How to Clear Cookies on Windows

Cookies are a necessary part of the web browsing experience but can also be a privacy risk and slow down your computer. Clearing them is one way to mitigate that risk. This article shows you how to delete cookies on Windows for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Brave.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files downloaded to your computer or mobile device when visiting a website. These files allow websites to recognize your device and store information about your preferences or past actions.

Most cookies are safe and used by many websites to improve your online experience by, for example:

• Storing your preferences so that you don’t have to enter them each time you visit a site
• Keeping track of items that you have added to your shopping basket
• Analyzing how users interact with a website so that the site can be improved

However, some cookies are used for more sinister purposes, such as collecting data about a user’s browsing habits or targeted advertising. These types of cookies are known as “tracking cookies” and are often placed by advertising companies.

Clear Cookies in Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three dots in the window’s top-right corner, then select Settings.

   

3. Under Privacy and security, click Cookies and other site data.

   

4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click See all cookies and site data.

   

5. Click the Remove All button.

   

6. A confirmation message will appear. Click Clear all.

   

7. If you want to clear a specific cookie, click the search bar in the All cookies and site data window and type in the website you want to remove cookies from.

   

8. When the site appears, click the Trash icon to its right.

   

Clear Cookies in Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge.
2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the window, then go to Settings.

   

3. In the left panel, click Cookies and site permissions.

   

4. Click Manage and delete cookies and site data.

   

5. Click See all cookies and site data.

   

6. If you want to remove all cookies, click the Remove all button.

   

7. A confirmation message will pop up. Click Clear.

   

8. If you want to clear a specific cookie, search the website you want to remove cookies from.

   

9. Click the arrow icon to the website’s right, then click the Trash icon.

   

Clear Cookies in Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the three lines in the top-right corner of the window, then head to Settings.

   

3. Go to Privacy & Security.

   

4. If you want to remove all cookies, scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click the Clear Data button.

   

5. A window will Popup. Ensure the Cookies and Site Data option is selected, then click Clear.

   

6. If you want to remove a specific cookie, scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click the Manage Data button.

   

7. Type in the name of the website you want to remove cookies from in the search bar. When the site appears, mark it, then click Remove Selected.

   

Clear Cookies in Opera

1. Open Opera.
2. Click the Settings icon in the left corner pane.

   

3. Scroll down to Cookies and other site data.

   

4. Go to See all cookies and site data.

   

5. To clear all cookies, click the Remove all button.

   

6. A confirmation message will appear. Press Clear all.

   

7. If you want to clear a specific cookie, click the search bar in the All cookies and site data window and type the name of the website you want to remove cookies from. When the site appears, click the trash button to its right.

   

Clear Cookies in Brave Browser

1. Open Brave.
2. Click the three lines in the top-right corner of the window, then select Settings.

   

3. In the Search settings bar, type in “cookies.”

   

4. Scroll down to Cookies and other site data.

   

5. Click See all cookies and site data.

   

6. Select Remove All if you want to clear all cookies.

   

7. A confirmation message will appear. Click Clear all.

   

8. If you want to clear a specific cookie, type in the name of the website you want to remove cookies from in the search bar. When the site appears, click the trash button to its right.