How to View Cookies

This wikiHow teaches you how to view cookies (small files stored on the computer, allowing some scripts to be customized to meet the user’s needs) on the desktop version of browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer and Safari.

Table of Contents

Google Chrome

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Launch Google Chrome. This icon is shaped like a green, red, blue and yellow sphere.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f5/View-Cookies-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-2- Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f5/View-Cookies-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-2-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:337,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:534,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click . This icon is located in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7e/View-Cookies-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-3- Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/View-Cookies-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-3-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the Settings action at the bottom of the drop-down menu.

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Scroll down and click Advanced . You will find this option at the bottom of the page.

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Click Content settings . This is towards the bottom of the “Privacy” group of preferences.

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Click on the Cookies option located at the top of the page. A list of cookies and other temporary browser files will appear.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/76/View-Cookies-Step-7-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-7- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/76/View-Cookies-Step-7-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-7-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

View browser cookies. All of this content is located under the “All cookies and site data” heading near the bottom of the page. Cookies are files that have “[number] cookie(s)” next to them.

You can click on an item and see a list of cookie names, then click on each cookie within that item’s list to see the properties.

Firefox

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e9/View-Cookies-Step-8-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-8- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e9/View-Cookies-Step-8-Version-3.jpg/v4-719px-View- Cookies-Step-8-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:358,”bigWidth”:719,”bigHeight”:560,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Launch Firefox. The app looks like a blue globe surrounded by an orange fox.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3a/View-Cookies-Step-9-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-9- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3a/View-Cookies-Step-9-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-9-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:334,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:529,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the ☰ icon located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/72/View-Cookies-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-10- Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/72/View-Cookies-Step-10-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-10-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the Gear-shaped Options icon, located in the drop-down menu.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/26/View-Cookies-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-11- Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/26/View-Cookies-Step-11-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-11-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the Privacy tab on the left side of the page.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1a/View-Cookies-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-12- Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1a/View-Cookies-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-12-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:344,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:545,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click remove individual cookies . This option is a link in the middle of the page. Then, the list of cookies of Firefox browser will appear.

If you are using a custom setting for your Firefox history, the option to remove individual cookies may not be visible; instead, click the Show Cookies button on the right side of the page.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1a/View-Cookies-Step-13-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-13- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1a/View-Cookies-Step-13-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-13-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

View browser cookies. Firefox cookies are organized by page. When you double click on a site folder, the cookies for that site are displayed, when you keep clicking on one of them, the cookie’s specific properties are displayed.

Microsoft Edge

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/23/View-Cookies-Step-14-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-14- Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/23/View-Cookies-Step-14-Version-4.jpg/v4-720px-View- Cookies-Step-14-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:358,”bigWidth”:720,”bigHeight”:560,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Launch Microsoft Edge. The app is dark blue with a white “e” above it.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5c/View-Cookies-Step-15-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-15- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5c/View-Cookies-Step-15-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-15-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Navigate to the page where you want to view cookies. Because the Edge browser does not store cookies according to a specific installation directory, you will have to visit the website to which those cookies are attached.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a7/View-Cookies-Step-16-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-16- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a7/View-Cookies-Step-16-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-16-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the … button located in the upper right of the Edge window.

Internet Explorer

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Launch Internet Explorer. This icon has a light blue “e” shape with a yellow stripe.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/33/View-Cookies-Step-22-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-22- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/33/View-Cookies-Step-22-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-22-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the ⚙️ button located in the upper-right corner of the Internet Explorer window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/17/View-Cookies-Step-23-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-23- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/17/View-Cookies-Step-23-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-23-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click Internet Options . This action is located near the bottom of the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fd/View-Cookies-Step-24-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-24- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fd/View-Cookies-Step-24-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-24-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click Settings . This option is in the lower right of the “Browsing history” section.

If you don’t see Settings , click the General tab at the top of the Internet Options window first.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ee/View-Cookies-Step-25-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-25- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ee/View-Cookies-Step-25-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-25-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click View files . This option is located near the bottom of the Settings pop-up window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d5/View-Cookies-Step-26-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-26- Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d5/View-Cookies-Step-26-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-26-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

View Internet Explorer cookies. The files in this directory are all temporary files from the browser, but among them, cookies are files with the words “cookie:[username]” inside the name.

Unlike most browsers, you cannot view the specific properties of a cookie on Internet Explorer.

Safari

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f3/View-Cookies-Step-27-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-27- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f3/View-Cookies-Step-27-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-27-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Launch Safari. The app has a blue compass shape.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/27/View-Cookies-Step-28-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-28- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/27/View-Cookies-Step-28-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-28-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click Safari . This is a menu item located at the top left of the screen.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8b/View-Cookies-Step-29-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-29- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/8b/View-Cookies-Step-29-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-29-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click Preferences near the top of the drop-down menu.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5c/View-Cookies-Step-30-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-30- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5c/View-Cookies-Step-30-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-30-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the Privacy tab in the middle of the top row of options of the Preferences window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4b/View-Cookies-Step-31-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-31- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/4b/View-Cookies-Step-31-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-31-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Click the Manage Website Data task near the center of the window.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/50/View-Cookies-Step-32-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View-Cookies-Step-32- Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/50/View-Cookies-Step-32-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-View- Cookies-Step-32-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

View browser cookies. All the files shown here are temporary files from websites, but among them, only files with the word “Cookies” below the filename are cookies.

Advice

Clearing your browser’s cookies every few weeks will help maintain your computer’s performance.

Warning

Cookies help your computer load frequently visited web pages faster, so if you delete a website’s cookie, the next time you visit, the page load speed will become slower than usual.

Steps