Delete cookies through your browser settings
The steps to delete cookies on a Samsung tablet depend on which browser you use. Most Samsung tablets come with either Samsung Internet or Google Chrome pre-installed, and both let you clear cookies from the settings menu. You do not need to download anything or restart your tablet — the process takes about a minute.
On Samsung Internet, open the browser and tap the three-line menu icon in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings," then "Privacy." Look for "Delete browsing data" and tap it. A popup will appear with several options — make sure "Cookies and site data" is checked, then tap "Delete." You can choose to delete cookies from "All time" or just the last hour, day, or week.
On Google Chrome, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner, then tap "Settings." Go to "Privacy and security," then "Clear browsing data." A window will open showing what can be deleted. Check the box next to "Cookies and site data," choose your time range at the top, and tap "Clear data."
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Internet and Chrome both store cookies in their settings menu under privacy or browsing data options.
- You can delete all cookies at once or choose to clear only cookies from the last hour, day, week, or month.
- Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites, so save any work before you delete them.
- Cookies return immediately when you browse again — deleting them once does not stop websites from creating new ones.
What happens when you delete cookies
When you clear cookies, websites you visit will no longer recognize your tablet. This means you will be logged out of email, social media, shopping sites, and any other accounts that use cookies to remember you. If you have saved passwords in your browser, those remain separate and will not be deleted unless you specifically clear saved passwords.
Websites will also forget your preferences — things like language settings, dark mode choices, or items in your shopping cart may reset to defaults. Some sites may load slightly slower the next time you visit because they no longer have cached information about your browsing habits.
Cookies return when you browse again
Deleting cookies is not a permanent solution. Every time you visit a website, that site can create new cookies on your tablet. If you want to prevent cookies from being stored in the first place, you can use your browser's private or incognito mode, which does not save cookies after you close the window.
In Samsung Internet, tap the menu icon and select "Secret mode" to open a private window. In Chrome, tap the menu icon and select "New incognito tab." Websites can still see you are visiting, but they cannot store cookies that persist after you close the tab.
Clearing cookies versus clearing cache
Cookies and cache are different things, though both are stored on your tablet. Cookies are small files that remember information about you — your login status, preferences, and tracking data. Cache is a copy of images, videos, and other content from websites you have visited, stored so pages load faster next time.
When you delete browsing data in either browser, you usually have the option to clear cookies, cache, or both. If you only want to free up storage space, clearing cache alone does that without signing you out of websites. If you want to remove tracking data and login information, you need to clear cookies specifically.
Why websites use cookies
Websites use cookies for several reasons. Some are necessary — they keep you logged in, remember items in your shopping cart, and let websites function properly. Others track your behavior across multiple sites to show you targeted ads. Some cookies are set by the website itself, while others come from advertising networks or analytics companies.
Clearing cookies removes all of them at once, both the useful ones and the tracking ones. If you want more control, some browsers let you block certain types of cookies or allow cookies only from specific sites, but Samsung Internet and Chrome do not offer fine-grained cookie controls in their standard settings.
Storage space and cookie size
Cookies take up very little storage space on your tablet — typically a few megabytes even if you have been browsing for years. Clearing cookies will not noticeably free up space unless your tablet is critically low on storage. If you need to free up significant space, clearing your browser cache or deleting old photos and videos will have a much larger effect.
If you want to check how much storage your browser is using, go to Settings on your tablet, tap "Apps," find your browser, and look at the storage information. This shows you the total size of the app, cache, and cookies combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. When you clear browsing data, you can choose to delete passwords, but they are not deleted automatically unless you specifically check that box. If you want to keep your passwords but remove cookies, uncheck the "Passwords" option before you tap delete.
Can I delete cookies from just one website?
Samsung Internet and Chrome do not have a built-in way to delete cookies from a single website. You can only delete all cookies at once or cookies from a specific time period. If you need to clear cookies from one site without affecting others, use private browsing mode going forward for that site only.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No. Deleting cookies is optional and depends on your privacy preferences. If you are concerned about tracking, clearing cookies monthly or weekly can help. If you do not mind targeted ads and do not share your tablet with others, you do not need to delete cookies at all.
What if I delete cookies and a website stops working?
Some websites rely on cookies to function properly. If a site breaks after you clear cookies, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening your browser. If the problem continues, the website may have a technical issue unrelated to cookies. You can always revisit the site and let it create new cookies.
Does clearing cookies on my tablet affect cookies on my phone?
No. Each device stores its own cookies separately. Clearing cookies on your Samsung tablet only affects that tablet. Your phone, computer, and other devices keep their own cookies unless you clear them individually on those devices.