How to Clear Your Browser's Cookies

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: September 27, 2024 Fact Checked

This wikiHow teaches you how to delete all saved cookies from your web browser in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Cookies are pieces of saved data in your browser that help inform the content you see. Deleting your cookies may clear up some performance, loading, and formatting issues you experience while browsing the web. When you delete your cookies, you'll also be signed out of any websites to which you were previously signed in.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Chrome on a Computer

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1
Open
Google Chrome. You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or your Mac's Launchpad.
- If you're signed in to Chrome on any other device, cookies will be deleted from there as well.
It's the three vertical dots at the top-right corner of Chrome.

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It's near the middle of the menu.
This is at the middle of the menu. Now you'll see your browsing data preferences in a new tab.
If you only want to clear cookies and not clear your browsing history or cache, uncheck all other boxes (if any are checked).
This is at the top of the window. As long as you choose this option, all cookies will be deleted instead of just cookies saved during a specific time period.
It's in the lower-right area of the window. This deletes all cookies from Google Chrome.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Chrome on a Phone or Tablet

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1
Open Chrome on your Android, iPhone, or iPad
. It's the red, yellow, green, and blue sphere icon on your home screen or in your app list.
- If you're signed in to Chrome on any other device, cookies will be deleted from there as well.
If you're using an Android, tap the three vertical dots at the top-right corner. On an iPhone or iPad, tap the three horizontal dots at the bottom-right.
It's near the middle of the menu.^{[1]
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This option has a blue-and-white shield icon, and you'll see it toward the center of the menu.
You'll see this right at the top of the menu.
It's at the top of the screen. Choosing this option ensures that you're clearing all cookies, not just recent ones.
Any of the options with a checkmark beside it will be deleted when you proceed. Since you just want to clear your cookies, tap any other checkmarks to remove them. The only checked option should be "Cookies, Site Data."
8
Tap Clear Browsing Data. This is at the bottom of the screen. A confirmation message will appear.
- On Android, you'll tap CLEAR DATA in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
when prompted. This deletes all cookies from Chrome.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Microsoft Edge on a Computer

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Open Microsoft Edge. It's the blue and green wave icon in your Windows Start menu or Mac Launchpad.
It's the icon with three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner of Edge.
It's at the bottom of the menu.
This is in the left panel of the Settings screen, toward the center.
You'll see this at the top of the right panel.
It's in the first tile on the right panel. This loads all of your saved cookies.
It's in the upper-right area of the page above the list of cookies. A confirmation message will appear.
This removes all saved cookies from Edge.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Safari on a Computer

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You'll find its compass icon on the Dock, which is usually at the bottom of the screen.
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
This opens your Safari Preferences panel.^{[2]
X
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It's at the top of the window.
You'll see this under "Cookies and website data."
It's in the bottom-left area of the window. This deletes all cookies from Safari.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Safari on a Phone or Tablet

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1
Open your iPhone's Settings
. The Settings app is the gray gear icon on your home screen. If you don't see it there, you'll find it in your App Library.
- Clearing your cookies on your iPhone or iPad will also clear other saved website data, including your browsing history. This change will also affect all other devices on which you're signed in with the same Apple ID.
It's roughly a third of the way down the Settings page.
This option is toward the end of your settings. A confirmation message will appear.
It's at the bottom of the screen. This removes your web history, cookies, and other saved site data.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Firefox on a Computer

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Open Firefox on your PC or Mac. You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or your Mac's Applications folder.
2
Open your Firefox Settings. The steps are different depending on your operating system:
- Mac: Click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Preferences.
- Windows: Click the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner of Firefox and select Settings.
It's in the left panel.
This option is in the "Cookies and Site Data" section about halfway down the page. This displays all saved cookies.
You'll see one of these two options below the list of cookies. This deletes all cookies in the window, although the changes are not yet permanent.^{[3]
X
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It's at the bottom of the window. Now your cookies are permanently removed from Firefox.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Firefox on a Phone or Tablet

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It's the orange fox wrapped around a purple globe on your home screen. If you don't see it, it'll be in your app list.
If you're using an Android, you'll tap the three vertical dots at the top-right corner of Firefox. If you have an iPhone or iPad, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom-right corner of the screen.^{[4]
X
Research source}
It's near the bottom of the menu.
You'll see one of these options on the menu, depending on your operating system.
If you only want to delete cookies, make sure Cookies is the only item selected in the list.
This deletes all cookies from Firefox.

Community Q&A

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Question

Why is clearing cookies and browser history beneficial?

Community Answer

If you use someone else's computer and your log in name is saved on their system, then it clears this away. It can also remove bugs that might be occurring in your browser, for such things as games.

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How do I refresh in Microsoft Edge?

Community Answer

Hit the refresh button - the circle with an arrow on it.

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Question

How do I clear a single cookie from my browser?

Community Answer

On your Android phone or tablet (or computer/laptop), open the Chrome app/Google Chrome. To the right of the address bar, tap More Settings.Tap Privacy Clear browsing data. Choose a time range, like Last Hour or All Time. Check "Cookies, media licenses and site data". Uncheck all the other items. Tap Clear Data Clear.

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Tips

You should clear your cookies once every couple of weeks for optimal browser performance.

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Some cookies, such as a few of the ones stored on your computer by Google Chrome, will not be deleted when you clear cookies from within Settings. These cookies are harmless and will not detract from your browsing.

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Consider clearing your cookies after each use of a public or shared computer.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

I usually clear my cookies every week or so, with the exception of log-in info on certain websites. It just helps me feel more secure, but without the nuisance of having to re-add all my passwords.
If you know you don't want your browser history tracked and don't want to have to deal with deleting cookies, use the internet in incognito mode to keep everything you do private.

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