How to delete cookies and browsing history?

Cookies and browsing history are an essential part of our online activities. Cookies are small files that websites place on our devices to store information about our preferences, login details, and browsing activities. Browsing history, on the other hand, is a record of the websites we visit, including the pages we view, the searches we make, and the links we click.

While cookies and browsing history can be helpful, they can also pose a privacy risk. For instance, cookies can be used to track our online activities and serve us targeted ads. Browsing history can reveal sensitive information about our interests, habits, and personal life. Therefore, it's essential to learn how to delete cookies and browsing history periodically to protect our privacy and security. In this article, we'll explore the steps involved in deleting cookies and browsing history on various devices and browsers.

Deleting Cookies and Browsing History on Desktop Browsers

Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers, with over 2 billion active users worldwide. To delete cookies and browsing history on Chrome, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Chrome and click on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner.

• Step 2: Click on More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.

• Step 3: Choose the time range you want to clear. You can select All Time to delete all cookies and browsing history.

• Step 4: Tick the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Browsing history.

• Step 5: Click on Clear data.

Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is another popular browser that offers robust privacy features. To delete cookies and browsing history on Firefox, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Firefox and click on the three-line icon on the top-right corner.

• Step 2: Click on Library > History > Clear Recent History.

• Step 3: Choose the time range you want to clear. You can select Everything to delete all cookies and browsing history.

• Step 4: Tick the boxes next to Cookies and Browsing & Download History.

• Step 5: Click on Clear Now.

Safari

Safari is the default browser on Mac computers and iOS devices. To delete cookies and browsing history on Safari, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Safari and click on History on the top menu bar.

• Step 2: Click on Clear History.

• Step 3: Choose the time range you want to clear. You can select All History to delete all cookies and browsing history.

• Step 4: Click on Clear History.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is the default browser on Windows 10 and offers seamless integration with Microsoft services. To delete cookies and browsing history on Edge, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Edge and click on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner.

• Step 2: Click on History > Clear browsing data.

• Step 3: Choose the time range you want to clear. You can select All time to delete all cookies and browsing history.

• Step 4: Tick the boxes next to Cookies and browsing history.

• Step 5: Click on Clear now.

Deleting Cookies and Browsing History on Mobile Browsers

Chrome for Android

Google Chrome is also available on Android devices and offers similar privacy features. To delete cookies and browsing history on Chrome for Android, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Chrome and tap on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner.

• Step 2: Tap on History > Clear browsing data.

• Step 3: Choose the time range you want to clear. You can select All time to delete all cookies and browsing history.

• Step 4: Tick the boxes next to Cookies and site data and Browsing history.

• Step 5: Tap on Clear data.

Safari for iOS

Safari is the default browser on iOS devices and offers robust privacy features.

• Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Safari.

• Step 2: Tap on Clear History and Website Data.

• Step 3: Confirm by tapping on Clear History and Data.

Firefox for Android

Mozilla Firefox is also available on Android devices and offers robust privacy features. To delete cookies and browsing history on Firefox for Android, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Firefox and tap on the three-dot icon on the top-right corner.

• Step 2: Tap on Settings > Privacy > Clear private data.

• Step 3: Tick the boxes next to Browsing history and Cookies and active logins.

• Step 4: Tap on Clear data.

Deleting Cookies and Browsing History on Other Devices

In addition to desktop and mobile browsers, cookies and browsing history can be stored on other devices, such as gaming consoles, smart TVs, and routers. Here are some tips on how to delete cookies and browsing history on these devices:

Gaming Consoles

Gaming consoles, such as PlayStation and Xbox, have built-in web browsers that store cookies and browsing history. To delete cookies and browsing history on gaming consoles, follow these steps:

PlayStation 4:

• Step 1: Go to Settings > Web Browser > Delete Cookies.

• Step 2: Go to Settings > System Storage Management > Applications > Web Browser > Delete.

Xbox One:

• Step 1: Go to Settings > Disc & Blu-ray > Persistent Storage > Clear persistent storage.

• Step 2: Go to Settings > Network > Advanced settings > Alternate MAC address > Clear.

Smart TVs

Smart TVs often come with pre-installed web browsers that store cookies and browsing history. To delete cookies and browsing history on smart TVs, follow these steps:

Samsung Smart TV:

• Step 1: Press the Home button on your remote.

• Step 2: Go to Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset Smart Hub.

• Step 3: Enter your PIN (default is 0000) and select Yes.

LG Smart TV:

• Step 1: Press the Home button on your remote.

• Step 2: Go to Settings > General > Reset to Initial Settings.

• Step 3: Enter your PIN (default is 0000) and select OK.

Routers

Routers are network devices that route traffic between devices and the internet. Some routers have built-in web browsers that store cookies and browsing history. To delete cookies and browsing history on routers, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open your router's web interface by typing its IP address in your browser's address bar.

• Step 2: Enter your router's username and password (default is usually admin/admin).

• Step 3: Go to the web browser settings and clear cookies and browsing history.

In conclusion, cookies and browsing history can be useful for improving our browsing experience, but they can also pose a privacy risk if left unchecked. Therefore, it's essential to know how to delete cookies and browsing history periodically on our devices and browsers. By doing so, we can protect our privacy, prevent targeted ads, and reduce our digital footprint. We hope this article has provided you with useful tips on how to delete cookies and browsing history on various devices and browsers.