that websites no longer remember you. If you were logged into Gmail, Facebook, or your bank, you will be logged out. Shopping sites will forget items in your cart. Websites that remember your language or theme preference will reset to their defaults.
The next time you visit a website, it will create new cookies. If you have not changed your privacy settings, these new cookies will work the same way as before — some will track your activity, and some will just remember your preferences. Clearing cookies is not a permanent solution to tracking; it is a periodic reset.
If you want to reduce tracking between cookie clears, consider using Edge's InPrivate browsing mode, which does not store cookies or history by default. Open a new InPrivate window by pressing Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac), and Edge will not save any data from that session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear cookies, you will be logged out of websites, but your saved passwords remain on your device. You can log back in using your saved password without re-entering it manually. If you want to delete passwords too, check that box separately in the Clear browsing data window.
Can I clear cookies without losing my login information?
Not completely — clearing cookies logs you out of websites because cookies store your login session. However, if you have saved your password in Edge, you can log back in with one click. Alternatively, you can clear cookies from specific sites only, leaving your login cookies on sites you use frequently.
How often should I clear cookies?
There is no single right answer. If privacy is your main concern, clearing cookies weekly or monthly reduces tracking. If convenience matters more, clearing them a few times a year is fine. Many people clear cookies when they notice a website behaving oddly or when they want a fresh start.
Does clearing cookies speed up Edge?
Slightly, but not noticeably for most users. Cookies take up very little storage space. If Edge is running slowly, the problem is usually too many open tabs or extensions, not cookies. Clearing cookies may help if your device is extremely low on storage space.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and using InPrivate mode?
InPrivate mode prevents cookies from being saved in the first place — Edge does not store them during your session. Clearing cookies removes cookies that are already stored. InPrivate is useful for one-time browsing where you do not want to be tracked; clearing cookies is useful for cleaning up data you have already accumulated.