Article ID: 278835
Article Last Modified on 12/13/2007
APPLIES TO
- Windows Internet Explorer 7
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
This article was previously published under Q278835
SUMMARY
This article describes how to delete cookie files from your computer. You can decide to have Guided Help delete the cookie files from your computer for you, or you can manually delete cookie files from your computer. The "How to automatically delete cookies in Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP" section contains instructions on how to have Guided Help perform the steps for you.
Note If you want to delete cookies for every user on your computer, you must repeat the appropriate steps when you are logged on as each user.
This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.
You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.
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
How to export or save your cookies before you delete them
Cookies may contain information for a customized Web page or may contain logon information for a Web site. Before you delete your cookies, you may want to export or save them. Use the Import/Export Wizard in Internet Explorer to export your cookies. For more information about how to use 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
Note In Windows XP, you can use Guided Help to save or export your cookies. For more information about Guided Help, see the next section.
How to automatically delete cookies in Internet Explorer 7 or in Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP
Use Guided Help to automatically delete cookies.
Note For Windows Vista, see the "How to manually delete cookie files in Internet Explorer 7" section.
ACW
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
For information about how to use Guided Help, visit the following Web site, and then follow the prompts.
How to manually delete cookie files in Internet Explorer 7
- Exit Internet Explorer 7, and then exit any instances of Windows Explorer.
- Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press ENTER.
- On the General tab, click Delete under Browsing History in the Internet Properties dialog box.
- In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete Cookies.
- In the Delete Cookies dialog box, click Yes.
How to manually verify that the cookie files are deleted in Internet Explorer 7
- Exit Internet Explorer 7, and then exit any instances of Windows Explorer.
- Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press ENTER.
- In the Internet Properties dialog box, on the General tab, click Settings under Browsing History.
- In the Temporary Internet Files and History Settings dialog box, click View Files. This opens the folder where your cookie files are stored.
- In the folder that you opened in step 4, verify that there are no .txt files.
How to manually delete cookie files in Internet Explorer 6
- Exit Internet Explorer 6, and then exit any instances of Windows Explorer.
- Click Start, click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press ENTER.
- On the General tab, click Delete Cookies in the Internet Properties dialog box, under Temporary Internet Files.
- In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK.
How to manually verify that the cookie files are deleted for Internet Explorer 6
- Exit Internet Explorer 6, and then exit any instances of Windows Explorer.
- Click Start, and then click Run, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press ENTER.
- In the Internet Properties dialog box, on the General tab, click View Files under Temporary Internet Files.
- In the folder that you opened in step 4, verify that there are no text files.
Similar problems and solutions
For more information about cookies, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
283185 How to manage cookies in Internet Explorer 6
224304 Per-session cookies are not cleared until you close browser
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
If these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles do not help you resolve the problem, or if you experience symptoms that differ from those that this article describes, please search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more information. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Then, type the text of the error message that you receive, or type a description of the problem in the Search Support (KB) field.
Keywords: kbacw kbhowto kbfaq kbenv kbexpertisebeginner kbnomt kbceip kbresolve KB278835
