“How do I control which websites can store cookies on my computer, and where can I view the cookies that Microsoft Edge has already saved?” This question reflects a common concern among users who want to maintain privacy while browsing or troubleshoot website login issues across their Windows devices.
Controlling cookies in Microsoft Edge for enhanced privacy
Understanding cookie management becomes essential as websites increasingly rely on stored data to personalize user experiences and track browsing behavior. Microsoft Edge provides comprehensive cookie controls that allow users to view, edit, delete, and configure cookie permissions for individual websites or entire browsing sessions.
In this post, you will learn to navigate Edge’s settings menu, customize cookie permissions for specific sites, and leverage the browser’s built-in tools to view detailed cookie information including expiration dates and values. To follow the tutorial – Microsoft Edge browser installed on Windows 10 or Windows 11, basic familiarity with browser navigation, and administrator access to modify browser settings if using a managed device.
View cookies in Edge windows for detailed analysis
Accessing Microsoft Edge cookie settings through the main interface
• Navigate to Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner, then select “Settings” from the dropdown menu to access the browser’s configuration options. If you’re experiencing issues with your browser, you might also want to check our guide on how to fix File Explorer not responding in Windows 11 as browser problems can sometimes be related to system file issues.
• Click “Cookies and site permissions” in the left sidebar menu, which opens the privacy and security section where you can configure how Edge handles website data and permissions.
• Select “Cookies and site data” to view the main cookie management interface where you can see current settings, manage stored cookies, and configure automatic deletion preferences.
• Toggle the “Allow sites to save and read cookie data” option to enable or disable cookie functionality entirely, though disabling this may break many website features and login sessions.
Microsoft Edge edit cookies using developer tools inspection
• Press F12 or right-click on any webpage and select “Inspect” to open the Microsoft Edge Developer Tools, which provide advanced cookie viewing and editing capabilities for web developers and power users.
• Click the “Application” tab in the Developer Tools panel, then expand the “Cookies” section in the left sidebar to see all cookies stored for the current website domain and its subdomains.
• Select a specific cookie from the list to view detailed information including name, value, domain, path, expiration date, and security flags in the main panel area below the cookie list.
• Double-click on any cookie value field to edit the stored data directly, allowing you to modify session information, user preferences, or authentication tokens for testing and troubleshooting purposes.
See cookies in Edge browser through site-specific permissions
• Return to the main Edge settings by pressing Alt+F and selecting “Settings,” then navigate back to “Cookies and site permissions” to manage individual website cookie permissions and stored data.
• Click “See all cookies and site data” to open a comprehensive list showing every website that has stored cookies, along with the total amount of data stored for each domain.
• Use the search box at the top of the cookie list to quickly locate specific websites or cookie names, making it easier to manage cookies for frequently visited sites or troubleshoot specific issues.
• Click on any website entry to expand and view all individual cookies stored by that domain, including third-party cookies from advertising networks, analytics services, and embedded content providers.
View all cookies in Edge with advanced filtering options
• Select specific cookies from the expanded website view and click the trash icon to delete individual cookies, or use the “Remove all” button to clear all stored data for that particular website.
• Configure automatic cookie deletion by returning to the main “Cookies and site data” settings page and enabling “Delete cookies and site data when you close all Microsoft Edge windows” option.
Expert Tip: Use the “Block third-party cookies” setting to enhance privacy while still allowing essential first-party cookies that enable website functionality and user authentication to work properly.
• Set up custom cookie permissions by clicking “Add” next to “Allow” or “Block” sections, then entering specific website URLs to create exceptions for trusted sites or problematic domains that require special handling.
Microsoft Edge browser cookie troubleshooting solutions
- Cookies not saving properly across browser sessions: Check if “Delete cookies and site data when you close all Microsoft Edge windows” is enabled in cookie settings, as this prevents persistent login sessions and website preferences from being retained between browsing sessions.
- Website login issues after clearing cookies: Navigate to the specific website’s cookie permissions in Edge settings and ensure it’s not blocked, then try logging in again while monitoring the Developer Tools Application tab to verify new cookies are being created and stored correctly.
- Third-party authentication problems with social media logins: Disable “Block third-party cookies” temporarily in Edge cookie settings, complete the authentication process, then re-enable the blocking feature while adding the authentication provider’s domain to your allowed list for future use.
- Cookie editing changes not taking effect immediately: After modifying cookie values through Developer Tools, refresh the webpage completely using Ctrl+F5 to force a full reload, or close and reopen the browser tab to ensure the website recognizes the updated cookie information properly.
Important Tip: Always backup important login credentials before clearing cookies, as this action will log you out of most websites and may require password recovery for accounts where you’ve forgotten login details.