Delete cookies in Edge with one click

Open Microsoft Edge and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. This opens the Clear Browsing Data window. Check the box next to "Cookies and other site data," set the time range to "All time" if you want to remove everything, then click "Clear now." Edge will delete all cookies matching your settings within seconds.

If you prefer using the menu instead, click the three-dot icon in the top right corner, select "Settings," then go to "Privacy, search, and services." Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear" and follow the same steps above.

Key Takeaways

  • The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac) opens the Clear Browsing Data window directly.
  • You can delete all cookies at once or choose a specific time range — last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks, or all time.
  • Edge lets you delete cookies while keeping other browsing data like passwords and autofill information if you uncheck those boxes.
  • You can set Edge to delete cookies automatically every time you close the browser by turning on "Clear browsing data" in Settings.

Choose what time period of cookies to delete

When you open the Clear Browsing Data window, you will see a dropdown menu at the top that says "Time range." Click it to choose how far back you want to go. The options are "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," "Last 7 days," "Last 4 weeks," and "All time."

Select "All time" if you want to remove every cookie Edge has stored. This is useful if you are selling your computer, giving it to someone else, or want a completely fresh start with websites. If you only want to delete recent cookies — for example, from the last day — choose "Last 24 hours" instead.

Delete only cookies, not passwords or other data

The Clear Browsing Data window shows checkboxes for different types of data: cookies, browsing history, read history, autofill form data, and more. By default, several boxes are checked. If you want to delete only cookies, uncheck everything except "Cookies and other site data."

This matters because deleting your browsing history will remove the list of websites you have visited, and clearing autofill data will erase saved addresses and payment information. If you only want cookies gone but want to keep your passwords and saved information, make sure only the cookies box is checked before clicking "Clear now."

Set Edge to delete cookies automatically

You can tell Edge to delete cookies every time you close the browser, so you do not have to do it manually. Click the three-dot menu, go to "Settings," then select "Privacy, search, and services." Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and turn on the toggle next to "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser."

Once you turn this on, a new option appears below it: "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser." Click "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser" and check only "Cookies and other site data" if you want Edge to delete only cookies. Every time you close Edge completely, those cookies will be removed automatically.

Understand what cookies do and why you might delete them

Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about you. They track what you have looked at, keep you logged in to accounts, and remember your preferences like language or theme settings. Some cookies are useful — they let you stay logged into email or shopping sites without typing your password every visit.

Other cookies track your activity across multiple websites to show you targeted ads. Deleting cookies can improve privacy and stop some tracking, though it also means websites will not remember you the next time you visit. You may have to log back into accounts, and shopping carts will be emptied. If you delete cookies regularly, you will need to log in more often.

Delete cookies for a single website

If you only want to delete cookies from one specific website, you do not need to clear everything. Visit that website in Edge, then press Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows or Command + Option + I on Mac to open the Developer Tools. Click the "process" tab, then select "Cookies" in the left sidebar and click the website name.

Right-click any cookie and select "Delete" to remove individual cookies, or right-click and select "Delete All" to remove all cookies for that site. This is useful if a website is behaving strangely or you want to log out completely without affecting your cookies on other sites. Close the Developer Tools when you are done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting cookies log me out of my accounts?

Yes. Cookies keep you logged in, so deleting them will log you out of email, social media, banking, and other accounts. You will need to log back in the next time you visit those sites. If you want to stay logged in somewhere, do not delete cookies or use the single-website method instead.

Do I need to delete cookies regularly?

No, but some people do for privacy reasons. Deleting cookies stops websites from tracking your activity across the internet and removes targeted ads. However, it also means websites will not remember you, so you will log in more often. The choice depends on whether privacy or convenience matters more to you.

What is the difference between cookies and browsing history?

Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited — it shows up when you press Ctrl + H. Cookies are files websites store on your computer to remember information about you. You can delete one without deleting the other by unchecking the boxes you do not want cleared.

Can I delete cookies without closing Edge?

Yes. Open the Clear Browsing Data window with Ctrl + Shift + Delete and click "Clear now" while Edge is still open. The cookies will be deleted when ready. You only need to close Edge if you have set it to delete cookies automatically when you close the browser.