To clear cookies on iPhone without losing your history, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data and tap Remove All Website Data, then Remove Now. To stop new cookies being saved, turn on Block All Cookies on the Advanced screen, but expect some sites to stop letting you sign in.
Cookies are the small bits of data a website saves on your phone so it remembers you: your login, your basket, your settings. Most of the time they're helpful. When a site starts misbehaving, or you'd simply rather not be remembered, you've got three tools on an iPhone: remove the cookies you already have, block new ones, or let Safari limit the tracking kind while keeping the rest.
Removing stored cookies and keeping your history
This is the cleanest way to clear cookies on their own. Your list of visited sites stays put.
- Open Settings and tap Apps.
- Tap Safari, then scroll down and tap Advanced.
- Tap Website Data.
- Tap Remove All Website Data.
- Tap Remove Now to confirm.
Apple says this clears data used for tracking and the data websites use to save your login for faster browsing. In plain terms, you'll be signed out almost everywhere, so I'd make sure your passwords are saved before you do it.
Blocking cookies from now on
- Go to Settings > Apps > Safari and tap Advanced.
- Turn on Block All Cookies.
- Tap Block All.
Two things happen straight away. All existing cookies and website data are removed, and Safari quits and reloads your tabs. From then on, sites can't save new cookies on your phone.
What breaks when every cookie is blocked
Apple is upfront about the downside, and it's bigger than most people expect. With all cookies blocked:
- You'll likely not be able to sign in to a site, even with the right username and password.
- You might see a message saying cookies are required or that your browser's cookies are off.
- Some features on a site might not work.
That rules it out for most small-business owners who spend all day in web apps. Your email, your scheduling tool and your online banking will all want cookies. If you hit that wall, go back to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced and turn Block All Cookies off again. Apple's guide says that lets sites that need cookies work normally.
The middle ground most people want: cross-site tracking
Here's the setting that's on by default and does a lot of the work for you. Under Settings > Apps > Safari, Prevent Cross-Site Tracking limits third-party cookies and data. Those are the cookies that follow you from one site to the next so ads can trail you around the web. First-party cookies, the ones that keep you signed in to the site you're on, still work.
If you've ever wondered why a shoe advert hasn't chased you around Safari the way it does elsewhere, that's usually why. I'd leave it on.
It's also worth knowing that clearing your Safari history goes a step further than removing cookies. Apple says it also removes the permissions you've granted to websites to use your location or send you notifications, so you'll be asked again the next time a site wants them. That's handy if you've said yes to a pushy notification prompt and can't remember which site it was.
Cookie options compared
| Option | Existing cookies | New cookies | Signing in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove All Website Data | Removed | Allowed again | You'll need to sign in once more |
| Block All Cookies | Removed | Blocked | Often fails |
| Prevent Cross-Site Tracking (default) | Kept | Third-party ones limited | Works normally |
| Clear History and Website Data | Removed along with history | Allowed | Sign in afresh |
What about one website's cookies?
This is where people get stuck. Apple's current help pages describe removing all website data in one go, but they don't describe a per-site cookie delete. What Apple does give you per site is:
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- Website Settings. Open the site in Safari, tap the Page Menu button, tap Website Settings, and change the settings listed below Website Settings For. That's where you set exceptions for one site.
- Removing a site from your history. In Safari's History, tap More, then Select Websites, choose the site and tap the Trash button. Note that this removes the history entry, not necessarily the site's stored data.
So if one site is the problem and you'd rather not be signed out of everything else, try signing out of that site and back in first. If that doesn't fix it, Remove All Website Data is the reliable reset.
Content blockers as an extra layer
If you want more control than Safari's built-in settings, Apple supports content blockers. Download a content blocking app from the App Store, then go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Extensions and turn it on. Apple says these can block cookies, images, pop-ups and other content, and you can run more than one. Check reviews before you install one, because it'll see the pages you visit.
My take
Don't block all cookies unless you enjoy being locked out of your own accounts. Leave Prevent Cross-Site Tracking switched on, and when a site misbehaves, use Remove All Website Data as a once-in-a-while reset. That's the balance I'd recommend to any business owner who runs half their work through a browser. If email is the other half of your work on the phone, my roundup of email apps for iPhone is a good next read, and if you need to show a client a website problem, here's how to screen record on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Will clearing cookies sign me out of websites?
Yes, in most cases. Apple says the website data removed includes what sites use to save your login.
Does blocking cookies delete the ones I already have?
Yes. Turning on Block All Cookies removes all existing cookies and website data, then Safari quits and reloads your tabs.
Why can't I sign in after blocking cookies?
Many sites need cookies to keep you signed in. Turn off Block All Cookies in Settings, Apps, Safari, Advanced.
What does Prevent Cross-Site Tracking do?
It limits third-party cookies and data by default, while sites you visit directly can still remember you.
Can I clear cookies for just one site on iPhone?
Apple's help pages describe removing all website data, not one site. You can set exceptions per site in Website Settings.
