What tracking cookies are and why you'd want to remove them
Tracking cookies are small files that websites and advertisers place in your browser to follow what you do online. Unlike session cookies that disappear when you close your browser, tracking cookies stay put — sometimes for months or years — and build a profile of your browsing habits, searches, and purchases across different websites.
When you visit a news site, then later see ads for the same product on a completely different website, a tracking cookie made that connection. Advertisers use these profiles to target ads at you, and data brokers buy and sell them. Clearing tracking cookies removes that record and makes it harder for advertisers to follow you from site to site.
You won't break anything by clearing them. Websites will still work. You might have to log back into some accounts, and personalized recommendations will reset, but that's the trade-off for cutting off the tracking.
Key Takeaways
- Tracking cookies are files advertisers use to follow your browsing across websites, and clearing them stops that tracking until new ones are placed.
- Most browsers let you clear cookies through Settings or Preferences, usually under Privacy or History, and you can choose to clear all cookies or just tracking ones.
- Clearing cookies is a one-time action; to prevent new tracking cookies from being placed, you can enable "Do Not Track" or use a privacy-focused browser mode.
- Third-party cookies — the ones advertisers rely on most — can be blocked entirely in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge without breaking most websites.
- If you want ongoing protection without clearing cookies manually each time, browser extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger block trackers in the background.
How to clear cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left sidebar. Choose Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, set the time range to All time if you want to clear everything, or pick a specific range like Last 7 days. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. Click Clear data.
If you want to block new tracking cookies going forward, stay in Settings and go to Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. Select Block third-party cookies. This stops advertisers from placing new tracking cookies without breaking most websites.
How to clear cookies in Firefox
Click the three horizontal lines in the top right, then select Settings. Go to Privacy & Security on the left. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
A box appears. Check both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content if you want a thorough clear. Click Clear. Firefox will ask if you're sure — click again to confirm.
To block tracking cookies automatically, scroll down to Enhanced Tracking Protection and select Strict. This blocks most third-party trackers by default. You can also check Send websites a "Do Not Track" signal, though not all sites honor it.
How to clear cookies in Safari
Click Safari in the menu bar at the top, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Go to the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites appears. Click Remove All to clear all cookies at once, or select specific sites and click Remove. Confirm when prompted.
To prevent new tracking cookies, go back to the Privacy tab and check Prevent cross-site tracking. This is Safari's version of blocking third-party cookies and is on by default in newer versions.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Click the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Go to Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens. Set the time range to All time or your preferred range. Check Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now.
To block new tracking cookies, scroll down in the same Privacy settings to Tracking prevention and select Strict. This blocks most third-party trackers. You can also enable Send "Do Not Track" requests below that.
The difference between clearing cookies and blocking them
Clearing cookies removes the files that are already on your computer. It's a one-time cleanup. Once you close your browser and visit websites again, new tracking cookies will be placed unless you take another step.
Blocking cookies prevents new ones from being placed in the first place. Every browser now lets you block third-party cookies — the ones advertisers use most — through a single setting. Turning this on means you won't accumulate new tracking cookies as you browse, though you'll still get first-party cookies from the websites you visit directly (which you usually want, because they keep you logged in).
For the strongest ongoing protection without manually clearing cookies, enable your browser's tracking prevention or third-party cookie blocking, and consider a privacy extension like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger. These run in the background and block trackers without you having to do anything.
What happens after you clear cookies
You'll likely have to log back into websites you visit regularly — Gmail, Facebook, your bank, shopping sites. That's because the login cookie is gone. You'll type your password again, and the site will place a new login cookie.
Personalized recommendations will reset. Netflix won't remember what you've watched. YouTube's homepage will look generic. Amazon won't show your browsing history. These will rebuild over time as you use the sites again.
Ads won't disappear, but they'll be less targeted. You'll see more generic ads instead of ads for products you looked at last week. Advertisers won't have the same detailed profile of your interests, at least until new tracking cookies accumulate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies break my bank website or email?
No. You'll be logged out and will need to log back in, but the website will work fine. Banks and email providers use cookies to keep you logged in, and clearing them just means you'll enter your password again on your next visit. Your accounts and data are not affected.
Should I clear cookies every time I close my browser?
You don't have to, but you can set your browser to do it automatically. In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, you can go to Settings and turn on "Clear cookies when you close the browser" or similar. This way you get the privacy benefit without manually clearing each time, though you'll be logged out of sites more often.
What's the difference between first-party and third-party cookies?
First-party cookies come from the website you're visiting — they keep you logged in and remember your preferences. Third-party cookies come from advertisers and data brokers embedded on that site, and they track you across the web. Blocking third-party cookies stops most tracking while keeping sites functional.
Do I need a VPN or extension if I'm already clearing cookies?
Clearing cookies helps, but it's not a complete privacy solution. Websites can track you through other methods like fingerprinting (analyzing your browser settings) and login data. A privacy extension like uBlock Origin blocks more trackers, and a VPN hides your IP address from websites. Together they offer more protection than cookies alone.
If I block third-party cookies, will websites still work?
Almost all will. Third-party cookies are mainly for advertising and tracking. A tiny number of older websites use them for other features, and you might notice a broken element or two, but you can usually unblock cookies for that specific site if needed. Most modern websites work fine with third-party cookies blocked.