How to clear cookies on Mac
Posted on
by
Doris Muthuri
Sometimes websites stop working the way they should because the cookies saved in your browser are old or damaged. If a page won’t load properly, you keep getting signed out, or it forgets your settings, deleting its cookies can often fix the problem. It also removes the website data that the site saved in your browser.
This guide will show you how to clear cookies on your Mac. You’ll learn how to do it in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. We’ll also explain what happens when you delete cookies and how to choose between deleting all cookies or only the ones from a specific website.
How to clear cookies on Mac quickly
The exact steps depend on the browser you use, but you can clear cookies in just a few minutes from your browser’s Settings or Privacy menu. Keep in mind that deleting cookies may sign you out of websites and reset saved preferences, such as your language, theme, or items in your shopping cart. It won’t delete your bookmarks, downloads, or browsing history unless you choose to remove those too.
Jump to the instructions for your browser:
Tip: If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge on your Mac, press Command + Shift + Delete to open the window for clearing browsing data. The shortcut only opens the window and doesn’t delete anything automatically. This shortcut isn’t available in Safari.
- Google Chrome: Choose a Time range, check Cookies and other site data, then click Delete data or Delete from this device.
- Mozilla Firefox: Choose when you want to clear browsing data, check Cookies and Site Data, then click Clear.
- Microsoft Edge: Choose a Time range, check Cookies and other site data, then click Clear now.
How to clear cookies in Safari on Mac
Safari lets you delete cookies for one website or for every website you’ve visited. If only one website is causing problems, removing its cookies is usually the best place to start because it won’t affect the rest of your browsing. If the issue affects several websites, you can clear all cookies to reset the stored website data in Safari.
Follow these steps to clear cookies in Safari:
- Open Safari on your Mac and click Safari at the top left of your screen.
- From the drop-down menu, click Settings.
- Open the Privacy tab and select Manage Website Data.
- Safari will display a list of websites that have saved cookies or other website data on your Mac. Choose how you want to remove cookies.
- If you only want to remove cookies for one website, type the website’s name into the search box, select it from the list, then click Remove.
- If you want to clear cookies for every website, click Remove All. This deletes all cookies and other website data stored in Safari.
- Click Done and Safari will remove the selected cookies from your Mac.
How to clear cookies in Chrome on Mac
Chrome lets you choose the time range for the cookies you want to delete.
Follow these steps:
- Open Google Chrome on your Mac and click the three dots on the top right corner of your browser.
- Scroll down and choose Delete browsing data. This opens Chrome’s Delete browsing data dialog.
- Choose the time range for the cookies you want to delete. If you’re only fixing a recent problem, you don’t usually need to delete all your cookies.
- Check the box for “Cookies and other site data”. This removes the cookies that websites have stored in Chrome.
Optional: Select “Cached images and files” if you’re trying to fix pages that aren’t loading correctly, display outdated content, or have formatting issues.
- Select Delete data or Delete from this device, depending on your Chrome version, to remove the selected information.
If a website was giving you trouble, try opening it again after clearing the cookies. If you also cleared the cache, Chrome will download fresh website files, which can help resolve loading and display problems.
How to clear cookies in Firefox and Edge on Mac
If you use Firefox or Microsoft Edge, clearing cookies is also straightforward. You can delete cookies from one website to fix a specific problem or remove all cookies if you’d rather start fresh.
Firefox
- Open Firefox on your Mac.
- Select Firefox > Settings, then open Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to the Browsing data section.
- Select Clear data for a specific website if you want to remove cookies for a specific website. Search for the website, select it, then choose Remove Selected. Save your changes and confirm the removal when prompted.
- To delete all cookies, select Clear Browsing Data.
- Check the boxes for the type of data you want to delete.
- Choose the time range you want to clear and then click Clear.
Microsoft Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge on your Mac and select the three-dot menu, then choose Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
- Choose the time range you want.
- Check Cookies and other site data, then select Clear now.
If you only want to remove cookies from one website, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies > See all cookies and site data. Search for the website, then delete its stored cookies and site data.
When to delete all cookies vs. only cookies from one website
It depends on the problem you’re trying to solve. If only one website isn’t working properly, deleting cookies for that website is usually the better choice.Here’s how to decide:
- Delete cookies from one website if: you’re stuck in a sign-in loop, a page won’t load properly, a website keeps showing outdated information, or the problem only affects one website. This removes the stored data for that site without affecting the others.
- Delete all cookies if: you’re troubleshooting browser problems that affect multiple websites, you want a fresh start, or you’d like to remove the cookies stored by every website in your browser.
Clearing cookies doesn’t delete your online accounts or remove any information stored on the website itself. It only removes the data that was saved locally in your browser on your Mac.
What cookies do on your Mac
Cookies help websites work the way you expect. They save your settings, keep you signed in, and remember information you’ve already entered, so you don’t have to do the same things every time you visit a website.
Some cookies also collect information about how you browse the web. Website owners may use this data to understand how people use their sites, while advertising companies may use it to show you more relevant ads. This is why browsers let you delete or limit cookies if you want more privacy.
Deleting cookies can also help fix website problems, especially if a site won’t load properly or keeps signing you out. However, removing all cookies isn’t always necessary because many websites rely on them to remember your settings and keep important features working. In most cases, it’s better to delete only the cookies you no longer need or the ones causing a problem.
Cookies, tracking, and Mac security
Cookies are mostly a privacy issue, not a security threat. They help websites remember information about you and, in some cases, allow advertisers and analytics services to track your browsing activity across websites. Clearing cookies can reduce the amount of browsing data stored in your browser and remove tracking cookies that websites have already saved.
However, clearing cookies won’t remove malware, unsafe browser extensions, adware, or other unwanted software from your Mac. If your browser keeps redirecting you to unfamiliar websites, you’re seeing unexpected pop-ups, or files start downloading without your permission, the problem is likely something more than cookies.
If that’s the case, check your browser for suspicious extensions and run a malware scan. If you need to sign back in after clearing cookies, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever it’s available for extra protection. Intego Antivirus can also help detect adware, malware, and other unwanted software that clearing cookies won’t remove, so you can identify the cause of the problem and take action to remove it.
What happens after clearing cookies
After you clear cookies, websites no longer remember information they previously saved in your browser. You’ll usually be signed out of your accounts, and websites may forget your language, theme, shopping cart, or other preferences until you set them again.
Clearing cookies doesn’t delete your bookmarks, downloads, browsing history, saved passwords, or the files stored on your Mac. It only removes the cookie data saved in your browser. As you continue browsing, websites will create new cookies again.
Use cookies to your advantage, not against you
Cookies aren’t inherently bad. They let websites remember who you are, keep you signed in, and save your preferences, making everyday browsing much more convenient. At the same time, they can build up over time, become outdated, or allow websites to keep more browsing data than you’d like.
Knowing when to clear cookies helps you strike the right balance between convenience and privacy. If browser problems continue after deleting cookies, take a closer look at your browser extensions and scan your Mac for adware or other unwanted software. That way, you’ll be addressing the real cause instead of treating the symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Does clearing cookies on Mac delete passwords?
No. Clearing cookies doesn’t delete your saved passwords. However, it may sign you out of websites, so you’ll need to sign in again using your password.
How do I clear cookies for one website in Safari on Mac?
Open Safari, then go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data. Find the website, select it, and click Remove. This clears cookies for that website only.
Should I clear cookies or cache on my Mac?
Clear cookies if a website isn’t working properly or you want to remove saved website data. Clear the cache if a website looks broken or isn’t showing the latest version. If you’re not sure, clearing both can often fix the problem.
Why do websites ask me to accept cookies again after I clear them?
Because your browser no longer remembers your previous choice. After you clear cookies, websites treat you like a new visitor and ask for your cookie preferences again.
Can clearing cookies remove malware from my Mac?
No. Clearing cookies only removes website data stored in your browser. It doesn’t remove malware, adware, or unsafe browser extensions. If the problem continues, check your browser extensions and run a malware scan with Intego Antivirus.
