Cookies aren’t popular with security and privacy experts. Websites use cookies to collect your information, and malware such as browser hijackers uses malicious cookies to control your browser. So how do you clear cookies from your iPhone, and is it worth doing so in the first place? Let’s dive in.

What happens when you clear cookies on your iPhone?

Cookies are coded data that sites put on your iPhone or device to remember you when you revisit them. When you delete cookies, you erase all information stored in your browser. Automatic “remember me” login options will no longer work for your sites, as cookies save your website preferences, your account, and sometimes even your passwords. Additionally, if you clear cookies and block them, some sites may malfunction, and others will ask you to turn cookies off. Before erasing your cookies, ensure you have the login information for all the sites you use in your browser to avoid lengthy recovery processes.

How to Clear Cache and Cookies on iPhone or iPad?

Delete the history, cache, and cookies

1. Go to Settings > Safari.
2. Tap Clear History and Website Data.

Clearing your history, cookies, and browsing data from Safari won’t change your AutoFill information.

When there’s no history or website data to clear, the clear button turns grey. The button might also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time.

Clear cookies and cache, but keep your history

1. Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
2. Tap Remove All Website Data.

When there’s no website data to clear, the clear button turns grey.

Delete a website from your history

1. Open the Safari app.
2. Tap the Show Bookmarks button, then tap the History button.
3. Tap the Edit button, then select the website or websites you want to delete from your history.
4. Tap the Delete button.

Block cookies

A cookie is a piece of data that a site puts on your device so that it remembers you when you visit again.

To block cookies:

1. Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.
2. Turn on Block All Cookies.

If you block cookies, some web pages might not work. Here are some examples.

• You will likely not be able to sign in to a site even using your correct username and password.
• You might see a message that cookies are required or that your browser’s cookies are off.
• Some features on a site might not work.

Use content blockers

Content blockers are third-party apps and extensions that let Safari block cookies, images, resources, pop-ups, and other content.

To get a content blocker:

1. Download a content-blocking app from the App Store.
2. Tap Settings > Safari > Extensions.
3. Tap to turn on a listed content blocker.

You can use more than one content blocker.

How to delete cookies on an iPhone?

Delete cookies in Safari on iPhone

Clearing cookies in Safari on your iPhone or iPad is straightforward. You even have the option to erase cookies on your iPhone, clear the browser cache, and delete your website browsing history all at once.

To clear Safari cookies, cache, and history on your iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Safari.
• Select Clear History and Website Data.

Note: Clearing your history, cookies, and browsing data from Safari won’t change your AutoFill information, an Apple feature that saves your authentication information for sites or payments.

Delete cookies but not Safari browser history

If you want to keep your browser history but delete cookies, there is a simple way to do that in Safari.

To clear cookies but keep your history:

• Then navigate to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
• Tap Remove All Website Data.

You can also turn on Private Browsing if you want to visit sites without them being registered in your history.

How to turn off cookies on an iPhone??

Are you sick of dealing with cookies and want to avoid all interactions with them? No problem. You can turn off cookies on your iPhone by blocking them in Safari.

To block cookies in Safari:

• Navigate to Settings > Safari.
• Turn on Block All Cookies.

What happens if you block all cookies on your iPhone?

Blocking all cookies on your phone will strengthen your security and privacy; however, there are some drawbacks you might consider. For example, some sites require cookies to log in. You might even enter your correct username and password only to have the site not recognize you due to blocked cookies.

Some sites have built-in features that require active cookies. These features will malfunction, behave strangely, or not work at all. Cookies and streaming media are also heavily linked, and users complain about poor streaming experiences due to blocked cookies. The industry is moving toward a cookieless future, so most modern sites operate perfectly without cookies or with cookies blocked. As a result, some sites might not work properly.

Many users leave cookies turned on for sites they trust and delete the rest to avoid issues. But the reality is that while cookies have come a long way, the industry is shifting away from their use. Global user perception of cookies has changed, which is why so many sites ask for your permission to save cookies in your browser. The bottom line is that besides strengthening your security and privacy, blocking cookies only on your iPhone should not affect your daily life. However, it may alter your internet experience.

How to get rid of cookies in Chrome for iPhone

If you are a Google Chrome fan, you probably use it on your iPhone. Fortunately, deleting Chrome cookies is easy. Follow a few simple steps.

To remove cookies from your iPhone:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Chrome.
2. Tap More > Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.
4. Check Cookies and Site Data. 
5. Uncheck the other items.
6. Tap Clear Browsing Data > Clear Browsing Data.
7. Tap on Done.

How to erase cookies in Firefox for iPhone?

When deleting cookies in Firefox, things get more complex due to the browser’s specific options. You can clear recent history and specific websites’ history, individual site data, and private data.

To clear recent history in Firefox:

1. Tap the menu button at the bottom of the screen (the menu will be at the top-right if you’re using an iPad).
2. Select History from the bottom panel to see your visited sites.
3. Tap Clear Recent History…
4. Choose from the following timeframes to clear:
   • The Last Hour
   • Today
   • Today and yesterday.
   • Everything

To clear a specific website in Firefox:

1. Tap the menu button.
2. Select History from the bottom panel to see your visited sites.
3. Swipe right on the website name you want to remove from your history and tap Delete.

To clear private data in Firefox:

1. Tap the menu button.
2. Tap Settings in the menu panel.
3. Under the Privacy section, tap Data Management.
4. At the bottom of the list, select Clear Private Data to remove all website data.

With these options in Firefox, you will also clear browsing history, cache, cookies, offline website data, and saved login info. You can select different timeframes or specific sites to clear. 

Cookies may be on their way out, but they’re still used extensively by users worldwide every day. And while they may seem harmless, experts have long proven that cookies can be used by cybercriminals and marketers who abuse personal data. To keep your iPhone safe and avoid giving your information to unknown and untrusted sites, keep an eye on your cookies. From clearing cookies to blocking them entirely, you can now choose how you manage your data and browser information on your iPhone. 

How to delete cookies on iPhone in Chrome?

1. On your iPhone, open Google Chrome 
2. Tap the Menu button (it has three dots) in the bottom right corner of the screen
3. Choose History
4. Tap Clear Browsing Data 
5. Tap Cookies, Site Data
6. The last step is to click Clear Browsing Data. You will have to click Clear Browsing Data again to confirm you want to do this. 

Similar techniques are used for other third-party web browsers on iPhone to delete cookies; you must do so from within the browser app rather than through the iOS menus. 

How to Clear iPhone History?

Your browser keeps a history of all the websites you’ve visited to make previously accessed sites run faster. However, all that information stored in your browser history raises privacy concerns and slows down your browser over time. Here’s how to clear your search history on your iPhone whether you use Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox.

How to Clear History in Safari on Your iPhone?

Wiping your browsing history in Safari is simple. You can delete your history for individual websites or all your browsing history for all your synced iOS devices. Here’s how:

How to Clear All Safari History?

1. Open the Settings app. This is the app with a gear icon.
2. Scroll down and tap on Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
4. Finally, tap Clear History and Data. Once cleared, this option will be greyed out.

Warning:

Doing this will also clear your history, cookies, and other browsing data from all your other iOS devices signed into your iCloud account. However, it does not clear your Autofill information.

How to Clear the History of Individual Sites on Safari?

1. Open the Safari app.
2. Tap on the Bookmarks icon. This is the icon that looks like an open-blue book. It is located at the bottom of your screen.
3. Tap on History. This is the clock icon on the upper-right corner of your screen.
4. Swipe left on a website and tap the red Delete button.

How to Clear History Based on Time Periods in Safari?

1. Open the Safari app.
2. Tap on the Bookmarks icon.
3. Tap Clear at the bottom right of the screen.
4. Select the time range to delete from your browsing history. You can choose the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time.

How to Clear Chrome History on Your iPhone?

Chrome keeps records of your visits in the past 90 days. To clear up this record, you can delete sites one by one or clear your entire search history at one time. Follow the steps below.

How to Clear All Browsing History on Chrome?

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Then tap More (the icon with three grey dots).
3. Next, tap History in the pop-up menu.
4. Then tap Clear Browsing Data. This will be on the bottom left of the screen.
5. Make sure Browsing History has a checkmark next to it.
6. Then tap the Clear Browsing Data button.
7. Confirm the action on the pop-up box that appears.