What cookies are and why you might want to delete them
A cookie is a small file that a website stores on your computer. When you visit a site, it can write a cookie to your browser that remembers things about you — your login information, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or your browsing history on that site. The next time you visit, the site reads that cookie and uses the information in it.
Most cookies are harmless and make websites work better. But some cookies track you across multiple sites to build a profile of your interests, which advertisers then buy. Other cookies can stick around longer than you want them to. Deleting cookies removes this stored data from your computer and stops those sites from reading it on your next visit. You'll need to log back into sites, and some personalized settings will reset, but your browsing becomes less tracked.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are small files websites store on your computer to remember information about you, and deleting them stops sites from reading that data on your next visit.
- The steps to delete cookies differ by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu path and options.
- You can delete all cookies at once or target specific sites, and you can set your browser to delete cookies automatically when you close it.
- Deleting cookies will log you out of most websites and reset personalized settings like language or theme preferences.
How to delete cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, make sure the time range is set to what you want — All time will delete everything, while Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days let you delete only recent cookies. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. You can leave the other boxes unchecked if you only want to remove cookies. Click Clear data.
If you want Chrome to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser, go back to Settings > Privacy and security and scroll down to Clear browsing data. Toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to delete cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
A window appears. Make sure Cookies and Site Data is checked. You can also check Cached Web Content if you want to free up storage space. Click Clear. Firefox will delete all cookies immediately.
To delete cookies automatically when you close Firefox, stay in Privacy & Security and look for the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. Firefox will then clear all cookies each time you shut down the browser.
How to delete cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites and their stored data appears. You can click on individual sites and click Remove to delete cookies from just that site, or click Remove All to delete all cookies at once. Click Done when finished.
To delete cookies automatically, go back to the Privacy tab and look for the option Cookies and website data. Select Never if you want Safari to refuse all cookies, or select From visited to allow cookies only from sites you actively visit. There is no automatic-deletion-on-close option in Safari like other browsers offer.
How to delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens. Select your time range at the top — All time, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, or Last 4 weeks. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Click Clear now.
To set Edge to delete cookies when you close the browser, go back to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down and toggle on Clear browsing data under the section Clear browsing data. Then toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Edge will then ask you each time you close it which data to delete.
Deleting cookies from specific websites
If you want to keep most cookies but remove them from just one or two sites, all browsers let you target specific sites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > Manage all cookies and site data. Type the website name in the search box and click the trash icon next to it. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data, search for the site, and click Remove Selected. In Safari, use Manage Website Data as described above and click Remove next to the specific site. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and other site data > Manage cookies and site data, search for the site, and click the trash icon.
This approach is useful if a website is misbehaving or if you want to force yourself to log back in to a particular service without wiping out all your other cookies.
What happens after you delete cookies
After you delete cookies, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you'll need to enter your username and password again. Websites that remember your preferences — like your language, theme color, or font size — will reset to their defaults. Shopping carts will empty. Personalized recommendations may disappear until the site rebuilds its profile of you.
Sites will start writing new cookies the moment you visit them again, so deleting cookies is not a permanent solution. If you want ongoing privacy from tracking cookies, consider using your browser's private or incognito mode for sensitive browsing, or look into browser extensions that block third-party cookies. Most modern browsers also have built-in options to block third-party cookies by default, which you can enable in your privacy settings without deleting all cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?
No. Cookies are tiny files — usually just a few kilobytes each — so they take up almost no storage space. Deleting them will not noticeably speed up your computer. If you want to free up storage, clearing your browser cache (which stores images and other page elements) has more impact than deleting cookies.
Can I delete cookies without deleting my browsing history?
Yes. When you open the clear browsing data window in any browser, you'll see checkboxes for different types of data. Uncheck Browsing history and check only Cookies and site data. This removes cookies while keeping your history intact.
If I delete cookies, will websites know I deleted them?
No. Websites cannot detect whether you deleted your cookies. They can only read the cookies that currently exist on your computer. Once deleted, they have no way to know they were ever there.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. If you are comfortable with websites remembering your preferences and do not mind tracking cookies, you can leave them alone. If privacy concerns you, deleting cookies monthly or setting your browser to delete them automatically when you close it strikes a balance between privacy and convenience.