In this article, we’ll show you how to clear cookies from your computer using the Chrome or Safari browser. These are generally the most popular browsers, with Google Chrome generally being used on Windows and Safari typically being used on Apple computers.

These guidelines can also be used for clearing cookies on your mobile, tablet or iPad. It’s also a good rule of thumb to clear cookies from computers on a regular basis, to ensure that you can browse the internet safely, privately and securely. 

What Are Cookies For? 

Cookies are like small text files that are stored on your computer, and collected by the websites you visit. Websites create them to store data and information about your browsing activities, e.g.) the types of things that you look at, for how long, etc. 

They serve several purposes, including: 

Session management

Cookies can help websites remember your preferences and settings, such as login information or items in a shopping cart, during a single browsing session.

Personalisation

Cookies also allow websites to tailor their content and services based on your previous interactions and preferences. They can remember your language preference, display customized advertisements, or provide personalised recommendations.

Tracking and analytics

Cookies enable website owners and third-party services to gather information about your browsing behaviour. This data is used for analytics, statistics, tracking and marketing purposes to understand user patterns, improve website performance, and deliver targeted advertising.

Authentication

Cookies can be used for authentication purposes, allowing you to stay logged in to a website across multiple visits without needing to re-enter your credentials each time.

Whilst most cookies are collected for legitimate purposes, there is also the concern of third-party tracking, which raises privacy concerns. Knowing how to clear these cookies means that you can navigate the internet safely and keep your browsing activities private. 

How to clear cookies from a computer with Chrome

Clearing cookies isn’t as simple as just closing the tab or deleting your account with a particular website, they are in fact stored on the browser your computer is using and they require you to clear them manually. 

Web browsers provide options to manage and control cookies, including the ability to delete them, block specific types of cookies, or adjust privacy settings related to cookies. 

To clear cookies from your computer on Chrome, you can follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser

Launch the web browser on your computer, by selecting the Google Chrome tab.

2. Access the browser settings

Look for the settings menu, which is represented by three vertical dots or lines in the upper-right corner of the browser window. Click on it to open the menu.

3. Navigate to the privacy or browsing settings

In the settings menu, search for an option related to privacy, security, or browsing. The exact name may vary depending on the browser you’re using, for Google Chrome browser, it is called ‘privacy and security’. 

4. Clear browsing data

Once you have selected this option, you should find an option to clear your browsing data. Click on it.

5. Choose what to delete 

A new window or tab will open, presenting you with various options to clear. Make sure to select the option to clear cookies or browsing history. You can usually customize the time range for which you want to delete the data, such as the past hour, day, week, or everything.

6. Clear cookies

Check the box or toggle next to cookies or similar wording to indicate that you want to delete cookies specifically. You can also choose to delete other browsing data like cache, history, and saved passwords if desired.

7. Initiate the deletion

Once you have selected the desired options, click on the button to clear or delete the data. The wording may differ depending on the browser, but it’s typically something like “Clear data” or “Delete.”

8. Wait for the process to complete

The browser will start deleting the selected data, including cookies. This may take a few seconds or longer, depending on the amount of data being cleared.

9. Restart your browser

After the deletion process is finished, close and reopen your web browser for the changes to take effect.

Please note that these instructions are general, and the exact steps might differ slightly depending on the browser you’re using on your computer and its current version.

How to clear cookies from Safari 

Safari is the typical browser used on Apple products, this can be your Mac computer, iPad or iPhone. These steps work the same across all Apple devices, but keep in mind, it’s only useful if you actually browse using Safari. You need to clear cookies with the browser you use in order to make it effective. 

Follow these steps to clear cookies in Safari: 

1. Open Safari.
2. In the menu bar at the top, click on “Safari.”
3. Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
4. Go to the “Privacy” tab.
5. Click on the “Manage Website Data” button.
6. In the new window, click on “Remove All” or select specific websites and click on “Remove” to clear their cookies.
7. Click on “Done” to close the window.
8. Restart your browser for the changes to take effect. 

How to clear cookies from Firefox

If you are using Firefox as your computer browser, be sure to check out this video below on privacy extensions!

Why clear cookies?

Clearing your cookies regularly is a good practice to get into the habit of as it will be useful for: 

Troubleshooting 

Clearing cookies can be useful when troubleshooting certain website-related issues. Sometimes, corrupted or outdated cookies can cause problems with website functionality or prevent proper login. Clearing cookies can help resolve such issues by forcing the browser to create new cookies.

Storage and performance

Over time, cookies accumulate and take up storage space on your computer. Clearing cookies can help free up some disk space and potentially improve the performance of your browser.

Privacy

Cookies can track your online activities and collect information about your browsing habits, preferences, and behaviour. Clearing cookies can help protect your privacy by removing this stored data and reducing the chances of your activities being tracked by websites or advertisers.

Important things to note when clearing cookies

It’s important to note that clearing cookies may change how you browse the internet, it will log you out of websites, remove personalised settings, and delete stored login information. 

You may need to re-enter passwords and adjust settings again when you revisit websites. Therefore, it’s recommended to consider the potential implications before clearing cookies, especially if you rely on certain website functionalities or preferences.

Additional Browsers: Clearing Cookies

While Chrome and Safari are popular choices, many users prefer other browsers. Let’s explore how to clear cookies in Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer.

Firefox

1. Open Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
2. Select Options or Preferences (depending on your operating system).
3. Go to the Privacy & Security panel.
4. In the History section, find the option to Clear Your Recent History.
5. Select the desired time range (usually “Everything”) and ensure “Cookies and Site Data” is checked.
6. Click Clear Now.

Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots in the top-right corner.
2. Select Settings and then Privacy, search, and services.
3. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
4. Select the desired time range and check the box for Cookies and other site data.
5. Click Clear now.

Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer and click on the gear icon in the top-right corner.
2. Select Internet options.
3. Go to the General tab and under Browsing history, click Delete.
4. Check the box for Cookies and website data and click Delete.

Note: The exact steps might vary slightly depending on your browser version and operating system. Always refer to the official browser documentation for the most accurate instructions.

Advanced Cookie Management

While clearing all cookies can be a broad approach to privacy, many users prefer more granular control over their online data.

Managing Individual Cookies

Most modern browsers offer tools to manage individual cookies. This allows users to delete specific cookies or allow cookies from particular websites while blocking others.

• Access cookie settings: The exact steps to access cookie management might vary slightly between browsers, but generally, you’ll find it in the privacy or settings section.
• Review individual cookies: You can see a list of cookies stored on your computer, including the website that created them and their expiration date.
• Delete specific cookies: Select the cookies you want to remove and delete them individually.
• Allow or block cookies by site: Some browsers allow you to create custom rules for specific websites, allowing or blocking cookies on a site-by-site basis.

Blocking Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are often associated with online tracking and advertising. Blocking these cookies can enhance privacy.

• Identify third-party cookies: These cookies are typically set by domains different from the website you’re visiting.
• Browser settings: Most browsers offer options to block third-party cookies. Look for settings related to privacy or content blocking.
• Consider extensions: Some browser extensions provide more advanced control over cookie management, including blocking specific types of cookies.

Note: Blocking all cookies might affect website functionality, as some websites rely on cookies for essential features. It’s essential to weigh the privacy benefits against potential website limitations when managing cookies.

Incognito/Private Browsing

Incognito mode (or private browsing in some browsers) is a temporary browsing session that doesn’t store your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information you enter on forms. It’s essentially a clean slate for your online activities.

While it’s not a replacement for clearing cookies permanently, it’s a useful tool for situations where you want to browse privately without affecting your regular browsing data.

Key points to remember about Incognito mode:

• It doesn’t prevent websites from tracking you.
• Downloaded files and bookmarks are still saved.
• Other users on your device can still see that you’re using Incognito mode.

By understanding the limitations of Incognito mode, you can use it effectively in conjunction with other cookie management techniques to protect your privacy.

Incognito/Private Browsing

Incognito mode (or private browsing in some browsers) is a temporary browsing session that doesn’t store your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information you enter on forms. It’s essentially a clean slate for your online activities.

While it’s not a replacement for clearing cookies permanently, it’s a useful tool for situations where you want to browse privately without affecting your regular browsing data.

Key points to remember about Incognito mode:

• It doesn’t prevent websites from tracking you.
• Downloaded files and bookmarks are still saved.
• Other users on your device can still see that you’re using Incognito mode.

By understanding the limitations of Incognito mode, you can use it effectively in conjunction with other cookie management techniques to protect your privacy.

Want to know more about website and programming hacks? Check out these articles: How to find the publisher of a website | What makes a good website | SQL | How to unblock a website.