How To Clear Cookies in Microsoft Edge [Step-by-Step Guide]

Learn all about how to manage cookies in Microsoft Edge, including how to clear the cache, remove your browsing history, and delete cookies.
We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Your browser stores cookies as a way to identify you and your internet history. Cookies help websites provide personalized experiences, but they’re also used to create highly targeted ad campaigns. 

If you’d like to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge, then this is the guide for you. Keep reading to learn the step-by-step process for deleting and enabling cookies, how to block cookies entirely with an ad blocker, as well as how to clear your cached data.

4.9
Ad Blocker
Total Adblock
  • Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including Facebook and YouTube ads
  • Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
  • Improves page load times and enables faster browsing
Learn More

In this article
How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge
Enable or disable cookies
Clear cache or browser history
FAQs
Bottom line

How to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge in Windows 11

There are two options to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge. You can choose to delete all of your cookies or only delete cookies from specific websites. Let's go over how to delete all cookies first.

How to delete all Edge cookies

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Click Settings.

Select Settings in the Microsoft Edge browser to manage cookies

4. Choose Privacy, search, and services.

5. Navigate to Clear browsing data now and select Choose what to clear.

Select Privacy, search, and services and choose what to clear to manage cookies in Microsoft Edge

6.  A time range will appear, and you can choose a time range from the list. (What you select will delete cookies collected from the chosen timeframe.)

Select time range from dropdown to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge

7. Choose Cookies and other site data.

8. Click Clear now.

Select cookies and other site data to clear cookies in Microsoft Edge

Now you've deleted cookies and other site data. Remember, this will cause your browser to log out of most of your accounts.

Do you use other browsers along with Edge? Learn how to manage cookies on any browser.

How to delete cookies from specific websites

If you only want to delete cookies from one site, then you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Select Settings.

Select Settings in the Microsoft Edge browser to manage cookies

4. Choose Cookies and site permissions.

5. Under the Cookies and data stored section, select Manage and delete cookies and site data.

Select cookies and data stored and manage site cookies

6. Click on See all cookies and site data.

Click see all cookies and site data to manage cookies in Microsoft Edge

7. Scroll through the list to find the site whose cookies you want to delete.

8. Once you find it, click on the down arrow to the right of the website name.

9. Choose Delete by clicking on the trash can icon.

Delete individual website cookies in Microsoft Edge

The site cookies are cleared once you hit "delete." You can repeat these same steps to delete cookies from other sites as well.

How to set up Microsoft Edge to automatically delete cookies 

Some people prefer to delete cookies every time they use the internet. However, it's a bit tedious to delete cookies after every browser session. But, luckily, there is a way to automatically delete cookies every time you close the Microsoft Edge browser.

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Select Settings.

Select Settings in the Microsoft Edge browser to manage cookies

4. Click Privacy, search, and services.

5. Under the Delete browsing data section, select Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.

Choose what to clear in Microsoft Edge

6. Toggle on Cookies and other site data.

Toggle on to clear cookies and other site data every time in Microsoft Edge browser

After you set this feature up, cookies and other site data get deleted every time you close the Microsoft Edge browser. (But don't forget, this will also sign you out of your online accounts.)

How to enable or disable cookies in Microsoft Edge

Besides deleting cookies, you may prefer to disable cookies entirely. If you prefer your privacy, disabling cookies can stop sites and third parties from tracking your online activities. There are some cons to this option, primarily because it may cause some sites to not load properly.

Let's review how to disable or manage cookies in Edge. If you change your mind in the future and want to enable cookies again, you can follow these same steps to turn them back on.

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Select Settings.

Select Settings in the Microsoft Edge browser to manage cookies

4. Click Cookies and site permissions.

5. Choose Manage and delete cookies and site data.

Select cookies and data stored and manage site cookies

6. To enable cookies, toggle on Allow sites to save and read cookie data.

7. To disable cookies, toggle on Block third-party cookies

8. To enable cookies on specific websites, add those websites to the Allow section.

9. To block cookies from a specific site, add those websites to the Block section.

Enable or disable cookies in Microsoft Edge browser

Sometimes, a site does need third-party cookies to run properly. In this case, Edge may give you a prompt asking if you want to allow a third party to have access to cookies and site data.

If you select Allow, then the third party is granted 30 days of temporary access before it automatically expires. If you would like to remove it sooner, then you’ll need to clear it manually.

Block cookies with an ad blocker

You can also disable cookies by using an ad-blocker extension or app. Ad blockers can block pop-up ads and web blocking to enhance your online privacy. Here are our top two recommendations for Microsoft Edge:

Ad blocker
CleanWeb
Best for Best overall Best all-in-one bundle
Price Free or $1.59/mo $1.99-$20.65/mo
Blocks YouTube ads
Adblock Tester score 100/100 98/100
Learn more Get Total Adblock Get Surfshark CleanWeb

How to clear cache or browser history in Microsoft Edge

Cached data is slightly different from cookies. Where cookies track your online history, cached data stores information from websites you've visited to make them load faster the next time you visit. However, you may want to clear your cache to free up disk space or if a webpage isn't loading properly.

Likewise, clearing your search history can improve your browser performance, enhance your security, and reduce targeted advertising.

Here’s how to clear the cache or browsing history in the Edge browser:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Select Settings.

Select Settings in the Microsoft Edge browser to manage cookies

4. Choose Privacy, search, and services.

5. Navigate to Clear browsing data now and select Choose what to clear.

Select Privacy, search, and services and choose what to clear to manage cookies in Microsoft Edge

6. A time range will appear, and you can choose a time range from the list. (What you select will clear your search history and cache from the chosen timeframe.)

7. Select Browsing history and Cached images and files.

8. Click Clear now.

Clear cache and browsing history in Microsoft Edge

After you've completed these steps, the Edge browser will delete the selected cached data.

There’s a shortcut for deleting your cache in Microsoft Edge: Ctrl + Shift + Del opens a window to clear the cache.

FAQs

How do I delete browsing history in Microsoft Edge?

You can delete browsing history in Microsoft Edge by following these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Select Settings.

4. Choose Privacy, search, and services.

5. Navigate to Clear browsing data now and select Choose what to clear.

6. A time range will appear, and you can choose a time range from the list. 

7. Check the box next to Browsing history.

8. Click Clear now.

You may need to turn off auto-sync if you only want to delete browsing history on one device instead of across your synced devices.

What does clearing cache do on Microsoft Edge?

Clearing cache on Microsoft Edge removes the copies of webpages, images, and media from the browser. These files are originally saved to make your connection speedier since it doesn't have to re-load websites from scratch. Clearing the cache may be beneficial if you need more disk space or run into problems with a website not loading properly.

How do I view cookies in Microsoft Edge?

If you only want to delete cookies from one site, then you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Select the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of your browser window.

3. Select Settings.

4. Choose Cookies and site permissions.

5. Under the Cookies and data stored section, select Manage and delete cookies and site data.

6. Click on See all cookies and site data.

7. Scroll through the list to find the site whose cookies you want to delete.

8. Once you find it, click on the down arrow to the right of the website name.

9. Delete saved cookies by clicking on the trash can icon.

Bottom line

Clearing your cookies and cache is an important part of managing your browsing experience and protecting your online privacy. Managing your cookie settings enables you to control how your data is being used. Meanwhile, clearing your cache every once in a while could help with internet performance or troubleshoot webpage loading problems.

If you want to improve your Microsoft Edge browsing experience, you can read up on the best ad blockers for Microsoft Edge.

#1 Adblocker — Even Blocks YouTube Video Ads
4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Total Adblock's website
Ad Blocker
Total Adblock
Up to 80% off
  • Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including Facebook and YouTube ads
  • Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
  • Improves page load times and enables faster browsing

Author Details
Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.
Kate is an Editor at All About Cookies. She has 8+ years of digital publishing experience as a content manager, developmental editor, and curriculum writer. She leverages specializations in EdTech and educational publishing to create impactful, well-researched content that aids learners of all ages.