What cookies are and why you might want to clear them
Cookies are small files that websites store on your phone to remember information about you — your login details, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences for dark mode or language. They make browsing faster and more convenient because sites don't have to ask you the same questions every time you visit.
You might want to clear them for a few reasons. If you share your phone with someone else, clearing cookies removes the record that you visited certain sites or logged into accounts. If a website is acting strangely — not loading properly, showing you old information, or refusing to let you log in — clearing cookies often fixes it. Some people also clear them periodically because they contain a record of browsing history that can be used to build a profile of your interests.
Clearing cookies does not delete your browsing history itself, though the two are often confused. History is a list of URLs you visited; cookies are files websites left behind. You can clear one without clearing the other, depending on which browser you use and what options you choose.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome, Firefox, Samsung Internet, and Edge all have a "Clear browsing data" or "Clear cache" option in their settings, and the steps are slightly different for each one.
- You can choose to clear only cookies, or cookies plus cache and history together, depending on what you want to remove.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so you will need to log back in afterward.
- If you want cookies cleared automatically every time you close your browser, most Android browsers have a setting for that in their privacy options.
How to clear cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. Tap Privacy and security, then tap Clear browsing data.
A window will appear with checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure Cookies and site data is checked. You can also check Cached images and files if you want to free up storage space. At the top of the window, use the dropdown menu to choose the time range — All time will clear everything, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days will clear only recent cookies. Tap Clear data when you are ready.
How to clear cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right. Tap Settings. Scroll down to Privacy and tap Delete browsing data.
Check the box next to Cookies. You can also check Cache if you want to clear temporary files. Choose your time range from the dropdown at the top — Everything clears all cookies, while other options let you clear only recent ones. Tap Delete browsing data to finish.
How to clear cookies in Samsung Internet
Open Samsung Internet and tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right. Tap Settings. Tap Privacy, then tap Delete browsing data.
Check Cookies and site data. You can also check Cached images and files to clear temporary storage. At the top, choose your time range — All clears everything, or you can select a specific period. Tap Delete to confirm.
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and tap the three dots at the bottom right. Tap Settings. Tap Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, tap Choose what to clear.
Check Cookies and other site data. You can also check Cached images and files. Use the time range dropdown to choose All time or a specific period. Tap Clear now.
Set your browser to clear cookies automatically
If you want cookies cleared every time you close your browser without having to do it manually, most Android browsers offer this option. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security, then turn on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy, scroll to Delete browsing data, and turn on Delete browsing data on quit. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy and turn on Delete cookies and site data when closing the app.
Keep in mind that if you turn on automatic clearing, you will be logged out of websites every time you close the browser. This is more secure if you share your phone, but less convenient if you are the only user and want to stay logged in to your email or social media accounts.
What happens after you clear cookies
Once you clear cookies, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site where you had an account, you will need to enter your username and password again. Websites may also forget your preferences — if you had set a site to dark mode or a specific language, it may revert to the default.
Clearing cookies does not delete your passwords. Those are stored separately in your browser's password manager (or in your Google Account if you use Chrome's sync feature). You will still be able to log back in, especially if your browser offers to fill in your saved password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies in your browser's password manager. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites, but your saved passwords remain intact, and your browser can usually fill them in automatically when you log back in.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing cache?
Cookies are small files websites use to remember information about you. Cache is temporary storage of images, videos, and other files to make websites load faster. Clearing cache frees up storage space; clearing cookies removes the record of your activity on websites. You can clear one without the other.
If I clear cookies, will websites still work?
Yes. Websites will work fine without cookies, though they may load slightly slower the first time you visit because they cannot use cached files. You will simply need to log in again and reset any preferences you had saved.
Do I need to clear cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Cookies take up very little storage space. You might clear them if you share your phone with others, if a website is malfunctioning, or if you want to reduce the data websites have about your browsing habits. Otherwise, there is no technical reason to clear them regularly.
Can I clear cookies from just one website instead of all of them?
In Chrome and Edge, you can tap the lock icon next to the website address in the address bar, then tap Cookies and site permissions to see and delete cookies for that specific site. In Firefox and Samsung Internet, you generally need to clear all cookies at once, though you can choose a time range to limit what gets deleted.