Cookies are stored by web browsers, not by Windows 10 as one system-wide collection. To delete them, use the privacy controls in the browser where you visited the site. Clearing cookies can sign you out of websites and reset preferences.
- Open Edge’s menu and choose Settings.
- Open the privacy, search, and services section.
- Find the browsing-data controls and choose the option to clear browsing data.
- Select Cookies and other site data and the time range you want.
- Clear the selected data.
Edge’s labels can change as the browser is updated, so use its current Settings search if you cannot find the exact menu.
Open Chrome Settings and go to its Privacy and security controls. Use the browsing-data deletion tool, select cookies/site data, choose an appropriate time range, and confirm. Chrome also provides site-specific data controls when you only need to reset one website.
In Firefox, open Settings and use the Privacy & Security section to manage cookies and site data. Deleting cookies in Edge does not remove Firefox or Chrome cookies because each browser maintains its own profile.
Try removing data for one site first
If one website has a broken login or stale preference, clearing only that site’s data is less disruptive than deleting every cookie. This preserves sessions and preferences on unrelated sites.
Cookies and cached files are not the same
Cookies can store session identifiers and site preferences. Cached images and files are local copies of web resources used to speed loading. A troubleshooting guide may ask you to clear one, the other, or both, so read the selection carefully.
Think before clearing saved sign-in state
Make sure you know important account passwords and have access to required multifactor-authentication methods before clearing large amounts of browser data. Removing cookies can force websites to authenticate you again.
Windows 10 consideration
For this guidance, remember that Windows 10’s standard free-support period ended October 14, 2025; post 52700 should be maintained with that lifecycle in mind. Modern browsers have their own update lifecycles, but a current browser cannot patch security flaws in an unsupported operating system.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.