How to Clear Cookies in Google Chrome (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you use Google Chrome, you can clear cookies directly through the browser’s settings. Knowing how to clear cookies on Chrome can help fix a slow web browser, resolve website formatting or login issues, and remove outdated data that may be affecting performance. Over time, cookies accumulate and can interfere with how sites load or function, making regular cleanup a simple but effective troubleshooting step.

Deleting saved browsing data is also important for protecting your privacy and keeping your device running efficiently. In this guide, we’ll explain what cookies are, how to delete cookies in Google Chrome step by step, and how cookie data impacts your online experience. You’ll also find our expert recommendations for the best ad blockers to help prevent third-party trackers from following you across the web.

How to clear cookies on Google Chrome (desktop)

You can follow these simple steps to clear the cookies from your Chrome browser. These tips work whether you use a Windows computer, Mac, Android, or iOS device, and are the same steps to clear your browsing history and cache.

1. Open Chrome on your computer.

2. In the top-right corner, click the three vertical dots to bring up customization options.

3. In the drop-down menu, select Delete browsing data. 

4. Select Cookies and other site data. You can also choose to delete your browsing data and cache here at the same time.

5. You’ll have the option to choose a time range. To delete all your cookies and data, select All time. Then click Delete data.

Heads up: Some of your settings may get deleted along with your cookies, so you might need to sign back into your Google account. You should check your recovery settings for your account before clearing cookies in case you lose your password.

How to clear your Google Chrome cache and cookies on iPhone

You may want to clear your Chrome cache and cookies on your iPhone for the same reasons you would clear them on your computer. Most of us use our phones for numerous hours each day. After so much browsing and use, your iPhone’s cache could get pretty full. Clearing cache and cookies may help the device run better.

Before you clear out the cookies and cache, you should know that you could get signed out of your Google Account. Make sure you update your recovery phone number and email address. After you do that, you can get started.

1. Open your Chrome app on your iPhone.

2. At the bottom right, click the three horizontal dots for more options.

3. Click More, then Delete Browsing Data.

4. Select Browsing History, Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files.

5. Click on Delete Browsing Data.

How to clear your Google Chrome cache and cookies on an Android device

Clearing the cache and cookies on Google Chrome for your Android device is as easy as it is for an iPhone. You can also use the Chrome app to update your privacy settings.

As with other devices, clearing cookies and cache will free up storage space and remove unwanted files that could affect your device’s performance.

When you remove cookies, you may get signed out of websites and your saved preferences deleted, so keep this in mind and make sure your password information is saved and updated in a different location for quick access. You can use the steps below to clear the Google Chrome cache and cookies from your Android device.

1. Open Chrome on your device. At the top right, click the three vertical dots.

2. Select More, then Delete browsing data.

3. You can choose a time range. To delete all the history, select All time.

4. Select Cookie and site data and Cached images and files.

5. Click Delete data.

What is a computer cookie?

A computer cookie is a small data file that websites store in your browser when you visit them. Cookies help sites remember information such as login details, preferences, and previous activity.

For example, online stores use cookies to track items you’ve viewed or added to your shopping cart, making it easier to pick up where you left off. While this can improve convenience, cookies can build up quickly over time.

As more cookies are stored, your browser has to process additional data each time a site loads. This can slow page load speeds, cause websites to display outdated content, and trigger formatting or login errors when old cookies conflict with newer site data. In some cases, corrupted cookies may prevent pages from loading properly.

Cookies can also impact privacy and security. Cybercriminals may attempt to exploit stored cookies to hijack active sessions, while third-party tracking cookies allow advertisers to follow your activity across multiple websites, often loading extra scripts that further affect performance.

For these reasons, knowing how to clear cookies on Google Chrome is an important part of browser maintenance. Removing cookies regularly can improve performance, fix website issues, and limit unwanted tracking.

Why should you clear cookies in Google Chrome?

It’s a good idea to clear cookies in Google Chrome to get those outdated website cookies off your device.

When you have cached data that isn’t current, it could interfere with websites loading new content in the future. The outdated cached data in your saved cookies may conflict with new pages if a website has updated its content.

You also don’t want your computer bogged down with too many cookies because it could cause your system to be slow. These files occupy space, and the more you have, the more room they take up on your device.

There’s another crucial reason to clear cookies in Google Chrome. Third-party cookies may leave you vulnerable to website owners tracking and selling your data to advertisers and other websites. Having your data shared could result in an invasion of your online privacy — or worse, identity theft

Third-party cookies are used for tracking purposes so that websites can serve you ads that feature products closely related to something you’ve viewed in the past. Still, you may not like the idea of websites tracking your online activity.

There are, however, circumstances where you might leave cookies.

For instance, cookies can be helpful since they keep track of items in your shopping carts or login information, and you can go right back to where you left off. Cookies provide convenience, so you can keep them when you want an easier online experience.

Since cookies can come in handy at times, you can decide how often you want to remove them and if there are some you want to keep.

Pros and cons of deleting Chrome cookies

Why should you clear your cache on Chrome?

When you use a web browser like Chrome, some website information gets saved in its cache. If you clear them, it may fix website loading and formatting issues.

The cache is the reserved location for storage that keeps temporary data. It helps browsers and websites run faster, since it essentially saves a copy of images and other assets to reuse later instead of redownloading it every time it loads. Over time, your cache and cookies can accumulate and cause your browser to be slow. To keep things running smoothly, you may want to periodically clear your cache on Chrome.

You may be tempted not to clear your cache so you can keep all your stored information. If you do that for a short time, it may not matter much. Not clearing the cache at all could result in device performance issues.

Pros and cons of clearing your Chrome cache

Why should you clear your Chrome browser history?

It’s a good idea to clean your Chrome browser history so that web pages load faster. Keeping a full web history can also be problematic because some sites can keep you logged in. That may seem like a good thing, but you may not want to remain logged into multiple sites all the time — especially if you share your device with others.

Clearing your history also helps to erase any trackers that websites use to follow you around the web. It also deletes so-called digital “breadcrumbs” that could give cybercriminals info about your location, frequently visited sites, and other personal data.

But there may be times you don’t want to clear your browser history. As mentioned, not clearing your browser history keeps you logged into specific websites, so if there are ones you frequent, you may not want the hassle of having to log in repeatedly.

You can always choose what to delete so you can leave the websites you want to remain available.

Pros and cons of deleting your Chrome history

Best ad blockers for Chrome

Ad blockers not only remove annoying pop-ups, but they block trackers that log your data as well. Here are some of the best ad blockers for Chrome based on our testing:

FAQs

Bottom line

Deleting your Google Chrome cookies, cache, and browsing history is beneficial because it cleans the slate for your device to perform better without being bogged down. When you have a full cache and lots of cookies, your device can lag because there’s not enough storage space, and your browser has too many files to scan.

Clearing the cookies, cache, and browsing history also removes your personal information. That gives you back some control because sites can’t track you or your browsing history. Although rare, there are also malicious cookies that get used to sell your data to third-party sites that could send you intrusive pop-up ads and emails. We also recommend using a strong Chrome ad blocker to prevent trackers from collecting your data as you browse the internet.