Here’s a handy guide on how to delete cookies on Mac. Removing cookies is naturally directly connected to the browser you use. To make it easier, we'll go over each and show you how to clean up cookies from the three most popular browsers: Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
If you still see cookies popping up after deleting your Mac's stored cookies, you can clear Safari's cache, which will remove all of Safari's input information except for settings and bookmarks. To do so: Click the Safari menu item. Click Preferences. Click the Advanced tab. Check the Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar box. Click the Develop menu item.
Before we plunge into details, I should say there’s an easier (and a considerably faster) way to cleaning cookies, with an app like CleanMyMac X. Try it, it really saves time. first, let’s figure out why you want them deleted.
What are internet cookies?
Cookies are parts of information (tiny pieces of specific data) from websites you visit, which get stored on your computer, and help these websites recognize you when you return.
If you’re wondering why would you call information a biscuit, there are quite a few theories, from bread crumbs in the Hansel and Gretel fairy-tale to Chinese fortune cookies. The true story remains one of the many internet mysteries.
Now, back to business. When you return to the same site later, your browser sends the cookie back to the website, with the information from your last visit. Who needs cookies? The guys who create websites. They need to recognize returning visitors and make their website behave accordingly. Maybe, they’ll show you the items you checked out last time or save your view preferences. Also, cookies are responsible for keeping your usernames.
In a nutshell: a cookie keeps the info about what you’ve done on a website for later use.
Why would you want to erase cookies?
Cookies, while definitely good for the marketing team of the website, might turn out to be a nuisance for you. Some websites raise prices with every new visit by the same user, some offer you the items you might not want to see again (that giant vanilla ice-cream bucket was a one-time thing, we’re through), or show you old usernames you don’t use anymore.
How to clear cookies: the fast way
It’s not hard, but takes some time if you use multiple browsers. Download onedrive for mac. In case, you’re not into wasting efforts on cookie-brushing each time you need it, we recommend CleanMyMac X. It’s an amazingly useful app, specifically when it comes to dealing with browser junk. It cleans cookies, caches, histories, plus removes system junk from the Mac itself.
To clean cookies with CleanMyMac X, simply download the app, go to Privacy module, choose your browser, tick the cookie icon, and hit “Remove”. Voila!
The Privacy module specializes in the info your browsers and messengers store, so it’s exactly what you’re going to need to remove cookies.
How to clean up cookies in browsers manually
To remove cookies by hand, chose your browser from the three sets below and follow the steps.
How to clear cookies in Safari:
To delete cookies in Safari browser by hand you’ll have to dig into its settings. It shouldn’t take more than a few seconds though. Here’s how to clear cookies in Safari browser on any Mac:
- Open Safari.
- At the very top of your screen you’ve got a menu bar. Choose the History tab.
- Now click on the Clear History.
- Choose the time period (it can be just the for last hour or from the beginning of times).
- Hit Clear History.
How to clear cookies in Chrome:
To delete cookies in Chrome browser manually you have to get into its History tab, because this is where cookies are stored. Technically, cookies are a part of your search history, after all. So to clean cookies in Chrome browser:
- Open Chrome.
- Go to menu (the burger icon in the top right corner).
- Find History, hover on it and wait till the list loads up.
- Click on History in the new list.
- Choose Clear Browsing Data.
- Check Cookies and other site and plugin data.
- Choose the time range you need to clear up.
- Hit Clear Browsing Data.
How to clear cookies in FireFox:
Finally, to delete cookies in Firefox browser you’ll have to spend only a few seconds. Its Recent History is accessible right from the top menu bar. So, to clear cookies in Firefox browser:
- Open FireFox.
- Find History (look to the menu bar at the top).
- Choose Clear Recent History.
- Choose how long back should it clean.
- Open the Details arrow.
- Check Cookies.
- Hit “Clear Now”
To be on the safe side, you should repeat these steps in your browser once in a while. It’s also a rule of thumb to clean up your caches and other stored info. A browser stuffed with the old information may malfunction, show you something irrelevant or get clingy with advertisement.
Doing it on your own each time is a mess, so CleanMyMac is a good deal. It reduces the whole ordeal to a few clicks, it’s pretty fast, and does a ton more useful things for Mac cleaning. It’s free to download, so give it a go.
These might also interest you:
- 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) orCommand-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.
- Select Tools > Safety > Delete browsing history...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
Mac Cookies Clean Up
- 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.