Clear cookies in Chrome in three steps
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security on the left side. Choose Clear browsing data, make sure Cookies and other site data is checked, and click the blue Clear data button.
That removes cookies from your browser right now. If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close it, you can turn that on in the same Settings menu — we'll show you how below.
Clearing cookies removes the small files websites store on your computer that track your activity, remember your login information, and follow you across the web. After you clear them, you may need to log back into websites, and targeted ads will reset.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way is Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, then check Cookies and other site data and click Clear data.
- You can choose to clear cookies from just today, the last week, the last four weeks, all time, or a custom date range.
- Turning on "Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome" in Settings makes Chrome clear them automatically every time you close the browser.
- After clearing cookies, you will need to log back into most websites and may see different ads until websites set new cookies.
The full steps to clear cookies right now
Start by opening Chrome and looking at the top right corner of the window. You will see three vertical dots stacked on top of each other — this is the menu button.
Click those three dots. A dropdown menu will appear. Look for the word Settings near the bottom of that menu and click it. Chrome will open a new tab showing your Settings page.
On the left side of the Settings page, you will see a menu with several options. Click Privacy and security. This section controls what data Chrome stores and how it handles your information.
Under Privacy and security, click Clear browsing data. A box will pop up with several checkboxes. Make sure the box next to Cookies and other site data is checked — it usually is by default. You can leave the other boxes checked or unchecked depending on what else you want to remove, but cookies are what we are focusing on here.
At the top of that same box, you will see a dropdown menu that says All time. This controls how far back Chrome looks when deleting cookies. If you only want to clear cookies from today, click that dropdown and select Last 24 hours. Other options include Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or a custom date range if you need something specific.
Once you have chosen your time range and confirmed that Cookies and other site data is checked, click the blue Clear data button. Chrome will delete the cookies immediately, and the box will close.
Set Chrome to delete cookies automatically when you close it
If you want Chrome to clear cookies every single time you close the browser, you can turn that on in Settings. This means you will start fresh each time you reopen Chrome, but you will also need to log back into websites every time.
Go back to Settings and click Privacy and security on the left. Look for the section called Clear browsing data — not the button, but the heading above it. Under that heading, you will see a toggle switch next to Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. Click that toggle to turn it on. It will turn blue when it is active.
From that point forward, Chrome will automatically clear all cookies the moment you close the browser completely. This does not happen when you close individual tabs — only when you fully exit Chrome.
What happens after you clear cookies
Websites will no longer remember you. When you visit a site you were logged into, you will be logged out. You will need to enter your username and password again the next time you visit.
Targeted advertising will reset. Websites and ad networks use cookies to track what you look at and show you ads based on your interests. Once you clear cookies, that tracking stops, and ads will become more generic until websites set new cookies.
Some website features may not work the way you expect. A few sites use cookies to remember your preferences — like the language you prefer, or whether you want the dark version of the site. You may need to set those preferences again.
The difference between clearing cookies and using Incognito mode
Clearing cookies removes data that is already stored on your computer. Incognito mode is different — it prevents Chrome from storing cookies and browsing history in the first place while you are using it.
When you close an Incognito window, Chrome automatically deletes everything from that session. Incognito mode is useful if you want to browse without leaving a trace, or if you want to log into a website with a different account without logging out of your main account first.
To open an Incognito window, click the three dots menu, select New Incognito window, or press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Command+Shift+N on Mac. Websites can still see your IP address and what you are doing while you are there, but Chrome will not save cookies or history after you close the window.
Clearing cookies on your phone or tablet
The steps are similar on mobile devices, but the menu looks a little different. Open Chrome on your phone or tablet and tap the three dots in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top right corner (on Android). Tap Settings, then Privacy, then Clear browsing data.
Make sure Cookies and site data is checked, choose your time range at the top, and tap Clear browsing data to finish. The process is the same as on a computer — only the location of the menu button changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies log me out of everything?
Yes. Websites use cookies to keep you logged in, so clearing them will log you out of most sites. You will need to log back in the next time you visit. This is why many people clear cookies on a schedule rather than every single day.
Can I clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. You will see a list of websites that have stored cookies. Click the trash icon next to any website to delete only that site's cookies, or use the search box to find a specific site.
What if I clear cookies but a website still remembers me?
Some websites use other methods besides cookies to track you, like fingerprinting or local storage. Clearing cookies removes only the cookie files themselves. For more complete data removal, you can also clear "cached images and files" in the same Clear browsing data menu.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
That depends on your privacy preferences. Clearing cookies regularly reduces tracking, but it also means logging back into websites more often. Many people clear cookies monthly or when they notice targeted ads, rather than after every browsing session.
Does clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear browsing data, you can choose whether to delete passwords by checking or unchecking the "Passwords and other sign-in data" box. Cookies and passwords are two different things.