Empty the Cookie Jar! How to Delete Cookies – The Ultimate Guide

target="_blank" rel="noopener"You know how when you open a new website, a window pops up asking you to accept cookies, the non-edible kind? Have you ever wondered what those are and why everyone shoves them in your face?

(Web Tribunal also uses cookies. Here’s what we do with them.)

Today you will learn what internet cookies are, why they are useful, and most importantly – why you should manage them. We’ll tell you how to delete cookies easily – with the help of screenshots and a step-by-step explanation.

It doesn’t matter if you use the following:

• Desktop or mobile
• Android or iOS
• Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera

… either way, we’ve got you! Now let’s get our hands on the cookie jar!

What Is a Cookie?

It is a small, innocent-looking file that enables your browser and different websites to track you.

In this way, cookies gather information about your online habits, likes, and login information.

Basically, they are like cute little stalkers…until they get too creepy and obsessed with you. At this point, you get curious about how to clear those pesky cookies.

Why Are They Useful?

If you can’t remember your numerous account names and passwords or you just can’t be bothered, cookies are great for saving all this info for you.

Moreover, if you prefer seeing more relevant ads and your already customized preferences, cookies are there to please you.

Why Should You Manage Them?

On the plus side, cookies can be convenient and they help you log in automatically in various accounts. Still, they may endanger your privacy and allow advertisers to stalk you – or worse, they can give someone the opportunity to hack you.

Knowing how to delete cookies (and doing it regularly) helps you keep your information safe. What’s more, deleting them feels like a fresh start as your browsing experience suddenly gets a fair bit faster.

You don’t want your browser to remember something? You can remove cookies with just a few clicks – as easy as erasing someone’s memory in Men in Black.

Now that you know the benefits of cookie management, here is how to clear cookies on different browsers. Defeat all the cookies and become a true cookie-slayer!

How to Delete Cookies on Chrome

Fun fact: About 40% of US mobile users choose Chrome, while worldwide it’s almost 57%.

Here is how to clear cookies on Chrome on different devices:

Android

More than 88% of Android devices use Chrome, so let’s start with that.

In order to lower the chances of being attacked by malicious websites through too many cookies and clear more storage space on your phone, it is a good idea to regularly clear them.

Be smarter than an android! Here is how to delete cookies on Chrome step by step:

1. Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner of your browser:

2. Click on “Settings”:

3. Then go to “Advanced”->”Privacy”:

4. Now go to the bottom and click on “Clear browsing data”:

5. Here you can select a specific time range for the cookies you want to delete:

6. Check “Cookies and site data” and uncheck the rest of the boxes:

7. Finally click “Clear data” and you’re done. Voila!

If you need to find how to delete specific cookies on Chrome on Android, here are the additional steps you need to take:

1. After Step 2, from “Settings” go to “Site settings”:

2. Then go to “All sites” where you will see all websites you’ve accessed:

3. You can choose a specific site and delete the stored data under “Usage” by simply clicking on the bin or you can “Clear & reset” everything:

Tip: Click here for a useful app to help you manage cookies

Now that you know how to clear cookies on Android, let’s go help your friend with an iPhone:

iPhone

Less than 4% of iPhone users use Chrome, but we have not forgotten you. Take a bite from the apple and forget about your unhealthy cookie diet!

Here is how to clear cookies on Chrome on iPhone. (This helps you clear some storage space as well.)

1. Open Chrome.

2. Click on the 3 dots on the top right:

3. Click on “Settings”:

4. Click on “Privacy”:

5. Now choose “Clear Browsing Data”:

6. Check “Cookies, Site Data” and uncheck the rest of the items if you prefer:

7. Click on “Clear Browsing Data”:

8. Finally just click on “Done”:

Tip: Click here for a useful app to help you manage cookies

Desktop

Almost 67% of users prefer Chrome. Little by little, cookies can add up and take up quite a lot of storage space. So let’s clear them regularly! Here is how:

1. Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner of your browser:

2. Click on “Settings”:

3. Go all the way down to “Advanced” and click it:

4. Under “Privacy and Security” on the bottom, you will find “Clear browsing data” and you click on it:

5. Select a time range:

6. Leave “Cookies and other site data” checked and uncheck the rest of the boxes:

7. Finally click on “Clear data” and it’s done.

You can delecte only specific cookies if you so desire:

1. After Step 3 click on “Site Settings”:

2. Then click on “Cookies” – you’ll see the yummy image next to it:

3. Choose “See all cookies and site data”:

4. You can see all individual cookies and search for specific ones in the search bar:

5. Simply click on the bin next to the cookie you want to remove.

Tip: Click here for a useful extension to help you manage cookies

How to Delete Cookies on Firefox

Set fire to the bad cookies and save the fox from overeating! Here is how to delete cookies on Firefox:

Android

1. Open Firefox.

2. Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner

3. Go to “Settings”:

4. Then click on “Clear private data”:

5. Choose “Cookies & active logins”:

6. Click on “Clear data” and it’s done.

Tip: Click here for an extension to help you clear cookies on Firefox

iPhone

1. Click on “New Tab” on the top right.

2. Click on the cog button on the top left.

3. Go to “Clear private data”:

4. Select “Cookies” and click on “Clear Private Data” and it’s done:

Desktop

Fun fact: With nearly 12% Firefox comes to 2nd place for desktop use after Chrome.

1. Open Firefox.

2. Click on the button with 3 lines in the top right corner.

3. Click on “Options”:

4. Click on “Privacy and Security” on the left:

5. Go to the “Cookies and Data” section and click on “Manage Data”:

6. Click on “Remove All” or if you want to find out how to delete specific cookies – select them and click on “Remove Selected” (you can search them if you don’t see them).

Tip: Click here for the Cookie AutoDelete extension to help you clear cookies on Firefox.

How to Delete Cookies on Safari

Cookies can lead to poor performance for several reasons: They can take up more space than you imagine and slow you down. Old cookies get spoiled (out of date) and you should throw them in the bin. And they can get corrupt, so it is safer to clear them from time to time. Here is how to delete cookies on Safari before you embark on a safari for your next holiday:

iPhone

About 52% of US mobile users prefer Safari while according to global statistics the usage is about 21%.

Here is how to delete cookies from iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Click on the Safari button:

3. Scroll down to “Clear History and Website Data” – tap it and you’re done:

If you need to delete only specific cookies on Safari, see the steps further below because it is the same for all iOS devices.

Desktop

Nearly 6% use Safari on their desktop device.

Here is how to delete cookies on Mac while listening to “Circle of Life” and daydreaming about Africa:

1. Open Safari and in the top left corner click on “Safari”:

2. Click on “Preferences”:

3. Click on “Privacy”:

4. Click on “Manage Website Data” there.

5. Click on “Remove All” and you’re done:

If you want to delete only specific cookies, just choose the ones you need (you can search them as well) and click “Remove”.

Tip: Click here for an app for cookie management on Mac if you want more control.

How to Delete Cookies on Edge

No need to be on edge! Here is how to delete cookies on Edge quickly and easily:

Desktop

About 4% of people use Edge.

Here is how to delete cookies on Windows 10:

1. Click the 3 dots on the top right corner of your Edge window:

2. Go to the bottom to “Settings”:

3. Under the “Clear browsing data” section you will find “Choose what to clear” – click on it:

4. Select “Cookies and saved website data” and press “Clear”:

How to Delete Cookies on Opera

Less than 4% use Opera on mobile devices, so let’s focus on desktop.

Escape the Phantom of the Opera! Here is how to delete cookies on Opera:

Desktop

1. Click on the red O in the top left corner of the Opera browser:

2. Go to “History”.

3. From the new menu on the right, select “Clear browsing data”:

4. Then select the time range you want and leave “Cookies and other site data” checked and the rest of the boxes unchecked:

5. Click on “Clear data” and you’re done.

If you wish to delete specific cookies on Opera, here are the steps:

1. Go to “Settings”:

2. Click on “Advanced” and then “Privacy & Security” and go to “Content settings”:

3. Click on “Cookies”:

4. Go to “See all cookies and site data”:

5. Here you can search for specific cookies and delete them by clicking the “X” next to them. When you’re satisfied, click “Done.” Mission complete!

Tip: Click here for an addon, that helps you manage cookies on Opera.Additional tip: Click here for more cookie management help for Windows 10.

Now that you know how to delete cookies, feel free to go ahead! That way, you’ll enjoy better privacy and faster browsing speeds.

Until next time!