What clearing cookies does and why you might want to
Clearing your cookies removes the small files your web browser stores when you visit websites. These files remember your login information, shopping cart contents, and browsing preferences — but they also let websites and advertisers track which sites you visit and what you do on them. Clearing them regularly stops that tracking and can speed up a slow browser.
The trade-off is that you'll be logged out of most websites, and sites won't remember your preferences until you visit them again. If you use the same computer as other people, clearing cookies also removes their stored logins and preferences.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies logs you out of most websites and removes stored passwords, so have your login information ready before you start.
- The steps differ by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu path and options.
- You can clear all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you close it.
- Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, or autofill information unless you specifically choose those options too.
Clearing cookies in Google 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 Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, you can choose the time range — select All time to clear everything, or pick a specific date range if you only want to remove recent cookies.
Click the blue Clear data button. Chrome will log you out of websites and remove the stored files. This usually takes a few seconds.
Clearing cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Select Settings.
On the left, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section. Click the Clear Data button. A box will appear — make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked, then click Clear. Firefox will remove all stored cookies immediately.
If you want to clear cookies from only a specific time period, go back to the menu button, select History, then Clear Recent History. Choose your time range and make sure Cookies is checked before clicking Clear Now.
Clearing cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions).
Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data. A list of websites will appear. To remove all cookies, click Remove All. To remove cookies from specific websites, select them from the list and click Remove.
Click Done when finished. Safari will remove the selected cookies and log you out of those websites.
Clearing cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings.
On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear. A window will open — make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, select All time or your preferred time range.
Click the blue Clear now button. Edge will remove your cookies and log you out of websites.
Setting your browser to clear cookies automatically
Instead of clearing cookies manually each time, you can tell your browser to delete them automatically when you close it. This happens in the background without any action from you.
In Chrome: Go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then turn on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
In Firefox: Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check the box next to Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Safari: Click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari.
In Edge: Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and turn on Clear browsing data every time you close the browser.
What clearing cookies does not remove
Clearing cookies only removes those small tracking files. It does not delete your browsing history, saved passwords, autofill information, or download history unless you specifically choose those options in the same window.
If you want to remove those items too, look for checkboxes labeled Browsing history, Passwords, or Autofill data in the same clearing window. Check only the boxes for what you want to delete, then proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
No, not unless you specifically check the box for passwords in the clearing window. Cookies and passwords are stored separately. If you want to keep your passwords but remove cookies, leave the password option unchecked.
Do I need to clear cookies on my phone too?
Yes, phone browsers store cookies the same way desktop browsers do. On iPhone, open Safari, tap the tabs icon, tap History, then Clear History and Website Data. On Android Chrome, tap the three dots, select Settings, tap Privacy, then Clear browsing data.
What happens if I clear cookies while I'm logged into a website?
You will be logged out immediately. The website will no longer recognize you until you log back in. Have your username and password ready, or use a password manager to store them.
Can websites tell that I cleared my cookies?
No. Websites cannot detect whether you cleared cookies. They only know that the cookie they stored is no longer there, which looks the same as a first visit from a new device.
If I clear cookies, will websites stop tracking me?
Clearing cookies stops one form of tracking, but websites and advertisers use other methods too, like fingerprinting and pixel tags. Clearing cookies regularly helps reduce tracking, but it is not a complete privacy solution on its own.