Where to find and delete cookies in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
The steps differ depending on which browser you use. Safari stores cookies in one place, Chrome in another, and Firefox in a third — but all three let you delete them in under a minute from your browser's settings menu.
On a Mac, you do not need special software or terminal commands. Open your browser, go to its preferences or settings, find the privacy or history section, and select the option to clear browsing data. You can delete all cookies at once or set your browser to delete them automatically when you quit.
Key Takeaways
- Safari users go to Safari menu > Settings > Privacy, then click Manage Website Data and select Remove All.
- Chrome users open Chrome menu > Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, check Cookies and Other Site Data, and click Clear Data.
- Firefox users open Firefox menu > Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data.
- You can set any of these browsers to delete cookies automatically every time you close it, so you do not have to do it manually.
Deleting cookies in Safari
Click the Safari menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select Settings. Go to the Privacy tab. You will see a button labeled Manage Website Data — click it to see a list of every website that has stored cookies on your Mac.
To delete all cookies at once, click Remove All in the bottom-right corner. To delete cookies from specific websites, select the site names you want to remove and click Remove. Safari will delete the selected cookies immediately.
If you want Safari to delete all cookies automatically when you close the browser, stay in the Privacy tab and look for the Cookies and Website Data section. Select "Always block" from the dropdown menu. This prevents websites from storing cookies in the first place.
Deleting cookies in Chrome
Click the Chrome menu (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner, then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and Security, then Clear Browsing Data. A window will pop up showing what data Chrome can delete.
Make sure the Cookies and Other Site Data checkbox is checked. At the top of the window, select the time range — you can choose the last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks, or all time. Then click Clear Data. Chrome will delete the cookies from that time period.
To delete cookies automatically, go back to Privacy and Security in Settings and look for Clear Browsing Data. Toggle on "Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome." From then on, Chrome will clear all cookies every time you close the browser completely.
Deleting cookies in Firefox
Click the Firefox menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner, then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
Click Clear Data. A window will appear asking what you want to delete. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked, then click Clear. Firefox will delete all cookies stored on your Mac.
To have Firefox delete cookies automatically, stay in the Privacy & Security settings and look for the Cookies and Site Data section. Check the box next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed." Firefox will then clear cookies every time you shut down the browser.
The difference between clearing all cookies and blocking them
Deleting cookies removes the ones already stored on your Mac. Blocking cookies prevents websites from storing new ones. These are two separate actions, and which one you choose depends on what you want to accomplish.
If you delete cookies but do not block them, websites will start storing new cookies the moment you visit them again. If you block cookies but do not delete the old ones, the old cookies stay on your Mac until you remove them manually. Most people who care about cookies do both — delete what is already there and block new ones from being stored.
What happens after you delete cookies
Websites may ask you to log in again, because cookies often store login information. You may also see more ads, because advertisers use cookies to track which sites you visit and show you targeted ads. Some websites may load more slowly the first time you visit after deleting cookies, because the site has to rebuild information it previously stored locally.
None of these effects are permanent. Once you log back in or visit a site again, it will start storing new cookies (unless you have blocked them). Your browsing experience will return to normal within a few visits.
When to delete cookies and when to keep them
Delete cookies if you share your Mac with other people and do not want them to see your login information or browsing history. Delete them if you are concerned about websites tracking your activity across the internet. Delete them if a website is not working properly — old cookies sometimes cause login or loading problems, and clearing them often fixes the issue.
Keep cookies if you want to stay logged into your email, banking, or shopping accounts without entering your password every time. Keep them if you want websites to remember your preferences, like your language or font size. Keep them if you want to see ads related to things you actually care about instead of random products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my Mac?
No. Deleting cookies frees up a tiny amount of storage space, but the effect is so small you will not notice any difference in speed. Cookies are measured in kilobytes, not gigabytes. Clearing them will not make your Mac run faster or slower.
Do I need to delete cookies from all three browsers?
Only if you use all three browsers. Each browser stores its own cookies separately. Deleting cookies from Safari does not affect Chrome or Firefox. If you only use one browser, you only need to clear cookies from that one.
Can I delete cookies from just one website?
Yes. In Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data, find the website in the list, select it, and click Remove. In Chrome and Firefox, you can also remove individual sites from their cookie management screens. You do not have to delete all cookies if you only want to remove one.
What is the difference between cookies and cache?
Cookies store login information and website preferences. Cache stores images, videos, and other files so websites load faster the next time you visit. They are separate things. Deleting cookies does not delete cache, and deleting cache does not delete cookies. Most browsers let you delete both at the same time if you want to.
If I block all cookies, will websites still work?
Most websites will work, but some may have problems. A few sites require cookies to function properly. If you block all cookies and a website stops working, you can add that specific site to an exception list so it can store cookies while everything else is blocked.