Delete cookies in Chrome right now with three clicks

Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open. Make sure the box next to "Cookies and other site data" is checked. At the top, select how far back you want to delete — "All time" removes everything, or pick a specific date range. Click the blue "Clear data" button. That's it. Your cookies are gone.

If that keyboard shortcut doesn't work, you can reach the same window through the menu: click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Settings," then "Privacy and security," then "Clear browsing data."

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to delete cookies is pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac), then clicking "Clear data."
  • You can delete all cookies at once or choose a specific time period — last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks, or all time.
  • Deleting cookies will sign you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready if you need to log back in.
  • You can set Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, so you don't have to do this manually.

What happens when you delete cookies

Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you — your login status, items in your shopping cart, your preferences. When you delete them, websites forget this information. You will be logged out of most sites, and the next time you visit, the site will not remember your settings or browsing history on that site.

Deleting cookies does not delete your browsing history, your saved passwords, or your autofill information. Those are separate things that live in different places in Chrome. If you want to delete those too, you can check the other boxes in the "Clear browsing data" window.

Delete cookies from specific websites only

If you want to delete cookies from just one website instead of all of them, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome and select "Settings." Go to "Privacy and security," then "Cookies and other site data." You will see a search box at the top. Type the website name — for example, "facebook.com" — and Chrome will show you the cookies from that site.

Click on the site name, and a window will pop up showing all the cookies stored from that website. Click the trash icon next to each cookie to delete it individually, or click "Remove all" to delete all cookies from that site at once. This is useful if you want to stay logged into most sites but reset your data on one specific site.

Set Chrome to delete cookies automatically

You can tell Chrome to delete all cookies automatically every time you close the browser. Click the three vertical dots, go to "Settings," then "Privacy and security," then "Cookies and other site data." Scroll down to find the section labeled "Clear cookies and site data." Check the box next to "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome."

When this setting is on, Chrome will delete cookies as soon as you close the browser completely — not just when you close a tab. You will be logged out of websites the next time you open Chrome. This is the most private option if you share your computer with other people or use a public computer.

Understand the difference between cookies and browsing history

Cookies and browsing history are not the same thing. Cookies are files that websites place on your computer to store information about you. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited, which Chrome keeps on your computer. Deleting cookies does not delete your browsing history, and deleting your browsing history does not delete your cookies.

If you want to delete both, open the "Clear browsing data" window (Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, Command + Shift + Delete on Mac) and check both "Cookies and other site data" and "Browsing history." You can also check "Cached images and files" to free up storage space on your computer.

Why websites ask you to clear cookies

If a website is not working correctly — a page won't load, you cannot log in, or something looks broken — clearing cookies is often the first thing to try. Cookies can become corrupted or outdated, and deleting them forces the website to create fresh ones the next time you visit. This fixes many common problems without you having to do anything else.

Clearing cookies also solves login problems. If you are stuck on a login screen or Chrome says your password is wrong even though you know it is correct, the old cookie from your previous session may be interfering. Delete the cookies from that specific website and try logging in again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting cookies delete my saved passwords?

No. Cookies and saved passwords are stored separately in Chrome. Deleting cookies will not affect your passwords. If you want to delete your saved passwords, you need to go to "Settings," "Autofill," "Passwords," and delete them from there.

Can I delete cookies from just one website without deleting all of them?

Yes. Go to "Settings," "Privacy and security," "Cookies and other site data," and search for the website name. Click on it and use the trash icon to delete cookies from that site only. All your other cookies will stay.

What if I delete cookies and then want to get them back?

You cannot get cookies back once you delete them. Cookies are not stored in a trash folder. If you need to stay logged into a website, do not delete its cookies, or be ready to log in again after you delete them.

Does clearing cookies make Chrome faster?

Clearing cookies frees up a small amount of storage space on your computer, but it will not noticeably speed up Chrome. Cookies are tiny files. If Chrome is running slowly, the problem is usually something else — too many open tabs, too many extensions, or not enough free space on your hard drive.

If I clear cookies, will websites still track me?

Deleting cookies stops one form of tracking, but websites can track you in other ways — through your IP address, your browser fingerprint, or login information. Clearing cookies is one privacy step, but it is not complete privacy protection on its own.