HTTP cookies were originally meant for websites to remember useful information about the user so as to better serve them. They are, however, often abused by third-parties for commercial and/or tracking purposes, making it an annoyance and a privacy nightmare. While Google has announced plans to replace web cookies with so-called ‘trust tokens’, the plan is unlikely to be widely implemented any time soon. So today, we are showing you how you can delete (clear) and disable (or enable) cookies in Google Chrome on Android and Windows 10.
The problem with rogue cookies is especially acute on mobile platforms, which do not typically offer as much leeway as desktop platforms to safeguard online privacy. Many browsers, however, either block third-party cookies entirely or offer users the ability to manage them in a relatively efficient way. So without further ado, let’s check out how you manage, delete (clear) and disable (or enable) cookies in Google Chrome on Android smartphones and tablets.
- Delete Cookies in Google Chrome on Android
- Disable or Enable Cookies in Google Chrome on Android
- Delete Cookies in Google Chrome on Windows
- Disable or Enable Cookies in Google Chrome on Windows
Manage Cookies in Google Chrome on Android Devices
The process of deleting cookies from Google Chrome is similar on Android and iOS with minimal deviations. If you use an iPhone, you should still be able to follow the guide below to delete cookies on Google Chrome in your device.
Open Chrome and tap on the menu button (three dots) on the top-right corner. On the next page, hit Settings.
Now move to the Advanced tab [1] and use the drop-down menu [2] choose a time range, like Last Hour or All Time. Now select the check-boxes for the things you want to delete [3], and finally, hit Clear Data [4]. Confirm by tapping on Clear on the popup dialog box.
You can allow cookies from the site you visit, while blocking cookies from other sites that show ads or images on the webpage. To block these third-party cookies, opt for the third-option in the screenshot above.
The process of deleting cookies from Google Chrome is similar on Windows and macOS with minimal deviations. If you use a Mac, you should be able to follow the guide below to delete cookies on Google Chrome in your device.
- Open Google Chrome on your computer and click on the menu button (three dots) on the top-right corner. On the drop-down menu, hit Settings.
That’s it! You have successfully cleared browsing data and all web cookies from Google Chrome on your phone. Remember, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to delete your browsing history on all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Either way, we will now see how we can allow (enable) or block (disable) cookies saved by websites.
- Navigate to More > Settings as described above. Now scroll down and select Cookies and other site data under Privacy and Security.
Manage Cookies Like a Pro to Avoid Targeted Advertising
Google Chrome may be the most popular web browser on both Windows and Android, but it’s notorious for its numerous privacy faux pas, including surreptitious tracking without user-consent. So if you want to ensure even more privacy, check out how you can fake geo-location on all the major web browsers. You can also check out how you can open any major browser in Incognito or Private mode by default every time. If even that’s not enough, check out our list of the best Chrome alternatives to move to a safer, more privacy-oriented browser.
