How can I see what Cookies are on my Computer?
Cookies are maintained by your web browser, so the method for viewing them will vary depending on which browser you are using. The method for how to view cookies is listed below.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 - 10.0
Select the 'Tools->Internet Options' menu item, and then click the 'Settings' button under the 'General' tab. Click the 'View Files' button to see a list of the temporary internet files that Explorer has stored. Cookies have names that begin 'cookie:' - the Internet Address column will tell you which website created the cookie.
Note - the 'Tools' option can also be accessed by clicking the 'gear' icon in Internet Explorer's toolbar.
Firefox 7.0 and newer
Select the 'Tools->Options' menu item (may be under the Firefox button) and click on the 'Privacy' tab. Click the 'remove individual cookies' link, and you will be shown a list of all cookies stored by Firefox. You can delete selected cookies if you wish, or you can click 'Remove All Cookies' to delete them all, or simply browse through the list to see which websites have stored cookies on your computer.
Google Chrome
Choose 'Settings' on the 'Cutomize and control' menu, click 'Show advanced settings' at the bottom of the screen. In the 'Privacy' section, click on the 'Content settings...' button then click the 'all cookies and site data' button. You will be shown a list of all websites which have stored cookies on your computer. Selecting a website allows you to see the cookies, and selecting a cookie shows you the data stored in it.
Apple Safari 5.1
Choose 'Preferences...' on the 'Settings' or 'Edit' menu (Windows) or the Safari menu (MacOS), then open the 'Privacy' tab and click the 'Details...' button. You will be shown a list of all cookies stored on your computer. Individual cookies can be deleted by selecting them and clicking 'Remove' or they can all be deleted by clicking 'Remove All'.
Apple iOS 5 or later (iPhone, iPad)
From the home screen tap the 'Settings' icon, then choose 'Safari'. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap 'Advanced'. Tap 'Website Data' to see a list of cookies.
Android
Android does not appear to allow users to view individual cookies. You can delete all cookies, or enable/disable them.
Windows Phone 7/8
Windows Phone does not appear to allow users to view individual cookies. You can delete all cookies, or enable/disable them.
Note: If you delete or edit cookies on your computer, some websites may require you to re-enter the information which was previously stored in their cookies.
How do I Enable Cookies and Disable Cookies?
This section will tell you how to enable cookies (turning cookies on) and also how to disable them. Since cookies are maintained by your web browser, the method for enabling or disabling them will vary depending on which browser you are using.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 - 10.0
Select the 'Tools->Internet Options' menu item, and then open the 'Privacy' tab - you can then adjust the slider to block or allow various categories of cookie. Alternatively by clicking 'Advanced...' you can exercise finer control over the browser's behavior, choosing whether to accept, block, or prompt for cookies originating either on the website you are visiting (first party cookies) or originating from websites other than the one you are visiting (third party cookies, typically used by banner advertisements hosted on an advertiser's website).
Firefox 7.0 and newer
Use the 'Tools->Options' menu item (may be under the Firefox button), then choose the 'Privacy' tab. Set the 'Firefox will:' option to 'Use custom settings for history'. Now you can choose whether cookies are enabled for websites you visit and third party websites, and if so how long they will persist. You can also use the 'Exceptions' button to override the settings for particular websites.
Firefox 3.0
Use the 'Tools->Options' menu item, then choose the 'Privacy' tab. Here you can choose whether cookies are enabled, and if so how long they will persist. You can also use the 'Exceptions' button to override the settings for particular websites.
Google Chrome 5.0
Choose 'Options' on the 'Cutomsize and control' menu, then open the 'Under the Bonnet' tab. In the 'Privacy' section, click on the 'Content settings...' button and open the 'Cookies tab. Set the required cookie behaviour and use the 'Exceptions...' button (if required) to configure specific websites.
Apple Safari 5.1
Choose 'Preferences...' on the 'Settings' or 'Edit' menu (Windows) or the Safari menu (MacOS), then open the 'Privacy' tab. Now set the required cookie behaviour.
Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad)
From the home screen tap the 'Settings' icon, then choose 'Safari'. Find the 'Accept Cookies' option and set the required cookie behaviour.
Android
Tap the 'Internet' icon to start the browser, then press the phone's menu button. From the list of options, choose 'More', and then select 'Settings'. Scroll down the resulting list and check or uncheck the 'Accept Cookies' item.
Windows Phone 7/8
In Internet Explorer, tap 'More...' then 'Settings'. Check or clear the 'Allow cookies on my phone' item to set the required cookie behaviour.
Note: Disabling cookies will prevent some websites from working correctly, and may mean that you are prompted to re-enter information that would normally have been stored in a cookie.
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