How to Clean Cookies in 2026: Complete Guide for All Browsers

Why Cleaning Cookies Matters in 2026

Cookies are small data files that websites store on your browser to track your activity, remember your preferences, and personalize your experience. While some cookies are useful (like keeping you logged in), others can compromise your privacy, slow down your browser, and accumulate unnecessary data. In 2026, with increasing online tracking and data collection, regularly cleaning your cookies is more important than ever for maintaining your digital privacy and browser performance. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to clean cookies across all major browsers, whether you're on desktop or mobile.

Quick Benefits of Cleaning Cookies

Before we dive into the how-to, here's why you should make cookie cleaning a regular habit:

Enhanced Privacy: Remove tracking cookies that follow you across websites and collect your browsing data for targeted advertising.
Improved Performance: Clear accumulated cookie data that can slow down your browser and cause loading delays.
Increased Security: Eliminate potential security risks from old session cookies that could be exploited by hackers.
Fresh Start: Fix website glitches and loading errors caused by corrupted or conflicting cookies.
Storage Space: Free up valuable disk space occupied by thousands of stored cookies.
Control Your Data: Take back control over what information websites can store about you.

How to Clear Cookies on Google Chrome

Chrome stores cookies to enhance your browsing experience, but these can accumulate quickly. Chrome offers granular control over cookies, allowing you to delete all cookies at once, remove cookies from specific websites, or set up automatic cookie deletion when you close the browser. Chrome also includes features like Enhanced Safe Browsing, which helps protect against malicious cookies, and Third-party cookie blocking, which is becoming the default in 2026. Regular cookie cleaning in Chrome can significantly improve browser speed, reduce memory usage, and protect your privacy from cross-site tracking.

How to Clean Cookies in 2026: Complete Guide for All Browsers - Illustration

Chrome on Windows or Mac (Desktop)

Follow these simple steps to clear cookies in Google Chrome on your computer:

1
Open Google Chrome on your computer.
2
Click the three vertical dots menu icon in the top-right corner of your browser.
3
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
4
Click on Privacy and security in the left sidebar.
5
Select Clear browsing data (or use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows, Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac).
6
In the popup window, select the Time range (choose 'All time' to delete all cookies).
7
Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked.
8
Optionally check Cached images and files for a deeper clean.
9
Click Clear data to confirm.
10
Wait a few seconds for Chrome to process. You'll see a confirmation when complete.

Pro Tip: To delete cookies from specific websites only, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > See all site data and permissions. From here, you can search for specific sites and remove their cookies individually.

Chrome on Android

Here's how to clear cookies in Chrome on your Android smartphone or tablet:

1
Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2
Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
3
Select Settings from the menu.
4
Tap on Privacy and security.
5
Tap Clear browsing data.
6
Select the Time range (choose 'All time' for complete cleaning).
7
Make sure Cookies and site data is checked.
8
Tap Clear data.
9
Confirm by tapping Clear in the popup.

Note: Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites, so make sure you remember your passwords or have them saved in a password manager.

Chrome on iPhone or iPad (iOS)

Here's how to delete cookies in Chrome on your iOS devices:

1
Launch the Chrome app on your iPhone or iPad.
2
Tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner (iOS) or top-right (iPad).
3
Tap Settings.
4
Select Privacy and Security.
5
Tap Clear Browsing Data.
6
Choose the Time range for which you want to clear cookies.
7
Make sure Cookies, Site Data is toggled on.
8
Tap Clear Browsing Data at the bottom.
9
Confirm by tapping Clear Browsing Data again.

How to Clear Cookies in Safari

Safari has pioneered privacy-focused browsing with its Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) technology, which automatically blocks third-party cookies and limits how long first-party cookies can track you. In 2026, Safari continues to lead in privacy protection, automatically deleting cookies from trackers after 7 days. Safari's cross-site tracking prevention ensures that advertisers can't follow you across different websites. Despite these automatic protections, manually cleaning cookies in Safari is still important for maintaining optimal performance, freeing up storage space, and ensuring a completely fresh browsing experience. Safari also makes it easy to delete cookies from specific websites while keeping others intact.

Safari on Mac (macOS)

Follow these steps to clear cookies in Safari on your Mac computer:

1
Open Safari on your Mac.
2
Click Safari in the top menu bar.
3
Select Settings (or Preferences in older macOS versions).
4
Click on the Privacy tab.
5
Click Manage Website Data.
6
In the new window, you'll see all stored cookies and website data.
7
Click Remove All to delete all cookies, or select individual sites and click Remove.
8
Click Done when finished.
9
Confirm by clicking Remove Now in the popup.

Alternative Method: For a quicker way to clear all cookies, click Safari > Clear History in the menu bar. Select 'all history' from the dropdown and click Clear History. This will remove cookies, history, and cached data all at once.

Safari on iPhone or iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

Clearing Safari cookies on iOS is simple. Here's how:

1
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2
Scroll down and tap Safari.
3
Scroll down to find Clear History and Website Data.
4
Tap Clear History and Website Data.
5
A popup will appear warning you that this will remove history, cookies, and other browsing data.
6
Tap Clear History and Data to confirm.

Advanced Option: If you want to keep your browsing history but only delete cookies, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data > Remove All Website Data. This deletes cookies while preserving your browsing history.

How to Clear Cookies in Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is known for its privacy-focused features and extensive customization options. Here's how to clean cookies in Firefox across different platforms.

Firefox on Windows or Mac (Desktop)

Follow these steps to clear cookies in Firefox on your computer:

1
Open Firefox on your computer.
2
Click the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-right corner.
3
Select Settings from the menu.
4
Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
5
Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
6
Click Clear Data.
7
Make sure both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content are checked.
8
Click Clear.
9
Click Clear Now to confirm.

Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the Clear Data dialog directly. This saves time if you clean cookies regularly.

Firefox on Android

Here's how to clear cookies in Firefox on Android devices:

1
Open the Firefox app on your Android device.
2
Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
3
Tap Settings.
4
Scroll down and tap Delete browsing data.
5
Check Cookies and Cached images and files.
6
You can also select other data types to delete if desired.
7
Tap Delete browsing data at the bottom.
8
Confirm by tapping Delete in the confirmation dialog.

Firefox on iPhone or iPad (iOS)

Follow these steps to clear cookies in Firefox on iOS:

1
Launch Firefox on your iPhone or iPad.
2
Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the bottom-right corner.
3
Scroll down and tap Settings.
4
Under the Privacy section, tap Data Management.
5
Toggle on Cookies (and any other data you want to remove).
6
Tap Clear Private Data at the bottom.
7
Confirm by tapping OK in the popup.

How to Clear Cookies in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge, rebuilt on the Chromium engine in recent years, combines Chrome's performance with Microsoft's security innovations. In 2026, Edge includes advanced tracking prevention with three levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict, each offering different cookie blocking strategies. The Balanced mode (default) blocks trackers from sites you haven't visited while allowing most cookies for sites you interact with. Edge's Collections feature syncs across devices but respects your cookie preferences. Edge also offers InPrivate browsing with automatic cookie deletion, and site-specific cookie permissions for fine-grained control. With deep Windows integration, Edge can sync cookie preferences across all your Microsoft devices. Regular cookie cleaning in Edge helps maintain browser responsiveness, reduces memory footprint, and ensures your privacy settings work optimally.

Edge on Windows or Mac

Follow these steps to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge:

1
Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
2
Click the three dots (menu) in the top-right corner.
3
Select Settings from the dropdown.
4
Click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.
5
Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
6
Select the Time range (choose 'All time' for complete cleaning).
7
Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked.
8
Optionally check Cached images and files.
9
Click Clear now to delete the selected data.
10
Wait for Edge to process the deletion.

Quick Access: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the Clear browsing data dialog immediately.

Edge on Android and iOS

The process is similar on both platforms:

1
Open the Edge app on your mobile device.
2
Tap your profile icon or the three dots menu.
3
Tap Settings.
4
Tap Privacy and security.
5
Tap Clear browsing data.
6
Select Cookies and site data.
7
Choose the Time range.
8
Tap Clear now or Clear to confirm.

Why You Should Clean Cookies Regularly

Cookies accumulate quickly as you browse the web. Every website you visit can store multiple cookies, and over time, these add up to thousands of files. Here's why regular cookie cleaning is essential:

Privacy Protection: Tracking cookies follow you across the internet, building detailed profiles of your interests and behavior.

Performance Boost: Browsers with fewer cookies load pages faster and run more smoothly.

Security Enhancement: Old cookies can become security vulnerabilities if they contain outdated session data.

Problem Resolution: Many website errors and glitches are caused by corrupted or conflicting cookies.

Storage Management: Free up disk space by removing unnecessary cookie files.

Fresh Experience: Start with a clean slate on websites that may be showing you outdated or cached content.

Why You Should Clean Cookies Regularly - How to Clean Cookies in 2026: Complete Guide for All Browsers

Best Practices for Cookie Management in 2026

Beyond manually deleting cookies, here are expert tips for maintaining optimal browser privacy and performance:

Set Up Automatic Cookie Deletion: Use browser settings or extensions to automatically delete cookies when you close your browser or on a schedule.
Use Selective Cookie Control: Keep cookies from trusted sites (like your email or banking) while blocking or auto-deleting cookies from other sites.
Enable Private/Incognito Mode: Browse in private mode for temporary sessions that don't save cookies at all.
Install Privacy Extensions: Use tools like Broom Cookie Cleaner to automate cookie management with granular control.
Check Cookie Settings Regularly: Review which sites have stored cookies and remove ones you don't recognize or need.
Block Third-Party Cookies: Most browsers now allow you to block third-party tracking cookies while keeping first-party cookies.
Clean on a Schedule: Set a reminder to clean cookies weekly or monthly, depending on your browsing habits.
Use Different Browsers: Consider using different browsers for different activities (e.g., one for work, one for personal browsing) to keep cookies separate.

Take Control of Your Privacy Today

Automatically manage and delete cookies with Broom Cookie Cleaner

Understanding Different Types of Cookies

Not all cookies are created equal. Understanding the different types can help you make informed decisions about which ones to delete:

Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. These are generally safe and necessary for website functionality.
Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted. These remember your login info and preferences.
First-Party Cookies: Created by the website you're visiting. Usually necessary for basic site functionality.
Third-Party Cookies: Created by external domains (usually advertisers) to track you across multiple websites. These are the main privacy concern.
Secure Cookies: Only transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. These are more secure but should still be cleaned periodically.
HttpOnly Cookies: Can't be accessed by JavaScript, making them more secure against certain types of attacks.
SameSite Cookies: Restricted to being sent only from the same site that created them, providing additional security.

When cleaning cookies, you can often choose to delete all types at once or be selective. For maximum privacy, delete all cookies. For convenience, you might keep first-party cookies from trusted sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about browser cookies answered

How often should I clean my browser cookies?

It depends on your browsing habits and privacy concerns. For average users, cleaning cookies once a month is sufficient. If you're concerned about privacy or use public/shared computers, clean cookies after every session. Power users who visit many websites daily should consider weekly cleaning or automated solutions like Broom Cookie Cleaner that can clean cookies on a schedule.

Will deleting cookies log me out of websites?

Yes, deleting cookies will log you out of most websites because they use cookies to maintain your login session. Make sure you know your passwords or have them saved in a password manager before clearing cookies. Alternatively, use selective cookie deletion to keep login cookies for important sites while removing tracking cookies from others.

Can cookies track my personal information?

Yes, especially third-party tracking cookies. These cookies can follow you across multiple websites, building detailed profiles of your browsing behavior, interests, search queries, and even your location. While they don't typically contain personally identifiable information like your name or address, they create unique identifiers that can be used to track you across the web. This is why regularly deleting cookies is important for privacy.

What's the difference between clearing cookies and clearing cache?

Cookies are small text files that store data about your browsing activity, preferences, and login sessions. Cache stores copies of website files (images, scripts, stylesheets) to make pages load faster on repeat visits. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites and reset preferences, while clearing cache forces your browser to download fresh copies of website files. For best results, clear both regularly—cookies for privacy, cache for performance.

Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?

No, clearing cookies will NOT delete passwords saved in your browser's password manager. However, it will log you out of websites where you're currently signed in, so you'll need to log back in (and your browser may offer to save the password again). If you use a dedicated password manager like LastPass or 1Password, those passwords are completely unaffected by clearing cookies.

Can I delete cookies from only specific websites?

Yes, all major browsers allow you to delete cookies from specific websites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > See all site data and permissions. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data. From these menus, you can search for specific sites and remove only their cookies.

Are there any downsides to clearing cookies?

The main downside is convenience. After clearing cookies, you'll need to log back into websites, and your preferences (like language, theme, or layout choices) will be reset. Some websites may show you cookie consent banners again. However, these minor inconveniences are worth it for the privacy and performance benefits. To minimize disruption, use automated tools that can keep cookies from trusted sites while removing tracking cookies.

What's the best way to automatically manage cookies?

The best solution is to use a dedicated cookie management extension like Broom Cookie Cleaner. These tools can automatically delete cookies on a schedule (e.g., every day, week, or when you close your browser), whitelist important sites so their cookies are kept, block third-party tracking cookies, and give you granular control over what gets deleted. This provides the perfect balance between privacy and convenience.

Do cookies slow down my computer?

While individual cookies are tiny (usually a few KB), accumulating thousands of cookies over time can slightly slow down your browser. The more significant impact is on your privacy. Browsers need to check and process cookies for every website you visit, so cleaning them regularly can provide a small performance boost. You'll likely notice faster page loads and smoother browsing after a thorough cookie cleaning.

Is it safe to accept all cookies?

No, blindly accepting all cookies is not recommended in 2026. While some cookies are necessary for websites to function, many are tracking cookies that monitor your online activity for advertising purposes. Modern browsers give you options to accept only essential cookies, block third-party cookies, or review cookies on a case-by-case basis. For best privacy, be selective about which cookies you accept and delete them regularly.

How to Clean Cookies in 2026: Complete Guide for All Browsers

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