What cookies are and why you might want to delete them

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. They make websites faster and more convenient. But they also let websites and advertisers track where you go online, which is why many people delete them regularly for privacy.

Deleting cookies won't break your computer or your browser. The next time you visit a website, it will simply ask you to log in again or will start fresh with your preferences. Some people delete cookies once a month; others do it every few days. The choice is yours.

The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Pick your browser below and follow the exact steps for that one.

Key Takeaways

  • Cookies are files websites store on your computer to remember you; deleting them won't harm anything, but you may need to log in to websites again.
  • The steps to delete cookies are different in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, so find your browser and follow those exact steps.
  • You can delete all cookies at once, or set your browser to delete them automatically every time you close it.
  • If you want to stay logged into certain websites, you can protect their cookies before you delete the rest.

Delete cookies in Google Chrome

Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button). A dropdown list will appear.

Click Settings from that list. On the left side of the screen, click Privacy and security. Then click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up.

At the top of that window, make sure the time range is set to All time (this deletes all your cookies, not just recent ones). Below that, check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck everything else unless you want to delete those things too. Then click the blue Clear data button. Your cookies are now gone.

Delete cookies in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and look at the top right corner. Click the three horizontal lines (the menu button). A dropdown list will appear.

Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down until you see the section called Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data. A window will pop up.

Make sure the box next to Cookies and Site Data is checked. Leave Cached Web Content unchecked unless you want to delete that too. Then click the red Clear button. Your cookies are now deleted.

Delete cookies in Apple Safari

Open Safari. At the top of your screen, click Safari in the menu bar (the word "Safari" itself, not a button). A dropdown list will appear.

Click Settings or Preferences (depending on your macOS version). Click the Privacy tab. On the right side, click Manage Website Data. A list of websites will appear.

Click Remove All at the bottom right. A confirmation message will ask if you're sure. Click Remove Now. Your cookies are now deleted. Close the settings window.

Delete cookies in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and look at the top right corner. Click the three horizontal dots (the menu button). A dropdown list will appear.

Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section called Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear. A window will pop up.

At the top, make sure the time range is set to All time. Check the box next to Cookies and other site data. Uncheck everything else unless you want to delete those things too. Then click the blue Clear now button. Your cookies are now gone.

Set your browser to delete cookies automatically

If you want your browser to delete cookies every time you close it, you can turn on that setting instead of doing it manually each time. This is the most common way people handle cookies — they set it once and forget about it.

In Chrome: Go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then click Cookies and other site data. Turn on the toggle next to "Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome."

In Firefox: Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click the dropdown next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed."

In Safari: Go to Settings, click Privacy, and check the box next to "Remove all website data when quitting Safari."

In Edge: Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, scroll to Clear browsing data, and turn on the toggle next to "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser." Then click "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser" and check Cookies and other site data.

Protect cookies from websites you use regularly

If you delete all your cookies, you'll have to log back into every website you use — email, banking, social media, shopping sites. If that's annoying, you can tell your browser to keep cookies from specific websites while deleting the rest.

In most browsers, before you click the final delete button, look for a section called Exceptions or Don't clear. Type in the website address (like gmail.com or your bank's website) and click Add. Those cookies will be protected when you delete.

This is a middle ground: you get privacy from most websites and advertisers, but you stay logged into the sites you visit every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting cookies slow down my computer?

No. Deleting cookies might actually make your browser run slightly faster because there's less data for it to store. Your computer will not be harmed in any way.

If I delete cookies, will websites know I deleted them?

No. Websites cannot tell whether you deleted your cookies. The next time you visit, they simply won't recognize you because the cookie file is gone, and they'll treat you like a new visitor.

What's the difference between deleting cookies and clearing browsing history?

Cookies are files websites store on your computer. Browsing history is the list of websites you visited. Deleting one doesn't delete the other — you have to do both separately if you want both gone.

Do I need to restart my browser after deleting cookies?

No. The deletion takes effect immediately. You can keep using your browser right away, though you may need to log back into websites you visit next.

Can I delete cookies from just one website instead of all of them?

Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can go to Settings, find the section for cookies or site data, search for the specific website, and delete only that one. In Safari, use Manage Website Data and click the website name, then click Remove.