Delete all cookies at once in Chrome

Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. This opens the Clear Browsing Data window directly. At the top, make sure the time range is set to All time if you want to remove every cookie Chrome has stored. If you only want to delete cookies from the last hour, day, or week, select that option instead.

Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete your browsing history, cached images, or autofill information. Click Clear data at the bottom right. Chrome will remove all cookies matching your time range in a few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to delete cookies is pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the Clear Browsing Data window.
  • You can delete all cookies at once or choose a specific time range — last hour, day, week, month, or all time.
  • Chrome also lets you delete cookies from a single website without touching cookies from other sites.
  • You can set Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser if you prefer not to store them long-term.

Delete cookies from one website only

If you only want to remove cookies from a specific site, you do not need to clear all your cookies. Visit the website first, then click the lock icon or info icon in the address bar on the left side. Click Cookies and site data to see what Chrome has stored for that site.

You will see a list of cookies, local storage, and other data. Click the trash icon next to each item you want to delete, or click the trash icon at the top to remove everything from that site at once. Close the popup when you are done — the changes take effect immediately.

Delete cookies through Chrome Settings

If you prefer using the menu, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then click Privacy and security on the left sidebar. Select Clear browsing data. This opens the same window as the keyboard shortcut, so you can choose your time range and check Cookies and other site data before clicking Clear data.

This route takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it is useful if you want to explore other privacy settings at the same time, such as what permissions you have given to websites or which sites can send you notifications.

Automatically delete cookies when you close Chrome

You can tell Chrome to delete all cookies every time you close the browser. Open Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, and go to Settings. Click Privacy and security, then select Cookies and other site data. Toggle on Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.

Once this is on, Chrome will remove all cookies when you fully close the browser — not just when you close a tab. If you sign into websites regularly, you will need to sign in again each time you restart Chrome, because your login cookies will be deleted. This setting does not affect cookies from sites you have added to your exceptions list.

Add websites to your cookie exceptions list

If you have turned on automatic cookie deletion but want certain sites to keep you signed in, you can create an exceptions list. In Settings under Privacy and security, click Cookies and other site data. Under Sites that can always use cookies, click Add and type the website address.

Cookies from sites on this list will survive even when you close Chrome, while cookies from all other sites are deleted. This is useful if you have a few sites you visit regularly and want to stay logged in, but you want everything else cleared for privacy.

Understand what cookies do and why you might delete 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 your browsing activity. Some cookies are necessary for websites to work. Others track your behavior across multiple sites to show you targeted ads.

Deleting cookies can improve privacy by removing tracking data, but it also means you will need to sign back into websites and they will forget your preferences. Cookies do not contain viruses or malware, so deleting them is safe. If a website is not working correctly, clearing its cookies sometimes fixes the problem because it forces the site to reset its stored data about you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting cookies sign me out of websites?

Yes. Cookies store your login information, so deleting them will sign you out of most websites. You will need to sign back in the next time you visit. If you want to stay signed into certain sites, add them to your exceptions list before turning on automatic cookie deletion.

Can I delete cookies from just one browser tab?

No. Cookies are stored at the browser level, not the tab level. When you delete cookies, they are removed from all of Chrome, not just the tab you are viewing. You can delete cookies from a single website using the lock icon in the address bar, which affects only that site across all tabs.

What is the difference between deleting cookies and clearing browsing history?

Cookies are small data files websites store on your computer. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited. Deleting cookies removes stored data from websites; deleting history removes the record of which sites you visited. You can delete one without deleting the other by unchecking boxes in the Clear Browsing Data window.

Do I need to delete cookies regularly?

Not necessarily. Cookies do not slow down your browser or take up much space. You might delete them if you are concerned about tracking, if a website is not working correctly, or if you share your computer with others. Many people delete cookies monthly or when they notice a site behaving oddly.