How to delete cookie files (278835)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 3.51
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x for Windows NT 3.51
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.03 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02a for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows NT 3.51
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for UNIX on HPUX
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for UNIX on Sun Solaris
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for UNIX on HPUX
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for UNIX on Sun Solaris
This article was previously published under Q278835

SUMMARY

This article describes how to delete cookie files from your computer. Note that if you want to delete cookies for every user of a computer, you must repeat the appropriate steps below when you are logged on as each user.

For more information about cookies, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260971 Description of cookies

MORE INFORMATION

ACW

Guided Help to export and delete cookies or to import cookies

Guided Help is available to export and delete cookies or to import cookies. Guided Help can guide you through the steps or Guided Help can automatically perform the steps for you.

The actions that this Guided Help performs can be undone after Guided Help is finished. To undo this Guided Help, run Guided Help again. When you are prompted by Guided Help, select either to export and delete cookies or to import cookies.

For more information about Guided Help, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

915092 Description of Guided Help for Microsoft Knowledge Base articles

Requirements to install and to use this Guided Help

  • You must be logged on to Windows by using a computer administrator account to install this Guided Help.
  • You must be running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install and to use this Guided Help.
You must first download Guided Help. To start, click the following link. Download Guided Help

Manual steps to delete cookies

To manually delete cookie files from your computer, follow the appropriate steps in this section for your version of Internet Explorer.

Warning Cookies may contain information for a customized Web page or logon information for a Web site. Before you delete your cookies, you may want to export or save them. If you are using Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, use the Import/Export Wizard in Internet Explorer to export your cookies. For more information about using the Import/Export Wizard, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

221523 Description of the Import/Export Wizard that is included with Internet Explorer 5.0 or later

If you are using a version of Internet Explorer earlier than Internet Explorer 5.0, upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer or manually copy your cookies to a safe location before you delete them.

Microsoft Windows 98 and later

  1. Quit Internet Explorer and quit any instances of Windows Explorer.
  2. In Control Panel , double-click Internet Options.
  3. On the General tab, click Delete Cookies under Temporary Internet Files, and then click OK.
  4. Click OK.

Internet Explorer 4.01 or 5.0 for UNIX on HP-UX or Sun Solaris

  1. Change to the .microsoft folder in the user's home folder.
  2. Change to the Cookies folder in the .microsoft folder.
  3. Delete all .txt files that are located in this folder. For example, delete the user@www.example.com.txt file.

Additional information

For more information about cookies, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

154360 Information about the Security Alert message for cookies in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express

223799 Description of persistent and per-session cookies in Internet Explorer

224304 Per-session cookies are not cleared until you close browser

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbACW kbHowTo kbACWsurvey kbNoLoc kbNoMT kbenv kbFAQ KB278835
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