What clearing cookies does and why you might want to
Cookies are small files that websites store on your device to remember information about you — your login details, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences. Clearing them removes all that stored data from your browser. After you clear cookies, websites won't remember you the next time you visit, and you'll have to log back in to accounts.
Most people clear cookies when they want to free up space, remove tracking data, or troubleshoot a website that isn't working right. If you're on a shared device, clearing cookies also removes login information so the next person can't access your accounts. The process takes less than a minute and is completely safe — it won't break anything on your computer.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cookies removes stored login information and website preferences, so you'll need to log back into accounts afterward.
- The steps differ depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge each have their own menu location.
- You can clear all cookies at once or choose a specific date range, like just the past hour or past week.
- Clearing cookies is safe and won't damage your device or delete files outside your browser.
Clear cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button), then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says All time — you can leave it there to clear everything, or click it to choose a smaller range like Past hour or Past week. Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right.
Clear cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then on the left side click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the section called Cookies and Site Data.
Click the button that says Clear Data. A small window appears. Make sure the box next to Cookies and Site Data is checked, then click Clear. Firefox will clear your cookies immediately.
Clear cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the very top of your screen (not inside the browser window). Click Settings, then click the Privacy tab. Click the button that says Manage Website Data.
You'll see a list of websites that have stored cookies. If you want to remove all of them, click Remove All at the bottom right. If you want to remove only specific websites, click on each one and then click Remove. Click Done when you're finished.
Clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then on the left side click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section called Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. At the top, you can choose the time range using the dropdown — All time clears everything. Click the blue Clear now button.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once cookies are cleared, websites won't remember you. The next time you visit a site where you have an account, you'll see the login page instead of being logged in automatically. You may also notice that websites don't remember your preferences — for example, a news site might reset to its default layout instead of showing the layout you customized.
Some websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit after clearing cookies, because they have to download information they previously stored locally. This is temporary and normal. Your passwords themselves are not stored in cookies, so clearing cookies won't delete your saved passwords — those are stored separately in your browser's password manager.
Clearing cookies on a shared device
If you share a device with other people, clearing cookies is a good security step. It removes any login information that might let someone else access your email, banking, or social media accounts. Before you hand the device to someone else, clear the cookies from your browser session.
Keep in mind that clearing cookies only removes data from the browser you're using. If someone else uses a different browser on the same device, their cookies stay separate. Also, clearing cookies won't remove files or programs from your computer — it only affects data stored inside your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies in your browser's password manager. Clearing cookies won't affect them. You'll still be able to log in using saved passwords, though you may need to enter your username first.
What's the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?
Cookies are small data files websites store about you. Browsing history is the list of websites you've visited. Clearing one doesn't clear the other — you can clear cookies without removing your history, or clear history without removing cookies. Most browsers let you choose which one to clear.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Cookies don't slow down your device or take up much space. Clear them when you want to log out of accounts on a shared device, when a website isn't working right, or when you want to remove tracking data. There's no harm in clearing them regularly if you prefer.
Can I clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can click on a website in your browsing data settings and remove only that site's cookies. In Safari, the "Manage Website Data" window shows each site separately, so you can select individual ones to remove.
What if I clear cookies by accident?
You can't undo clearing cookies. However, you can log back into your accounts using your passwords, and websites will start storing new cookies once you do. If you were in the middle of something important, you may need to start over, but nothing is permanently lost.