Clear your cookies in Edge with three clicks

Open Microsoft Edge and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on your keyboard (or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac). This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly. Select the time range at the top — choose "All time" if you want to remove everything Edge has stored. Check the box next to "Cookies and other site data", then click the blue "Clear now" button at the bottom right.

That's the fastest way. If you prefer using the menu instead, click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of Edge, select "Settings", then "Privacy, search, and services" on the left side. Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear". The same window opens, and you follow the same steps.

Edge will clear the cookies when ready. You'll stay logged into most sites until you close and reopen the browser, because Edge keeps some session data separate from stored cookies. When you close Edge completely and open it again, you'll be logged out of most accounts.

Key Takeaways

  • The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens the clear data window in seconds, faster than using the menu.
  • Always select "All time" at the top if you want to remove all cookies, not just recent ones.
  • Clearing cookies logs you out of most websites the next time you open Edge, so save any work first.
  • Cookies return when ready when you visit websites again — clearing them once does not stop Edge from collecting new ones.

What actually gets deleted when you clear cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your computer. They remember your login information, your shopping cart, your language preference, and which ads you've seen. When you clear cookies, Edge deletes all of those files. The next time you visit a website, it won't remember you were there before.

The "Cookies and other site data" checkbox also removes cached images and files — the copies of pictures and videos that Edge saved so pages load faster the next time you visit. It removes site permissions you granted — like allowing a website to use your location or camera. It does not remove your saved passwords, unless you check that box separately.

If you only want to clear cookies from specific websites, Edge doesn't have a built-in option for that. You would need to clear all cookies and then log back into the sites you use regularly. Some people do this on purpose — clearing everything weekly or monthly — to limit how much data websites collect about them over time.

The difference between clearing cookies once and blocking them going forward

Clearing cookies removes the ones Edge has already stored. Blocking cookies prevents Edge from storing new ones. These are two separate settings, and doing one does not do the other.

To block cookies going forward, go to "Settings" > "Privacy, search, and services" and scroll down to "Cookies and site permissions." You'll see three options: "Allow all cookies" (the default), "Block only third-party cookies", or "Block all cookies". If you choose "Block all cookies," many websites will break — you won't be able to log in, your shopping cart won't work, and pages may not load properly. Most people choose "Block only third-party cookies" instead, which stops advertisers from tracking you across multiple websites while still letting individual sites function.

If you clear cookies but don't change this setting, Edge will start collecting new cookies the moment you visit your first website. You'd need to clear them again next week to have the same effect. Some people set up a schedule — clearing cookies weekly or monthly — as a regular privacy habit.

Why you might want to clear cookies regularly

Websites use cookies to build a profile of your interests and browsing habits. Advertisers buy access to that data to show you targeted ads. Data brokers — companies that collect and sell personal information — sometimes buy cookie data to add to the profiles they sell about you. Clearing cookies regularly breaks that chain. It makes it harder for advertisers and brokers to track your movement across the web.

Clearing cookies also removes login information, which means you'll need to enter your password the next time you visit a site. For sites you visit daily, this is annoying. For sites you visit rarely, it's a small price for privacy. You can choose which sites matter to you — log back into your email and banking sites when ready, but stay logged out of news sites or shopping sites that track heavily.

Clearing cookies does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you're on their network, or the websites themselves. It only stops cookies from being stored on your device. If you want broader privacy, you'd also want to use a VPN or a privacy-focused browser, but clearing cookies is a straightforward first step that takes seconds.

How to prevent Edge from asking to save passwords when you clear cookies

When you clear cookies, Edge usually forgets your login information. The next time you visit a site and log in, Edge will ask if you want to save your password. If you clear cookies frequently, this gets repetitive.

You can turn off password-saving entirely. Go to "Settings" > "Passwords" and toggle off "Offer to save passwords." You can still save passwords manually by clicking the key icon that appears in the address bar when you log in, but Edge won't prompt you automatically.

Alternatively, you can tell Edge to clear cookies automatically every time you close the browser. Go to "Settings" > "Privacy, search, and services" and toggle on "Clear browsing data." Then check the boxes for what you want cleared — "Cookies and other site data" is usually the main one. From then on, every time you close Edge completely, those items disappear. This is more aggressive than clearing manually, because it happens whether you remember or not.

Clearing cookies on different devices

If you use Edge on multiple devices — a laptop, a tablet, a work computer — you'll need to clear cookies on each one separately. Edge does not sync cookie clearing across devices. You can sync your passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history if you're signed into the same Microsoft account on each device, but cookies stay local to each device.

On a shared computer, clearing cookies is especially important. If you log into your email or banking site on a shared device and don't clear cookies, the next person who uses that computer can access your accounts. Make it a habit: after you use a shared computer, open Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, select "All time," check "Cookies and other site data," and click "Clear now."

On your phone, the process is similar but slightly different. Open Edge, tap the three dots at the bottom right, select "Settings," then "Privacy," then "Clear browsing data." Choose your time range and what to clear, then tap "Clear now." The same rules explore — you'll be logged out of most sites the next time you open Edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies log me out of everything?

Yes, clearing cookies logs you out of most websites. When you close and reopen Edge, you'll need to log back in. Some sites with special security features may keep you logged in longer, but most won't. Save your work before clearing cookies if you're in the middle of something.

Do I need to clear cookies if I use InPrivate browsing?

No. InPrivate mode (Edge's private browsing) doesn't store cookies at all — they disappear when you close the window. You don't need to clear them because they were never saved. Open a new InPrivate window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P, or click the three dots and select "New InPrivate window."

Can I clear cookies from just one website?

Edge doesn't have a one-website option in the clear data menu. You can manage individual site permissions by going to Settings > Privacy > Site permissions, finding the site, and clicking "Manage." You can clear that site's data there, but it's slower than clearing everything at once.

What happens to my saved passwords when I clear cookies?

Passwords are stored separately from cookies. Clearing cookies does not delete your saved passwords unless you check the "Passwords" box in the clear data window. By default, passwords stay saved even after you clear cookies.

How often should I clear cookies?

That depends on your privacy comfort level. Some people clear weekly, some monthly, some never. If you're concerned about tracking, weekly is reasonable. If you're on a shared device, clear after every use. If you're on your personal device and don't mind targeted ads, you don't have to clear at all.