Managing Cookies in Chrome on Android: A Comprehensive Guide

Cookies are small files created by websites you visit, designed to enhance your online experience by saving information about your visit. They keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and provide locally relevant content. Understanding how to manage cookies in Chrome on your Android device is crucial for maintaining your privacy and optimizing your browsing experience.

What are Cookies?

There are two main types of cookies:

• First-party cookies: These are created by the website you are currently visiting.
• Third-party cookies: These are created by other sites, often embedded in the content of the website you are visiting, like images, ads, or text. These cookies can track you across multiple websites.

Deleting Cookies in Chrome on Android

Deleting cookies can help protect your privacy and clear up storage space. However, it will also sign you out of websites and delete saved preferences.

Deleting All Cookies:

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap the More icon (three dots) in the top right corner, then select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data.
4. Choose a time range, such as "Last hour" or "All time".
5. Check the box next to "Cookies and site data" and uncheck all other items.
6. Tap Clear data.

Deleting Cookies from a Single Site:

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Go to the website you want to delete cookies from.
3. In the address bar, tap the Page Info icon (a padlock or "i" icon).
4. Tap Cookies and site data.
5. Next to the number of cookies in use, tap Remove.

Allowing or Blocking Third-Party Cookies

Managing third-party cookies allows you to control how websites track your activity across the web. Blocking third-party cookies can enhance your privacy, but it might also cause some websites to function incorrectly.

Blocking or Allowing Third-Party Cookies Globally

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.

2. Tap the More icon (three dots) in the top right corner, then select Settings.

3. Tap Site settings, then Third-party cookies.

4. Select one of the following options:

   • Allow third-party cookies.
   • Block third-party cookies in Incognito mode.
   • Block third-party cookies.
   • Note: If you are part of a test group, you may see different options.

Allowing Third-Party Cookies for a Specific Site:

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap the More icon (three dots) in the top right corner, then select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and security, then Third-party cookies.
4. Tap Add site exception.
5. Enter the web address and tap Add.

Temporarily Allowing Third-Party Cookies for a Specific Site

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device and navigate to the desired website
2. Tap the Page Info icon (a padlock or "i" icon) in the address bar.
3. Tap Cookies and site data
4. Turn the Third-party cookies toggle on or off.

Allowing Related Sites to Access Your Activity

Some companies define groups of related sites to keep you signed in across multiple sites. Google Chrome allows you to control whether these sites can access your activity.

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap the More icon (three dots) in the top right corner, then select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and security, then Third-party cookies.
4. Toggle "Allow related sites to see your activity in the group" on or off.

Managing Third-Party Cookies for Test Group Users

Google is testing new features in Chrome that limit third-party cookies by default for a specific group of users. If you are part of this test group, you can manage your third-party cookie preferences in your "Privacy and Security" settings.

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.

2. Tap the More icon (three dots) in the top right corner, then select Settings.

3. Tap Privacy and security, then Third-party cookies.

4. Customize your settings:

   • Block all third-party cookies: This will block all third-party cookies from sites you visit.
   • Send "Do Not Track" request: Requests that sites not track you (sites may or may not comply).
   • Sites allowed to use third-party cookies: Check and edit which sites you allow to use third-party cookies.

Additional Resources

• Delete browsing data in Chrome
• Clear cache & cookies
• Manage your ad privacy in Chrome

By understanding and managing cookies in Chrome on your Android device, you can achieve a better balance between privacy and a personalized browsing experience.