Cookies are tiny text files composed by a web browser that has data regarding your communication with one particular site. They have data such as what you purchased on a retail site or your username for logins. They are comparatively benign, but they can affect your privacy and they consume some memory on your device, so eliminating them is something that most of the users like to do on a semi-normal basis.
If you are worried about how advertisers are accessing that info and what sites are leaving behind, here is how to clear cookies from the newest edition of your preferred web browser.
How To Clear Cookies
Google Chrome
The users voted Google Chrome as 2018’s best browser. It allows you to control browsing data, easily remove cookies, and state what kind of files it must block or accept. Here are the steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Tap on the 3-dot Menu logo present at the top in the right corner, and choose Settings. A new tab will open. Click on Advanced after scrolling to the bottom of the page. This will extend the Settings page to show extra options.
Step 2: The first extended window you must see is the Privacy and security tab. Click on Clear browsing data present at the bottom.
Step 3: Decide if it is just cookies you need to remove or a whole lot and choose how far back you need to clear them employing the drop-down menu. Note that the firm will sync this action with your other machines where this Google account is logged in. You can select to impact only this specific machine if you prefer.
Step 4: When done, tap the blue button named “Clear data.” If your Google account is synced to other machines, it will also clear cookies on those. If you do not need that to take place (some of those cookies might be helpful for business, for instance), then you will have to first log out of your account.
To control how cookies are stored and saved in the future navigate back to the Privacy and security >> Content >> Cookies. There you will see options for which cookies are amassed and if you need to ban 3rd-party cookies or not.
Chrome on Android or iOS
Step 1: Get your hands on Chrome’s menu, go to Settings >> Advanced settings >> Privacy.
Step 2: Choose Clear Browsing Data >> Clear cookies and site data >> Clear data.
There are also options for eliminating cached files and images and removing your browser history.
Mozilla Firefox
The open-source browser has a number of add-ons and really provides more choices as compared to Chrome when it comes to tailoring these settings. Here are the steps that you need to follow.
Step 1: Tap on the 3-dot Menu logo present at the top in the right corner. Choose Options in the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Go to Privacy and security >> Cookies and site data >> Clear Data.
Step 3: Make certain Cookies and Site Data is checked off and then tap the button.
On the other hand, tap the link for Manage data. A window comes into view with a search field for detecting a particular cookie, and a list of all cookies amassed on your machine. You can tap on the button named “Remove Selected” to remove a highlighted cookie, or click the button named “Remove All” to remove them all.
To control how cookies are managed by Firefox, there are a number of options you can change, comprising whether to Block or Accept cookies. Below the Cookies and Site Data option, you will Exceptions button to the right where Mozilla offers it so that you can manage whether separate cookies are allowed or blocked, respectively.
Firefox on iOS
Step 1: Click the button named “New Tab.”
Step 2: Click on the cog option on the screen present at the top left.
Step 3: Click Clear private data and make sure Cookies is selected on the next screen, then click Clear Private Data.
SAFARI
Unlike Firefox and Chrome, Safari only amasses cookies from sites you surf. Nonetheless, Safari allows you easily modify these settings. Since the Windows edition of Safari has been suspended, we will aim at the MacOS edition.
Step 1: Tap on the Safari menu present at the top in the left corner and select Clear History, to remove everything in one click, from a series of time frames. If you might much prefer to have additional control over what is removed, select the Preferences alternative.
Step 2: In the Privacy segment, you can employ Block all cookies to eliminate everything in one click. On the other hand, tap on Details to view a list of every separate cookie amassed in the browser that you can then eliminate separately.
The options by Safari for limited filtering of cookies are restricted. You can, on the other hand, use the Do Not Track feature (ask sites not to track you), or have Safari try to ban cross-website tracking.
Safari on iOS
Step 1: Navigate to Settings >> Safari.
Step 2: Click Clear History and Website Data to remove all cookies. Click Advanced to delete a specific cookie and follow onscreen instructions. From here, tap Edit >> red circle beside particular cookie >> Delete.
Microsoft Edge
Edge is the latest browser by Microsoft incorporated into Windows 10. Below are the steps that you need to follow to manage cookies.
Step 1: Tap on the 3-dot Settings log present at the top in the right corner.
Step 2: Go to Settings >> Clear browsing data.
Step 3: Tap on the button named “Choose what to clear.”
Step 4: Make certain Cookies and saved site info is checked off and then tap the Clear button.
To control how Edge manages cookies, go to Advanced Settings >> View advanced settings >> Cookies. Your choices are to block only 3rd-party cookies, block all cookies, or do not block them at all.
Inside the “Choose what to clear” menu, you also have the choice to remove cookies each time you close the browser, employing the toggle option below the button named “Clear.”
Opera
Even though the Opera browser is developed on the same groundwork employed by Google Chrome, reaching to the cookie options of the browser has a bit different procedure.
Step 1: Tap on the red Opera icon present in the left corner at the top.
Step 2: Go to Settings >> Privacy & Security >> Cookies.
Step 3: Click on the button named “All cookies and site data.”
Step 4: Tap the button named “Delete” to eliminate all cookies, or choose separate cookies and tap the “X” logo to remove them individually.
To control how Opera manages cookies, go to Privacy and security >> Cookies and delete specific cookies.
Apps And Plugins
While browsers make removing cookies physically fairly simple, there are also a number of browser and apps plugins that can offer you a bit more management of your cookies.
CCleaner
CCleaner is a controlling tool you can install for free and employ to sparkle your system of excess data created by your applications and web browser. CCleaner has an edge over conventional web browsers in removing cookies since it can do so all over the board, instead of just inside a specific browser. For $20 yearly, you can also update to the Pro edition, which allows for real-time monitoring, programmed cleaning, and other features that companies might find helpful.
Cookie AutoDelete
This app will get rid of any cookies automatically when you get out of a browser tab, while keeping an operating tab of the cookies on the website that you can check for more data. You can also instantly remove the cookies whenever you want from a domain. The extension allows you to share and make gray lists and white lists of cookies that you may need to allow. It comes in both Firefox and Chrome, and it is one of the best cookie management alternatives all over the Internet.
Having said this, you are now well aware of cookies and get rid of them as per your needs. If you feel that this article was helpful, do let us know by commenting below. In addition to this, you can also write to us some more tips that you are aware of. We would be happy to include them.
