How to clear the cookies on a mac

Computer cookies can make our lives easier. They can save our shopping carts, speed up checkout times, and store login credentials, and other personal information so we don’t have to. 

But just like how too many of the fresh-baked ones can give you a bellyache, too many computer cookies stored on your browser can cause a headache. That’s because cybercriminals are constantly on the prowl for personally identifiable information stored in cookies, which they can exploit and/or sell on the dark web.

Knowing how to clear cookies and cache from your browser is an important step in protecting your personal data online. And that’s where this step-by-step guide comes in — to help you learn how to remove cookies and keep different types of hackers off your trail. 

We’ve included all the main browsers below, so jump to the one you use most or look through them all to get an in-depth understanding. 

• How to clear cookies in Chrome
• How to clear cookies in Firefox 
• How to clear cookies in Safari
• How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
  

How to clear cookies in Chrome… 

As one of the most popular internet browsers, Google Chrome is available on many devices — and there is a way to remove cookies from each of them. 

… on your Windows or Mac computer

1. Open Chrome.
2. In the top right-hand corner of the browser, you will see three dots, which indicates a settings menu. Click on the dots.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Advanced.”
4. Click on “Clear browsing data.”
5. Under the “All cookies and site data” section, you can customize which cookies to delete based on a specific time range and other options.
6. Finally, you can complete the deletion by clicking “Clear data.” You can also clear your cache, which is where your computer stores previously viewed websites so they can be loaded faster on future visits. 
   

… on your Android device

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app.
2. To the right of the address bar, tap on “More,” or what looks like three dots, and then select “Settings.”
   
3. Tap on the “Privacy” category and then select “Clear browsing data.” 
   
4. Here you can personalize your selections for which cookies to delete by selecting a specific time range.
   
5. Once you have made your selections, you can then check “Cookies and site data.” Uncheck all the other items.
   
6. Tap “Clear data.”
   

… on your iOS device 

1. On your device, launch the Chrome app.
2. At the top right, tap on the three dots, scroll down, and then select “Settings.”
3. Under settings, tap “Privacy” then “Clear browsing data.”
4. Select “Cookies, site data” and uncheck all other items.
5. Tap on “Clear browsing data.”
6. Then select “Done.”

How to clear cookies in Firefox …

Follow these steps for how to delete cookies in Firefox across your desktop and mobile devices.

… on your Windows or Mac computer

1. Open Firefox on your computer.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the browser, click the menu bars, which look like three parallel lines, and click the “Privacy” tab.
3. Here you can select “Clear your recent history.”
4. Be sure that only “Cookies” is checked, and then select the time frame for which you would like to delete your cookies. If you want to delete all cookies, select “Everything.”
5. Double-check your selections to make sure that other items you want to keep are not selected, and then hit “Clear now.”

… on your Android device

Some instructions may vary based on the type of phone you have and what version of Firefox it is running. Look for the menu icon (three bars) located at the top right corner. On older Android devices, you’ll have to press the hardware menu key and then tap “More.”

1. Go to the “Settings” menu. 
2. Look for “Privacy & security” and select “Clear private data.” 
3. Select “Cookies & active logins.”
4. After you have made your selection, tap “Clear data.”
   

… on your iOS device

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the menu bars, which look like three parallel lines in the lower right-hand corner of the browser window.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Scroll down to “Privacy.”
5. Select “Clear private data.”
6. Make sure only “Cookies” is selected, then tap on “Clear private data.”

How to clear cookies in Safari … 

Apple’s browser is also available across multiple desktop and mobile devices, and there’s a different way for how to delete cookies from each of them.

… on your Mac

1. Open Safari.
2. Select “Preferences” from the drop-down Safari menu.
3. Click on “Privacy,” then on “Manage website data.”
4. Click on “Remove all” from the drop-down menu.

… on your iOS device

1. Go into the “Settings” menu on your device.
2. Scroll down to “Safari” and click “Advanced,” then “Website data”
3.  Tap on “Clear history and website data” to clear cookies.

How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge

These steps apply to Windows PCs:

1. Launch Microsoft Edge
2. Go to the “More” menu and select “Settings.”
3. 3Scroll to “Clear browsing data,” select “Cookies and saved website data,” and then select “Clear.”

There are a few different reasons why you should clear your browser’s cookies. Whether for privacy reasons or general computer maintenance and cleanup, most browsers make clearing your cookies an easy task.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to clear browsing data because you appreciate the convenience of not having to constantly log in to your favorite sites, be sure to invest in a reputable VPN for an added layer of protection.

FAQs about how to clear cookies

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to clear cookies.

Can cookies track you?

Cookies are able to track multiple types of data from internet users, from browsing history to personal IP addresses.

Should you delete cookies? 

You should consider deleting cookies regularly — especially from sites you don’t frequently visit.

Will clearing cookies delete passwords?

Yes, clearing cookies will wipe saved passwords from autofill settings saved on web browsers. 

What happens when you remove all cookies?

Deleting cookies wipes all your personal information from your browser, including usernames, passwords, search history, and website settings and preferences. 

Does deleting cookies speed up computers?

Erasing cookies can lead to faster computer speeds. However, deleting information can make it take longer to log into frequently visited websites.

Is it OK to accept cookies?  

It’s safe to accept cookies because the cookies themselves aren't dangerous to users. Cookies become risky when hackers can hijack them and view or expose personal information.  

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