How to Clear Cookies in Google Chrome

When you surf the internet with Google Chrome, it stores small pieces of data called cookies to enhance your online experience. While useful, the buildup of stored cookies over time can lead to privacy concerns. Fortunately, clearing cookies is relatively easy in Google Chrome.

What Happens When You Clear Cookies in Google Chrome

Cookies are small files from websites stored locally on your PC that contain your website preferences, login information, and other browsing data. When you clear cookies, Google Chrome erases your login information, signing you out of websites. Additionally, your preferences, such as language settings, location, and font size, revert to the website’s default setting.

Beyond its immediate impact on the user experience, clearing cookies enhances online privacy and helps reduce your exposure to targeted advertisements. Regularly clearing cookies also minimizes the amount of data the browser needs to process, which can help reduce lag and performance issues in Chrome.

How to Clear Cookies in Google Chrome 

If you want to delete all browser cookies at once, the process isn’t too different from clearing the browser history in Chrome. Here’s how you can go about clearing cookies in Google Chrome on desktop and mobile.

Desktop

1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the screen to bring up the menu.
3. Select Settings from the list.
   
4. Select the Privacy and security tab from the left sidebar.
5. Click on Clear Browsing Data. 
   
6. Click the drop-down to specify the time range. Your options include Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time. 
7. Select the Cookies and other site data option and uncheck everything else.
8. Click Clear data to confirm.
   

Android

Clearing cookies in Google Chrome for Android requires navigating to the History page.

1. Open Google Chrome on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Select History from the list.
   
4. Tap the Clear browsing data option.
5. Specify a time range using the drop-down menu at the top.
6. Select All time if you want to delete all the cookies.
7. Tick the Cookies and site data option and uncheck everything else.
8. Tap Clear data. 
9. Select Clear to confirm.
   

iPhone

1. Open Google Chrome on your iPhone.
2. Tap three horizontal dots in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the Settings icon.
   
4. Scroll down to tap on Privacy and security.
5. Select Clear Browsing Data.
   
6. Tap the Time range option and select your preferred option from the following menu.
7. Return to the Clear Browsing Data menu, tap Cookies, Site Data, and uncheck other options.
8. Tap on the Clear Browsing Data section at the bottom.
9. Select the Clear Browsing Data link to delete all cookies.
   

How to Clear Cookies For a Specific Site in Google Chrome 

There might be instances when you don’t want to clear cookies for all websites. Instead, you just want to delete them for one site. Thankfully, Google Chrome also lets you clear cookies for a specific site.

Android

1. Open Google Chrome on your Android phone or tablet.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings from the list.
4. Scroll down to the Advanced section and select Site settings.
   
5. Select All sites.
6. Locate the site whose data you want to clear and tap the trash icon.
7. Select Delete & reset to confirm.
   

iPhone

Unfortunately, Google Chrome for iOS does not provide an option to clear cookies for specific sites. So, you will have to clear cookies for all sites at once, as described above.

Control Your Digital Footprint

Clearing cookies in Google Chrome offers many benefits, from enhancing online privacy to addressing and resolving various browser issues. The process is straightforward, whether you want to clear all cookies at once or selectively remove them for a specific site.

FAQs

Do I need to sign into my Google account to clear cookies?

No, it’s not necessary to sign into your Google account to clear cookies. If you have a browser history on Chrome, you can clear your cookies.

Will clearing cookies log me out of websites?

Yes, clearing your cookie data can log you out of some websites as it could clear your saved password if you selected that option. You may have to re-enter your login details to regain access, but it depends on the website.

Do I need to restart Chrome after clearing cookies?

No, after clearing your cookie data, the changes will take effect immediately and won’t affect your browsing session.

What happens to my browser history when I clear cookies?

Clearing cookies specifically removes the stored data related to website preferences, login credentials, and tracking. It doesn’t affect your browser’s history of previously visited websites, which can be cleared separately if you need to.

Can I recover cookies after clearing them in Chrome?

Once you clear cookies in Chrome, they’re permanently deleted and can’t be recovered. If you’d like to keep specific cookies, consider using browser extensions that allow you to manage cookies for trusted websites.

Does Incognito mode block cookies in Chrome?

The incognito mode gives you access to the internet without collecting browser history or cookie data, which you usually gain as you surf the web. Note that it doesn’t clear existing cookies but instead stops new ones from being created and stored while using Chrome’s incognito mode.