Delete cookies in Firefox right now with these steps
Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you — your login details, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences. Deleting them clears that stored data and can speed up your browser, free up disk space, or remove tracking information you don't want kept.
In Mozilla Firefox, you can delete all cookies at once or remove them from specific websites. The fastest way is to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete (on Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (on Mac), which opens the Clear Recent History window in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open Firefox's clearing tool in one step.
- Select "Cookies and Site Data" from the dropdown menu, choose your time range, and click Clear Now to remove them.
- You can delete cookies from a single website by going to Settings, Privacy & Security, and finding that site in your Cookies list.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so you will need to sign back in the next time you visit.
- Firefox can be set to delete cookies automatically when you close the browser if you want this to happen without manual steps each time.
Delete all cookies using the keyboard shortcut
The quickest method is the keyboard shortcut. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. Firefox opens the Clear Recent History window immediately.
At the top, you will see a dropdown menu that says "Time range to clear". Click it and choose how far back you want to go. Select "Everything" to delete all cookies, or pick a specific range like "Last Hour" or "Last 24 Hours" if you only want to remove recent ones.
Below that, make sure the checkbox next to "Cookies and Site Data" is checked. You can leave other options unchecked unless you also want to delete browsing history, cached images, or other data. Then click the blue "Clear Now" button. Firefox removes the cookies immediately, and the window closes.
Delete all cookies through the Settings menu
If the keyboard shortcut does not work or you prefer using menus, you can reach the same tool through Firefox settings. Click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner of Firefox, then select "Settings".
On the left side, click "Privacy & Security". Scroll down until you see a section called "Cookies and Site Data". Under it, click the button that says "Clear Data". A small window pops up with checkboxes for different types of data.
Make sure "Cookies and Site Data" is checked, then click "Clear". Firefox removes all cookies stored on your computer. You can also choose to clear only cached web content or other data types by checking or unchecking the boxes before you click.
Delete cookies from a single website
If you want to keep most cookies but remove them from just one website, Firefox lets you do that. Go to Settings, then click "Privacy & Security" on the left.
Under "Cookies and Site Data", click the button labeled "Manage Data". A window opens showing every website that has stored cookies on your computer. Type the website name in the search box at the top — for example, type "amazon" to find Amazon's cookies.
Click the website name to select it, then click the "Remove Selected" button. Firefox deletes only that site's cookies. You can remove multiple sites by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and clicking each one before you click Remove Selected.
Set Firefox to delete cookies automatically when you close it
You can tell Firefox to delete all cookies every time you close the browser, so you never have to do it manually. Go to Settings and click "Privacy & Security" on the left side.
Look for the section called "Cookies and Site Data". Check the box next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed". From now on, Firefox will clear all cookies the moment you close the last window or tab.
Keep in mind that this means you will be logged out of websites the next time you open Firefox. You will need to sign back in. If you have websites you want to stay logged into, you can add them to an exception list by clicking "Manage Exceptions" in the same section and typing the website address.
What happens after you delete cookies
When you delete cookies, you are logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you will see the sign-in page again. This is normal and expected.
Websites may also forget your preferences — things like your language choice, dark mode settings, or items in your shopping cart. Some sites will ask you to accept cookies again when you visit next, which is also normal.
Your browsing speed may improve slightly after clearing cookies, especially if you have been using Firefox for a long time and have accumulated thousands of them. Deleting cookies does not delete your browsing history or passwords stored in Firefox — those are separate.
Troubleshooting: cookies keep coming back
If you delete cookies but they reappear the next time you visit a website, that site is storing new cookies again. This is normal — websites create fresh cookies every time you visit. You are not doing anything wrong.
If you want to prevent a specific website from storing cookies at all, go to Settings, click "Privacy & Security", find "Cookies and Site Data", and click "Manage Exceptions". Type the website address and click "Block". Firefox will refuse to store that site's cookies from that point forward.
Be aware that blocking cookies from a website may break some features — you might not be able to stay logged in, or certain buttons or forms might not work. If that happens, remove the site from your blocked list by selecting it and clicking "Remove Website".
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. Deleting cookies does not affect your saved passwords in Firefox. If you want to delete passwords, you have to do that in a different section of Settings under "Privacy & Security" called "Logins and Passwords".
Can I delete cookies from just one tab without closing Firefox?
No, Firefox does not have a way to delete cookies from a single tab. You can only delete all cookies, cookies from a specific website, or cookies within a time range. If you need to clear data from one site, use the "Manage Data" option and search for that website's name.
What is the difference between clearing cookies and clearing browsing history?
Cookies are small files websites store to remember you. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited. Clearing cookies logs you out of sites and removes stored preferences. Clearing history removes the list of sites you visited, but cookies may remain unless you delete them separately.
Why do some websites ask me to accept cookies after I delete them?
Websites create new cookies every time you visit. When you delete old cookies and return to a site, it treats you as a new visitor and asks permission to store cookies again. This is normal behavior and happens to everyone.
If I block cookies from a website, will I still be able to use it?
You may be able to use basic features, but many websites require cookies to function properly. Blocking cookies can prevent you from logging in, keeping items in a shopping cart, or using interactive features. If a site stops working, remove it from your blocked list and allow cookies again.