How to Delete Cookies and Browsing History Safely
Every time you browse the internet, websites store tiny files called cookies on your device. These cookies help websites remember your preferences, login details, and browsing activity. While they can be useful, they also track your online behavior, slow down your browser, and sometimes even pose a security risk.
In addition to cookies, your browsing history keeps a record of the websites you’ve visited. If you’re using a shared computer or simply want to maintain your privacy, regularly clearing this data is essential.
In this guide, we’ll explain what cookies and browsing history are, why you should delete them, and how to do it safely across different devices and browsers. For a complete online safety approach, check out The Ultimate Guide to Staying Safe Online in 2025.
What Are Cookies and Why Should You Delete Them?
Cookies are small data files that websites store on your device to improve user experience. While some cookies are harmless, others—such as tracking cookies – are used by advertisers to monitor your browsing habits and serve targeted ads.
Why You Should Delete Cookies Regularly:
- Protect Your Privacy – Prevent websites and advertisers from tracking your online activity.
- Improve Browser Performance – Deleting cookies can help speed up your browser and free up storage.
- Fix Website Issues – Sometimes, corrupted cookies can cause login errors or prevent pages from loading properly.
- Enhance Security – Cybercriminals can exploit stored cookies to hijack accounts or steal personal data. Learn how to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams to protect yourself from online threats.
By clearing cookies, you remove stored login sessions, tracking data, and unnecessary files that could compromise your privacy and security.
What Is Browsing History and Why Should You Clear It?
Your browsing history is a log of all the websites you’ve visited, along with timestamps and cached files. While keeping a history can be convenient for revisiting sites, it can also expose sensitive information – especially if someone else gains access to your device.
Reasons to Clear Your Browsing History:
- Maintain Privacy – Prevent others from seeing your visited websites, especially on shared or public computers.
- Prevent Data Collection – Many websites and search engines use your browsing history to personalize ads and content.
- Reduce Clutter – Deleting history helps clean up old website data, improving browsing speed.
- Avoid Auto-Suggestions – Removing history prevents previous searches and sites from automatically appearing in your browser’s address bar.
How to Delete Cookies and Browsing History on Popular Browsers
Google Chrome (Desktop & Mobile)
- Open Chrome and click on the three-dot menu (top-right corner).
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data.
- Choose a time range (Last hour, 24 hours, 7 days, 4 weeks, or All time).
- Check Browsing history, Cookies, and Cached images.
- Click Clear data to delete everything.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Firefox and click on the menu button (three lines in the top-right corner).
- Select Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
- Check Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content, then click Clear.
- To clear your browsing history, go to History > Clear Recent History and select the time range.
Microsoft Edge
- Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services.
- Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies, and other site data.
- Click Clear now.
Safari (Mac & iPhone)
Mac:
- Open Safari and go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy.
- Click Manage Website Data and Remove All to delete cookies.
- To clear browsing history, go to History > Clear History and choose a time range.
iPhone/iPad:
- Open Settings > Safari.
- Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Confirm by tapping Clear History and Data.
Best Practices for Safe and Private Browsing
Even after clearing cookies and history, your browsing habits can still be tracked in other ways. To maximize your online privacy, consider these best practices:
- Use Private Browsing Mode – Most browsers offer an Incognito Mode or Private Browsing feature that doesn’t save cookies or history.
- Enable a VPN – A Virtual Private Network (VPN) hides your IP address, preventing websites from tracking your location. We recommend NordVPN or ProtonVPN for strong encryption and fast browsing speeds.
- Block Third-Party Cookies – In your browser’s privacy settings, disable third-party cookies to prevent tracking.
- Use Privacy-Focused Browsers – Browsers like Brave and DuckDuckGo block trackers and automatically clear cookies. For even stronger protection, check out The Ultimate Guide to Using Browser Privacy Extensions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Clearing Cookies and History
- Forgetting to Save Important Passwords – If you rely on stored cookies for logins, make sure to save passwords in a secure password manager before clearing them.
- Not Clearing Cached Data – Cached images and files take up space and may still track your activity – be sure to select this option when clearing data.
- Over-Relying on Incognito Mode – Private browsing prevents cookies from being stored but doesn’t hide your activity from your internet provider or employer. To fully protect your privacy, learn How to Set Up a VPN on Any Device: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Take Control of Your Online Privacy Today
The internet is a powerful tool, but it also collects a lot of data about you. By regularly clearing cookies and browsing history, you can protect your privacy, improve your browsing speed, and reduce online tracking.
Taking just a few minutes to delete unnecessary data can prevent security risks, keep your personal information safe, and give you greater control over your online experience.
Want to enhance your online privacy? Start using a VPN like NordVPN or ProtonVPN to keep your browsing activity private and secure.
