How to Delete Cookies on Your iPhone or Android: And the Reason Behind It
We’ve all experienced this scenario: You’re having a conversation on Facebook about an arbitrary topic like visiting Portugal or preparing brisket, and shortly after, you notice increased online advertisements and information popping up related to Portugal or brisket. everywhere . What gives? Is your phone spying on you Sure thing. This issue might stem from your device’s cookies, potentially causing a decline in your phone’s efficiency. That's precisely why you should familiarize yourself with clearing cookies on both iPhones and Android devices.
"Cookies are small pieces of information that assist websites in remembering your identity... and they can have both positive and negative aspects," according to Rich DeMuro, the radio host. Rich on Tech and author of 101 Useful Technical Tips for your iPhone The same applies to your cache, which mirrors the cookie scenario and similarly requires maintenance. However, surprisingly, you won’t receive notifications encouraging these advisable actions on your device; thus, you might feel somewhat bewildered.
Relax—you’re among experts. Having spent three decades as a technology reporter, I’ve fielded numerous queries about clearing cookies and caches to enhance both security and efficiency on devices. Alongside DeMuro and Rebecca Herold, who leads Privacy & Security Brainiacs, I’ll guide you through the process of removing cookies and cache from your mobile phone and shed light on the reasons behind these actions. tech tips are so important.
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What are cookies, exactly?
Cookies are small data files that get stored on your device (such as a phone) to assist websites in remembering details about you, such as your identity, searches you have conducted, and settings you’ve configured within your web browser. For instance, cookies can remember where you live ,enabling a website to provide timely weather updates or alert you about abandoned items in your shopping cart when you revisit the online store.
"Both positive and negative aspects exist," states DeMuro. "Cookies keep you signed in to websites without needing repeated login attempts, yet they can monitor your activity across different sites as well." This explains why you might encounter advertisements for Portugal and barbecue brisket popping up everywhere online.
Certain cookies are considered "essential" because they are crucial for a website to operate properly and for accessing all its functionalities; such cookies can work without obtaining explicit permission from the user, as stated by Herold. Conversely, "nonessential" or "third-party" cookies necessitate user approval before being employed. They serve more supplementary purposes rather than critical ones. These include analytical cookies which track how you interact with a site, along with advertising cookies designed to show targeted ads—both of which might or might not align with your preferences.
What reasons are there for clearing cookies on your smartphone?
The primary reasons for clearing cookies on your smartphone, as recommended by experts, include:
- To protect your privacy. Nonessential cookies, often set by ad networks, search engines, device makers, and major social platforms, serve to monitor your online activities or display targeted advertisements based on your interests and browsing behavior. However, consider how much personal preference and detail you're willing to share with technology corporations. Additionally, think about the risks involved when a website holding confidential details of yours experiences a security leak. According to DeMuro, he advises blocking or disabling third-party cookies since this limits their ability to gather information on you for tracking purposes across different websites.
- To resolve a website issue. Occasionally, websites might not load correctly, encounter login problems, or experience display malfunctions ("glitches") leading to freezes or unexpected closures. By clearing your cookies, you start afresh with these web pages. free up storage And boost your gadget’s general efficiency. This can be particularly beneficial for older smartphones that have restricted RAM and storage space.
Although this piece centers around smartphones, it’s crucial to recognize that cleaning up cookies on a computer holds significant importance as well—particularly when sharing the device with others. This practice safeguards your private data by guaranteeing that you remain signed out from all visited sites, preventing subsequent users from accessing your accounts inadvertently.
How can you remove cookies from an iPhone?
Every iPhone utilizes Apple’s Safari as the standard web browser. Here are the instructions to clear cookies on an iPhone:
- Navigate to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Site Data.
- Once the option "Erase Browsing & Download History" appears, tap it to confirm.
This iPhone trick will not remove data saved in Autofill, including your passwords, addresses, and credit card details, but it will Close all the Safari tabs you have open.
Looking to prevent all cookies on Safari from now on?
- Navigate to Settings > Safari > Advanced.
- Next, enable "Block All Cookies."
This approach is typically discouraged. Blocking every cookie could lead to certain websites functioning poorly—or not working at all. You might encounter messages stating that cookies are necessary to view the page, experience trouble logging in, or find that various functionalities do not operate correctly. It’s advisable instead to opt for an alternative method: when prompted by a webpage seeking approval to use cookies, choose “only essential cookies.”
How can you remove cookies on an Android device?
As most non-iPhone gadgets operate on Google's Android OS, they typically come with Google Chrome set as the standard web browser. However, Samsung smartphones running an Android system might opt for their own Samsung browser instead; nonetheless, Google Chrome will usually be pre-installed or can easily be downloaded at no cost from the Google Play Store. Below are instructions on clearing cookies using Chrome on Android devices:
- Launch the Google Chrome application.
- Click on the three horizontal dots located at the upper-right corner of your screen.
- Choose History > Erase Browsing Data.
- Now select the checkboxes beside the items you want to remove: Browsing History, Cookies and Site Data, as well asCached Images and Files.
- Click the inverted triangle beside "Time Range" to specify the duration you want to clear; options include anything from the past hour up to "All Time."
- Lastly, press the "Clear Data" button located at the bottom of your screen to finish up.
To prevent website cookies from being stored in Chrome on an Android device, follow these steps:
- Tap the three horizontal dots located at the upper-right corner of your display.
- Choose Settings > Site Settings.
- Click on the "Third-Party Cookies" tab followed by selecting "Block Third-Party Cookies."
As stated in the iPhone segment, disabling all cookies entirely is not recommended since it can lead to problems when accessing certain sites. However, the Chrome browser setting mentioned previously helps with this issue. only Third-party (non-essential) cookies, as suggested.
What sets cookies apart from cache?
Cookies and cache are frequently grouped because they both consist of small pieces of data saved on your devices; however, these two concepts differ. According to DeMuro, "The cache holds the content of websites you have visited before," which allows pages to load more quickly during subsequent visits due to previously downloaded elements like logos, images, or crucial webpage details being readily available. When you access a new website for the first time, your web browser retrieves a duplicate of this site and saves it within your cache. This way, upon revisiting the site later, your device does not need to redownload all the components from the internet anew.
However, all this minor data can consume significant storage space, cautions Herold, reducing the available memory and intruding on the space meant for your pictures, documents, and various applications. Additionally, they can also reduce your smartphone's reaction speed , reduces its overall efficiency and leads to more frequent freezing or crashing episodes.
Removing your cache can resolve these issues and decrease the amount of tracking by various sites. However, keep in mind that this typically erases website settings, history of pages viewed, video titles watched, music listened to, sign-in details, items left in shopping carts, as well as identification markers (or user IDs), according to Herold.
How to Clear Cache on an iPhone
To clear the cache on an iPhone, follow the identical steps used for clearing cookies.
- Navigate to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
- Once the option "Erase Browse History and Data" appears, tap it to confirm.
This action will also close all your open Safari tabs similar to when you clear your cookies; however, it should preserve your autofill data, such as passwords. It’s still wise to back up this information, perhaps storing it somewhere dependable like a secure location. password management app Additionally, keep in mind that there isn’t an option to clear the cache for every app on an iPhone simultaneously.
How can you remove cached data from an Android device?
To clear the cache in Google Chrome on an Android device, follow these steps:
- Launch the Chrome browser and press the three dots located at the upper-right corner.
- Choose Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data >Cached images and files.
Similar to iPhones, you can’t clear the cache for all third-party applications simultaneously on an Android device. If you want to clear the cache for separate apps on an Android smartphone, here’s what you should do:
- Navigate to Settings > Applications.
- Next, choose a specific application and tap on "Storage."
- If you notice "Clear cache," tap on it. If it’s not visible, then that specific app does not permit clearing its cache.
FAQs
What is the recommended frequency for clearing cookies on an iPhone or Android device?
Cybersecurity companies Trend Micro and AVG suggest setting a monthly reminder to clear your cookies to keep your device running smoothly. In other words, be proactive with this to allay privacy concerns and prevent performance problems.
As mentioned before, certain websites might inquire about your cookie preferences, allowing you to refuse those that aren't essential (such as third-party cookies).
How frequently should you empty the cache on your mobile device?
Make sure to empty your cache either monthly or bi-monthly. As stated by CNET, most individuals only require clearing their caches once per month or every two months since this is typically when the accumulated data starts impacting performance. However, if you visit numerous websites frequently, it’s better to clean your cache more regularly. Additionally, whenever your web browsing seems slower than normal, attempting to clear your cache might resolve the issue.
What do I stand to lose if I delete my cookies?
When you remove cookies, you might find yourself frequently signing back into websites like your email or bank because they won’t recognize you anymore. Additionally, personal settings and preferences linked with those cookies can disappear too. However, data such as passwords stored in autofill features on your phone or managed through dedicated applications will likely stay intact when you revisit these platforms.
Removing just the non-essential third-party cookies implies that advertisers aiming to show you tailored advertisements (or monitor your online activity) will not be capable of doing so.
What am I giving up if I delete my cache?
When you clear your cache, it eliminates all the temporary versions of a webpage and its associated files. As a result, every subsequent visit to the site requires a fresh download—ideally with fewer problems. However, refrain from doing this excessively as advised; frequent clearing can actually hinder your online experience since sites must redownload all their information anew. According to DeMuro, “Frequent deletion of your cache could potentially slow down your web surfing because each website needs to fully reload itself.”
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest Has produced numerous pieces on personal tech, empowering readers with insights to safeguard against cyber threats and online frauds, alongside sharing top tips, hacks, and shortcuts for devices like computers, smartphones, applications, messaging services, social platforms, among others. In crafting this article about removing cookies, Marc Saltzman leveraged his three-decade career as a seasoned tech reporter and host of the widely distributed podcast. Tech It Out The radio show and podcast were enhanced when Burton Kelso, who owns the tech repair firm Integral and has over three decades of expertise in technology, conducted an extensive evaluation. This ensured that every piece of information was precise and provided top-notch guidance for the audience. Our team depends on certified professionals with practical knowledge along with firsthand sources such as tech firms, industry associations, and educational bodies. All details and statistics undergo verification and continuous updates to maintain their accuracy. Learn more about our process here. team , our contributors and ourselves editorial policies .
Sources:
- Rebecca Herold, CEO of Privacy & Security Brainiacs ; Email interview conducted on June 26, 2024
- Rich DeMuro , host of the Rich on Tech radio show and podcast host, and an author of 101 Useful Tech Tips for Your iPhone ; Email interview conducted on June 26, 2024
- CNET Beginning of the Month, Don’t Forget to Clear Your iPhone Cache
- Apple :"Empty your cache and cookies on your iPhone"
- AVG How to Remove Cache from Android Devices
- Samsung What exactly are cookies, and how can you turn them on or off on your Samsung Galaxy device?
The post How to Remove Cookies on iPhones and Androids—And Why It’s Beneficial appeared first on Reader's Digest .
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