Jul 31, 2015 - Learn how to clear cookies in browsers on Mac OS X. Control and manage browsing data with one button solution - block and delete cookies.
On this page:
Before you begin
Mobile browsers
Desktop browsers
Before you begin
Clearing your web browser's cache, cookies, and history may remove data such as the following:
Saved passwords
Address bar predictions
Shopping cart contents, etc.
While you should clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history periodically in order to prevent or resolve performance problems, you may wish to record some of your saved information first. If you are unable to do so, see Troubleshooting alternatives below.
For details about browser cache, cookies, and history, see:
For desktop browsers, to quickly open menus used to clear your cache, cookies, and history, ensure that the browser is open and selected, and press Ctrl-Shift-Delete (Windows) or Command-Shift-Delete (Mac). If this doesn't work, follow the appropriate instructions below.
If the instructions below don't exactly match what you see, you may need to update your web browser to the latest version.
If you don't see instructions below for your specific version or browser, search your browser's Help menu for 'clear cache'. If you're unsure what browser version you're using, from the Help menu or your browser's menu, select About [browser name]. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, if you don't see the menu bar, press Alt.
Troubleshooting alternatives
If you need to clear your cache, cookies, and history for troubleshooting purposes, but aren't yet prepared to lose the content listed above, you may wish to consider using a private browsing window in your preferred browser as a temporary solution:
Private Browsing (Firefox)
Browse in private with Incognito mode (Chrome desktop and Android)
Browse privately (Safari)
Mobile browsers
Android
The steps to clear your cache, cookies, and history may differ depending on the model of your Android device and your preferred browser, but you should be able to clear your cache and data from your application management settings menu:
Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
Swipe to the All tab.
In the list of installed apps, find and tap your web browser. Tap Clear Data and then Clear Cache.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Chrome for Android
Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
Tap (Advanced) Privacy.
From the 'Time Range' drop-down menu, select All Time.
Check Cookies and Site data and Cached Images and Files.
Tap Clear data.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Safari for iOS
Open your Settings app.
Tap Safari.
Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Chrome for iOS
Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
Tap Privacy.
Tap Clear Browsing Data.
Choose the data type you want to clear.
Tap Clear Browsing Data.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Desktop browsers
Chrome
In the browser bar, enter:
At the top of the 'Clear browsing data' window, click Advanced.
Select the following:
Browsing history
Download history
Cookies and other site data
Cached images and files
From the 'Time range' drop-down menu, you can choose the period of time for which you want to clear cached information. To clear your entire cache, select All time.
Click CLEAR DATA.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Firefox
From the History menu, select Clear RecentHistory.
If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make itvisible.
From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range; to clear your entire cache, select Everything.
Next to 'Details', click the down arrow to choose which elements of the history to clear; to clear your entire cache, select all items.
Click Clear Now.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Microsoft Edge
In the top right, click the Hub icon (looks like star with three horizontal lines).
Click the History icon (looks like a clock), and then select Clear all history.
Select Browsing history, then Cookies and saved website data, and then Cached data and files. Click Clear.
After the 'All Clear!' message appears, exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Internet Explorer 11
On January 12, 2016, Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer versions prior to version 11. UITS strongly recommends that you upgrade to a new operating system if your current system does not support Internet Explorer 11. If you experience difficulty with Internet Explorer, make sure compatibility mode is turned off.
If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make itvisible.
Deselect Preserve Favorites website data, and select:
Temporary Internet files or Temporary Internet filesand website files
Cookies or Cookies and website data
History
Click Delete. You will see a confirmation at the bottom of the window when the process is complete.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Opera
From the Opera menu, select Settings, then Privacy & Security, and then Clear browsing data....
In the dialog box that opens, from the 'Obliterate the following items from:' drop-down menu, select The beginning of time.
Select the following:
Browsing history
Download history
Cookies and other site data
Cached images and files
Click Clear browsing data.
Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.
Safari 8 and later
From the Safari menu, select Clear History... or Clear History and WebsiteData....
Select the desired time range, and then click Clear History.
Go to Safari > Quit Safari or press Command-Q to exit the browser completely.
The quickest way to delete cookies is to eat them. But cookies in the online world are small data files websites put on your computer to store bits of information. They’re used for things like keeping you logged into a website or storing items in a shopping cart.
Cookies will not damage your computer, but they can compromise your privacy. Not all cookies are used for good purposes. Many sites use cookies to track your online activity. Ad servers may send cookies along with ads displayed on websites to identify viewers and track their browsing habits. This information is used to push relevant ad content to us whether we like it or not.
Some cookies can tie your online activities to your real-world identity, thereby compromising your privacy. You can delete cookies stored on your computer automatically and manually, and we’ll show you how in Chrome and Firefox on Windows and Mac.
Delete Cookies In Chrome On Windows
To delete cookies in Chrome on Windows, click the menu button (three vertical dots) and select “Settings“.
The “Settings” page opens on a new tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Show advanced settings” link.
Under “Privacy“, click “Content settings“.
The “Content settings” dialog box displays. You can also type “chrome://chrome/settings/content” in the address bar and press “Enter” to open the “Content settings” dialog box. A toolbar bookmark can also be made with this URL if you really want to do this faster.
If you want to delete all of your cookies automatically every time you close Chrome, select the “Keep local data only until you quit your browser” option under “Cookies“.
You can also block all cookies using the “Block sites from setting any data” option, but we don’t recommend that. Logging into websites, like banking sites, and shopping on sites like Amazon will not work with that setting on.
To delete cookies, click the “All cookies and site data” button.
Delete Individual Cookies In Chrome On Windows
To delete individual cookies, select a cookie in the list on the “Cookies and site data” dialog box. Then, click the “X” on the selected item.
Delete ALL Cookies In Chrome On Windows
To delete all the cookies, click “Remove all“. Click “Done” on the “Cookies and site data” dialog box and then again on the “Content settings” dialog box.
Delete Cookies In Chrome On Mac
The process for deleting cookies in Chrome on a Mac starts the same way as on Windows. To delete cookies in Chrome on a Mac, click the menu button (three vertical dots) and select “Settings“.
The “Settings” page opens on a new tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Advanced“.
Scroll down again and click “Content settings“.
Then, click “Cookies“.
Delete Cookies Automatically When You Close Chrome On Mac
If you want to automatically delete cookies every time you close Chrome on your Mac, click the “Keep local data only until you quit your browser” slider button under “Cookies“.
Delete All Cookies In Chrome On Mac
You can delete all cookies or individual cookies on this screen. To delete all cookies, click “Remove All” under “All cookies and site data“.
Delete Individual Cookies In Chrome On Mac
To delete individual cookies, scroll until you find the cookie you want to delete. Then, click the trash can icon to the right of the cookie name. The cookie is immediately deleted.
Delete Cookies In Firefox on Windows and Mac
Deleting cookies in Firefox is the same on Windows and Mac. To begin, click the menu button (three horizontal bars, or the hamburger menu) and then click “Options” (Windows) or “Preferences” (Mac).
The “Options” or “Preferences” open on a new tab. Click “Privacy” in the menu on the left.
To delete an individual cookie or all cookies, scroll down to the “History” section and click the “remove individual cookies” link.
Delete Individual Cookies In Firefox
To delete individual cookies, scroll through the list in the “The following cookies are stored on your computer” box and select the cookie or cookies you want to delete.
To select multiple cookies, use the “Ctrl” and “Shift” keys in Windows (like in File Explorer) or the “Command” and “Shift” keys on a Mac (like in Finder) when clicking on the cookies.
Once the cookies you want to delete are selected, click “Remove Selected“.
Delete All Cookies In Firefox
To delete all cookies, click “Remove All“. Click “Close” when you’re done.
Delete Cookies Automatically When You Close Firefox
You can also set Firefox to automatically delete cookies when you close the browser. To do this, in the “History” section on the “Privacy” settings page, select “Use custom settings for history” from the “Firefox will” drop-down list.
Additional options display in the “History” section. Select “I close Firefox” from the “Keep until” drop-down list. Now, all cookies will be deleted every time you close the browser.
You can also clear your browsing history in Chrome and Firefox to protect your privacy.
How do you manage your cookies? Do you delete them automatically when closing the browser, or delete them manually? Let us know in the comments.