How to clear cookies on your Mac in Safari and other web browsers

HTTP cookies, also known as web cookies or browser cookies, serve an important role on the internet.

Cookies remember website configurations, login details, search history, products added to your shopping cart, and other browsing data — all with the practical purpose of storing your preferences so you can have a personalized browsing experience.

But cookies can also be used to track and identify you. They're the reason why some online ads seem eerily specific to you and only you, based on your past web history. These cookies are known as third-party cookies.

When you clear cookies on a Mac, you erase all that saved information from your browser. There are a few reasons why you should regularly clear your cookies:

• They can slow your browser down: Deleting your cookies frees up space on your device, so it can improve its overall performance, including browsing speed.

• They store your personal information: If privacy is a concern, you should regularly clear your cookies. This is especially important if you share your device with others. 

• They are susceptible to hackers: The fact that cookies store personal information makes them a prime target for hackers to steal your data. 

The good news is that clearing cookies is a straightforward process in Safari on a Mac, and other third-party browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Below, we'll show you how to clear cookies on all of them.

What happens when you clear cookies?

After you clear cookies, sites will take longer to load the next time you visit them, because content needs to load again. For some sites, you may also need to sign in again or re-enter your login information. If you were about to purchase an item, your shopping cart may be empty. Likewise, the ads you see online may no longer be catered to your interests.