How to clear cookies on an iPhone
Cookies and website data can accumulate on your iPhone’s Safari browser and other browsers like Chrome or Firefox. Clearing this browsing data periodically is a good idea for freeing up storage space, addressing website issues, and maintaining privacy.
Many experts recommend clearing cookies and browsing data regularly, like monthly or after sensitive browsing sessions. While clearing just the cookies won’t delete saved passwords, you’ll likely need to log back into some sites as their stored login cookies are removed.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to clear your cookies, cache, website data, and history on your iPhone, specifically in the Safari app. We’ll also touch on clearing data from specific sites or all sites, as well as alternative privacy options like private browsing and using a VPN.
How to clear cache and cookies in Safari
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap “Safari.”
3. Under “Privacy & Security,” tap “Clear History and Website Data.”
4. A pop-up will appear. Tap “All history” and then “Clear History and Data” to confirm.
This will clear your cookies, cache, website data, browsing history, and information stored by websites in Safari.
Clearing data for specific websites
If you prefer to clear data for specific sites rather than all sites, follow these steps:
1. Open Safari and tap the bookmark icon (open book).
2. Tap the website you want to clear data for.
3. Tap the “Aa” icon at the bottom left of the screen.
4. Tap “Website Settings.”
5. Tap “Clear History and Website Data.”
6. Confirm by tapping “Clear History and Data.”
Clearing cookies in other browsers
How to clear cookies on Chrome
1. Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu button.
2. Tap “Settings”, then “Privacy” and “Clear Browsing Data.”
3. Select the data types (cookies, cache, etc.) and time range.
4. Tap “Clear Browsing Data.”
How to clear cookies on Firefox
1. Open Firefox and tap the three-line menu button.
2. Tap “Settings” and then “Data Management.”
3. Tap the data types you want to clear.
4. Tap “Clear Private Data.”
FAQa
Will clearing cookies delete my saved passwords?
Clearing cookies can log you out of websites and remove saved preferences or settings. It doesn't improve device performance or security but can help with website-specific issues or privacy concerns.
Can websites still track me after clearing cookies?
Clearing cookies alone doesn't prevent websites from tracking your online activity via your IP address or other methods.
How can I browse without saving cookies?
If you're concerned about privacy, you can use private browsing modes like Safari's Private Browsing or Chrome's Incognito Mode to prevent cookies and website data being stored during that session. Some browsers also offer options to automatically clear cookies when you quit the app, serving as an alternative to manually clearing data.
Using a VPN for added privacy
Additionally, using a virtual private network (VPN) can help mask your IP address and encrypt your online activity for added privacy.