How to remove cookies from hp laptop

If you want to clean out your Internet file cache because it has been running slow, but there are some files you do not want to delete, you will need to access your cookies. On an HP computer, like other Windows computers, all the Internet browsing files are kept in a temporary folder on your computer. You can delete them all at once, or you can view them and choose what you want to delete. If there is information you want to stay stored in your history, then it's best to manually delete them.

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Step 1

Click the "Start" menu on your desktop.

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Step 2

Select "Control Panel" from the menu.

Step 3

Click the "Security Center" icon.

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Step 4

Click "Internet Options."

Step 5

Click "Settings" under Browsing history on the General tab on the Internet Properties window.

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Step 6

Select "View files." This opens the Temporary Internet Files folder where your cookies are stored. You can now manually delete files or delete them all at once.

Clearing the cache and cookies from a web browser is an important first-step for almost any troubleshooting for internet browsing. The 'cache' is a tool used by your internet browser to speed up the page loading process. However, sometimes it can cause a problem when websites are updated and developed as files saved in the cache may conflict with what's actually coded into the website. Clearing cache and cookies is a way we can be sure that any issues you may come across are actually something wrong with the website, rather than inconsistencies caused by using different browsers.

Keyboard Shortcut for Most Browsers

If you are using Internet Explorer, Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox you can quickly clear cache with a keyboard shortcut. While in your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete simultaneously on the keyboard to open the appropriate window.

Cookies are text files left in your Internet browser's memory. Site owners use cookies to track user information and activity including personal preferences, usernames and passwords or demographic information. Clear the cookies from your HP laptop to improve its performance, especially if you've been experiencing frequent freezes or crashes. You can clear the cookies from your computer directly from the browser you use to surf the Internet.

Mozilla Firefox

Click "Tools" from the menu at the top of the Firefox browser.

Select "Clear Recent History."

Select "Everything" from the drop-down menu next to "Time range to clear."

Click the box next to "Cookies" under "Details."

Click the "Clear Now" button.

Internet Explorer

Click "Start" at the bottom-left corner of the screen and click "Control Panel."

Select "Internet Properties" from the Control Panel.

Click "Delete" under the Browsing History heading. This is found on the "General" tab, which is the default tab on the "Internet Properties" dialog box.

Check the box next to "Cookies" by clicking on it. Remove the check next to the other options.

Click "Delete."

Google Chrome

Click on the button with the wrench icon located on the Google Chrome toolbar.

Click "Options."

Click on the "Under the Hood" tab and select "Content settings" under the "Privacy" heading.

Click on the "Cookies" tab and click "All Cookies and site data."

Click "Remove all."

References

• Mozilla Firefox Help: Deleting Cookies
• Microsoft Support: How to Delete Cookie Files in Internet Explorer
• Google Chrome Help: Privacy and Security Settings: Cookies

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After accidentally stumbling into a journalism class at University of North Texas, Abby Vaun has been writing ever since. She honed her skills writing for "The Dallas Morning News" and as a copy editor for Earle Palmer Brown in New York City. From Dallas to New York to L.A., she has enjoyed freelancing for 10 years and expanding her knowledge through her profession.

More than 26% of Americans claim that they are online “constantly” and likely visit dozens, if not hundreds, of web pages per day [1]. Even if you only use the internet sparingly, you’ll need to clear your web browser history once in a while. Learn why this is an essential step in keeping your laptop or mobile device running efficiently, and read the step-by-step guide to getting it done.

What is a browser history?

Your internet browser, such as Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, saves pieces of data each time you visit a website, including every single site you’ve visited. The list of past destinations is truly the only thing considered to be a browser history, but it’s important to know that other things may be saved while you browse, too.

If you have your browser settings optimized to preload certain elements so that they come up more quickly for you, this is additional information stored on your computer within your browser history.

Tracking cookies, passwords, and additional bits of information are saved in your browsing “cache.” Your history, paired with all this other data, can tell websites what you like, how you shop, and other behavior patterns that help these sites target ads and other services at you.

Why you should clear your browser history

From the list of sites you’ve visited to temporary files, all of this web browsing data builds up over time. It can slow your browser significantly and even make your computer a bit unstable.

This is especially true if you use a more bare-bones laptop or a PC with minimal storage and memory features. Mark your calendar to refresh your browser to its normal, uncluttered state every couple of weeks or so, and you'll have a smoother online experience.

Deleting web browser history also has security benefits. If you use a shared computer, such as at a library or in a hotel business center, it can keep anyone who uses the computer after you from knowing which sites you have visited. Also, if you want to keep your loved ones from knowing what you bought them for their birthday, deleting the history ensures they can’t go back and see where you were recently shopping.

How do I find my browser history?

While you don’t need to visually review your browser history to delete it, it’s helpful to know how to get there. If you have a shared computer with kids, for example, you may want to know how to check their browser history to ensure your children aren’t visiting questionable websites. Even with monitoring software, it’s a good idea to review it once in a while.

Each browser has a slightly different way to see browsing history, but Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge make it easy by using shortcut keys. Clicking Ctrl + H will bring up your history in a new tab without extra steps.

How do I clear my browser history?

Clearing your data is just as easy as finding it and only takes a couple of extra steps.

Google Chrome Browser

• Click the three dots on the upper right to open the menu
• Choose Settings
• Select Advanced from the drop-down list
• Click Clear browsing data, being careful to select the timeframe you want. Many people choose All Time to delete all history

You can also choose to clear your browser cache of temporary files, cookies, and other data at the same time as your browsing history. If you do this, it may take a few minutes to complete. Note that if you have your browser synced across all devices for a particular Google Chrome account, those devices will have their browsing data erased, as well.

Microsoft Edge

• Click the three dots in the upper right to open the menu
• Click Settings from the drop-down menu
• Choose what you want to clear from the Clear browsing data menu
• Select Clear

Mozilla Firefox

• Click the three horizontal lines in the upper right to open the menu
• Click Options or Preferences, depending on whether you own a PC or Mac
• Click Privacy, and select the Clear your recent history link
• Choose the Details tab and pick the data you want to delete
• Pick a valid time period from the drop-down menu at the top
• Click Clear now

Apple Safari

• Open the Safari menu
• Click Clear History
• Choose the time period you would like to delete from the drop-down menu
• Click Clear History (This deletes cookies and cached data automatically)

Opera

• Click Menu in the top left of the window
• Choose More Tools, and then click Clear browsing data
• Choose the types of data you want to delete, pick a time period, and click Clear browsing data

Browsing in incognito mode

Finally, you may decide that you don’t want to risk others seeing your browsing history at all. If you’d rather not leave a browsing history that has to be deleted, consider using “Incognito mode” in Google Chrome as a way to leave no trace behind.

The drawback to this method is that no history for others means no history for you either. You’ll have to remember the places you’ve visited or search for them each time to want to revisit.

• Activate Incognito Mode by clicking on the Chrome Browser menu
• Click New Incognito Menu
• You can also use the shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + N

Browser history recovery

If you delete your browser history and then immediately regret it, you may be able to restore that information. This will depend on the browser you use, and if you’ve logged into any accounts that sync your browser between devices. Google Chrome, for example, saves browsing history in your Google account, even if you’ve deleted it from individual PCs.

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