How to clear cookies on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and other browsers

So what exactly are cookies?

Cookies — also known as internet cookies, web cookies, or HTTP cookies — are small text files containing data about your interaction with a website. When you visit a website, it gives you a cookie that recognizes you as a user.

But don’t get terrified just yet – cookies contain very little data, and can’t identify you personally on their own. They typically include:

• The name of the website domain that sent the cookie;
• The cookie’s expiration date;
• A randomly generated unique number that helps identify you as a returning user.

Different flavors, or rather, types of cookies

Web cookies vary in terms of their purpose and working mechanisms. The most common cookies are session cookies, permanent cookies, and third-party cookies.

Session cookies

Session cookies, also known as temporary cookies, are stored in temporary memory and don’t have an expiration date. This type of cookie is created when a user enters a website and they only serve for as long as you browse on that page. The cookie is permanently deleted when you close the web browser. Session cookies don’t collect any information from your device, so they don’t really cause any harm to your privacy.

Permanent cookies

Permanent cookies help a website remember and identify you on subsequent visits. Hitting “Keep me logged in” on a website is possible thanks to persistent cookies. They handle user authentication so you don’t have to re-enter your login credentials if you repeatedly visit a specific site. Persistent cookies also help websites remember various settings like your preferred language, theme, or what you left in your shopping basket.

Permanent cookies are convenient. However, for privacy and security reasons, it’s better to disable them. If hackers breach the website or your device, permanent cookies could reveal your personal data.

If you want to know how to delete persistent cookies, check if your browser has an option to delete cookies after each session. As you’ll see below, this feature is available on most modern browsers.

Third-party cookies

These cookies are mostly used for cross-site user tracking. The data they gather is then used by advertisers to serve you targeted ads. They usually appear on websites that have external content or sources, like ads and banners leading to other websites. The domain attribute in a native website cookie is the same as the website’s domain you see in the browser’s address bar, while third-party cookies have a different domain.

Supercookies

Supercookies are super for a reason: they can be embedded on your device without your knowledge, and it’s nearly impossible to delete them. Further, they can contain information including browsing history, authentication details, and ad targeting data. They are the most malicious of them all.

Do cookies cause any harm?

Not to be confused with viruses, cookies are rather innocent – but only until they compromise your privacy. With marketing techniques getting more and more sophisticated, cookies can also become aggressive and collect information about your internet browsing habits. In rare cases, they can also be hijacked by hackers. If you don’t like the idea of being tracked and traced, you should delete your cookies and block any future ones.

How to delete cookies

Follow the simple steps below to quickly delete cookies.

On computer

To delete cookies on a computer, follow the guide below.

How to clear cookies in Chrome

1. Go to Chrome settings by clicking on the three-vertical-dots icon in the upper right-hand corner and select "Settings" from the menu.

2. Scroll to "Privacy and security."

3. The "Privacy and security" panel will pop up. Click on "Clear browsing data."

4. Select the "Time range" and select "Cookies and other site data." Then click "Clear data."

How to manage cookies in Chrome browser

To manage your cookie preferences, go to Settings again, but this time:

1. Click on "Site settings" and "Cookies and other site data."

2. Here you can choose to stop websites from collecting cookies, clear all cookies when you close the browser, and block third-party cookies.

How to clear cookies in Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Settings by clicking on the three-lined icon at the upper right corner and select "Options."

2. Click on the "Privacy & Security" tab and scroll down to "Cookies and Site Data." Click on "Clear data."

3. Select "Cookies and Site data" and hit "Clear." This will delete all cookies from all websites stored on your device.

4. If you only want to delete specific cookies, go back and click on "Manage Data." Then select the website of which cookies you want to delete and hit "Remove Selected."

How to manage cookies in Firefox

To change your cookie collection preferences, repeat the first 2 steps and then:

1. At the top of "Privacy & Security" tab, you’ll find content blocking. Here you can choose one of the 3 types of content blocking - "Standard, Strict or Custom." Most of them will block known trackers and third-party cookies. While content blocking will provide you with improved privacy, you may want to double check your settings as blocking some content might break certain websites.

2. If you want cookies to be deleted the moment you shut the browser, scroll down to "Cookies and Site Data" and tick the "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed" box.

How to clear cookies in Opera

1. Head to Opera’s settings by clicking on the Opera logo at the top left-hand corner and select "Settings" (or Preferences on MacOS) in the dropdown menu.

2. Click on "Advanced" and select the "Privacy & security" tab from the menu bar on the left.

3. Click on "Clear browsing data."

4. Then select the Time range and tick "Cookies and other site data" box. Hit "Clear data."

How to manage cookies in Opera

Repeat the first 2 steps and:

1. Click on "Site Settings." Then under "Additional permissions" select "Cookies and site data."

2. Now you can tweak your settings. You can stop websites from saving and reading cookies, block third-party cookies, and delete cookies when you shut the browser.

How to clear cookies in Safari (MacOS only)

1. Click "Safari" from the menu bar and select "Preferences."

2. Click on the "Privacy" tab. Then, under "Cookies and website data" click "Manage Website Data."

3. A new window will pop up. Choose the websites whose cookies you would like to delete. Click "Remove" and "Done."

How to manage cookies on Safari

1. Repeat the first 2 steps and then choose to "Block all cookies." Under "Website tracking," you can also tick the box to "Prevent cross-site tracking."

How to clear cookies on Windows 10 and 11: Edge

1. You can find the Edge browser settings by clicking the three-horizontal-dots icon on the upper-right corner. Go down the list of options and click on "Settings."

2. Click on "Privacy, search, and services."

3. Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and select "Choose what to clear."

4. Choose the "Time range" and tick the box next to "Cookies and other site data." Then, hit "Clear now."

How to manage cookies in Windows 10 and 11: Edge

1. To change your cookie preferences, go to "Settings" again. This time, click on "Cookies and site permissions."

2. A new window will open allowing you to block third-party cookies, or even delete cookies based on an individual site.

How to clear cookies in Windows 10 and 11: Internet Explorer

1. To delete cookies on the Internet Explorer, click on the "Tools" icon on the top right corner.

2. Select "Internet options."

3. In the "General" tab, go to "Browsing history" and select "Delete."

4. Make sure the "Cookies and website data" box is ticked and click "Delete."

On mobile

To remove cookies on a mobile device, use the steps outlined here.

How to clear cookies in Google Chrome on iOS/Android

1. To delete cookies and other cached data, such as images and files, and make your browser forget its saved passwords, open the Chrome app and click on the three-dot icon. Then select "Settings."

2. Scroll down and click on "Privacy and security."

3. Click on "Clear Browsing Data."

4. Select the type of data you want to delete and hit "Clear Browsing Data."

How to clear cookies on iPhone for Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the app and click on the three-line icon.

2. A new tab will open. Select "Settings."

3. Scroll down and select "Data Management."

4. Choose the type of data you would like to delete and hit "Clear Private Data."

5. To adjust your tracking settings, repeat the first 2 steps and then click "Tracking Protection."

6. You can choose "Standard" or "Strict" tracking protection. Double check what elements it’s going to block as it may break certain pages.

How to clear cookies on Android for Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the app and click on the three-dot icon.

2. A new tab will open. Select "Settings."

3. Scroll down to "Privacy and security" and click on "Delete browsing data."

4. A new window will pop up. Select "Cookies & active logins" (and any other data you’d like to delete) and click "Clear Data."

How to clear cookies in Safari on iOS

1. Go to "Settings" and scroll down to "Safari."

2. Scroll down and select "Clear History and Website Data."

3. To confirm, click on "Clear History and Data" again. This will delete all cookies and cached data.

4. To block cookies, go back and move the bars next to "Block All Cookies" and "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking."

Deleting cookies is a simple process and one that can boost your privacy and security. Adjusting your cookie settings is also a useful step to limit tracking and other invasive practices. If you have followed the guides in this article, you will now be able to manage cookies and take greater control of your digital footprint.