Cookies (or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites and applications store on your device. They help remember logins, interface settings, shopping carts, and even personalized advertising. On Android these files are distributed in different folders depending on the browser, application and operating system version. But where exactly to look for them? And why do standard cleaning settings not always delete everything?

In this article we will look in detail at:

  • 📁 Where they are physically stored cookies in the Android file system (including hidden folders and paths for Chrome, Firefox, Samsung Internet and other browsers).
  • 🔍 How to access to these files without root access and with them (including commands ADB for advanced users).
  • ⚠️ How dangerous manual deletion of cookies and how to do it safely without breaking applications.
  • 🛠️ Alternative methods managing cookies through Android settings and third-party utilities.

If you have ever encountered the fact that after clearing the cache in your browser, sites still “remember” you, or want to manually delete cookies for a specific domain - these instructions are for you. We will also look at why on some firmwares (for example MIUI or One UI) file paths may differ from the standard ones.

📊 How often do you clear cookies on your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when problems arise
Never cleared

1. What are cookies and why look for them manually

Cookies (from English cookie) are text files that are created by websites and stored on your device. They contain data in the "key=value" format, for example:

user_session=abc123xyz; expires=Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:28:00 GMT; domain=.example.com

These files perform several key functions:

  • 🔑 Authentication: save session tokens so that you do not have to log in every time.
  • 🛒 Shopping carts: remember added products even after closing browser.
  • 🎯 Personalization: store language settings, themes, content recommendations.
  • 📊 Analytics: track user behavior for statistics (for example, Google Analytics).

However, cookies can become a problem:

  • 🕵️‍♂️ Privacy leak: some files contain personal data (for example, email or geolocation).
  • 🐢 Slowdown work: thousands of cookies from different sites take up space and can slow down page loading.
  • 🔄 Session conflicts: outdated cookies can cause authorization errors or incorrect display of sites.

Standard clearing the cache in the browser settings does not delete all cookies. For example, in Chrome the "Delete" option. data about viewed pages" does not affect files associated with Service Workers or Web Storage. Therefore, sometimes manual intervention is required.

💡

If the site still “remembers” your data after clearing the cookies, check Local Storage and IndexedDB in the developer tools browser (available via chrome://inspect on Android).

2. Standard paths for storing cookies on Android

Cookies on Android are stored in protected folders, access to which is limited. Their location depends on the browser and OS version. Below is a current list of paths for popular applications:

Browser/Application Cookie path Do you need root access? Notes
Google Chrome /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies Yes File format SQLite (can be opened via DB Browser for SQLite).
Samsung Internet /data/data/com.sec.android.app.sbrowser/app_gecko/Default/cookies.sqlite Yes On devices Samsung s One UI path may differ depending on the version.
Mozilla Firefox /data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/*.default/cookies.sqlite Yes Profile name (asterisk) may vary (for example, xxxxx.default-release).
Opera /data/data/com.opera.browser/app_opera/Default/Cookies Yes Same as Chrome, but with a different package name.
Applications (WebView) /data/data/[package_name]/app_webview/Default/Cookies Yes Replace [package_name] on the application ID (for example com.facebook.katana for Facebook).

Please note: on Android 10+ and newer Google has tightened the folder access policy /data/data/Even with root access, some files may be blocked due to SELinux or App Sandbox. In such cases, only ADB with superuser rights will help.

Why are the paths to cookies different on custom firmware?

On firmware like LineageOS, MIUI or ColorOS manufacturers may change the folder structure for optimization or security. For example, Xiaomi cookies MIUI Browser can be stored in /data/user_de/0/com.android.browser/..., and not in the standard location. To find out the exact path, use the command:

adb shell pm path com.android.chrome

It will show the location of the APK file, which can be used to determine the data folder.

3. How to access cookies without root access

If your device does not have root access, your options for working with cookies are limited, but there are several legal ways:

Method 1: Through browser settings

Most browsers allow you to view and delete cookies for individual sites:

  1. Open your browser and go to Settings → Privacy → Site Settings → Cookies.
  2. In Chrome click "All sites" (chrome://settings/siteData) to see a list of domains with saved data.
  3. Click on the trash can next to an unnecessary site to delete its cookies.

Method 2: Using ADB (without root)

Even without root access ADB allows you to interact with some files. For example, to copy the cookie base Chrome to your computer:

adb pull /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies C:\temp\

However, this method will only work. if:

  • 🔓 The device has USB debugging enabled (Settings → For developers).
  • 🖥️ You have ADB drivers and tool installed Platform Tools from Google.
  • 📱 The device is unlocked (access confirmation is required on some firmware).

Install Platform Tools from the Google website

Enable USB debugging in the settings developer

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device

Check the connection with the command adb devices-->

Method 3: Third-party applications

Some utilities in Google Play promise clearing cookies without root, but most of them work superficially. For example:

  • 🧹 CCleaner: deletes the cache, but not all cookies.
  • 🔍 Cookie Manager: shows a list of cookies, but requires manual confirmation for each domain.
  • 🛡️ 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare): blocks trackers, but does not manage existing cookies.
⚠️ Attention: Applications that require root access for "deep cleaning" may be potentially dangerous. Before installing, check reviews and permissions in Google Play Protect.

4. Find and delete cookies with root access

If your device has root access, you get full control over your cookie files. Here are step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Install a file manager with root access

Download one of the proven managers:

  • 📂 Root Explorer (paid, but reliable).
  • 🗂️ Solid Explorer (free version with limitations).
  • 🔧 FX File Explorer (supports ADB i Root).

After installation, grant the application root access at the first request.

Step 2: Navigation to folder with cookies

Open the file manager and go to one of the paths from section 2. For example, for Chrome:

  1. Open the root folder /data/data/.
  2. Find folder com.android.chrome.
  3. Go to app_chrome/Default/ and find the file Cookies (without extension).

Step 3: Backup and deletion

Before deleting, it is recommended to create a backup copy:

  • 💾 Copy the file Cookies to a safe place (for example, to an SD card).
  • 🗑️ Delete the original file or edit it through the SQLite editor.
  • 🔄 Restart the browser for the changes to take effect.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting the file Cookies will lead to logging out of all accounts in browser and reset personal site settings. If you use synchronization (for example Google Account), the data will be restored after logging in again.
💡

Even with root access, not all cookies are stored in the file Cookies. Some data (for example, Local Storage) may be located in /app_webview/Default/Storage/ or /app_gecko/profile/ (for Firefox).

5. Managing cookies via ADB (for advanced)

If you have experience with ADB, you can manage cookies directly through the command line. This method is useful for automation or mass deletion.

Commands for working with cookies

Connect the device to the PC and run the following commands:

  1. View the list of cookies: 
    adb shell ls /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/

    Search for files Cookies, Cookies-journal or cookies.sqlite.

  2. Copying a file to a PC: 
    adb pull /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies C:\temp\chrome_cookies.db
  3. Deleting cookies for a specific domain: 
    adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies "DELETE FROM cookies WHERE host_key LIKE '%example.com%';"
    Replace example.com with the desired domain.
  4. Full clearing cookies: 
    adb shell rm /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies

Automation through scripts

For regular cleaning, you can create a .batfile (Windows) or .shscript (Linux/Mac) with the following content:

@echo off

adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies "DELETE FROM cookies WHERE host_key LIKE '%facebook.com%';"


adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies "DELETE FROM cookies WHERE host_key LIKE '%google.com%';"


echo Cookies for Facebook and Google have been deleted.


pause

Save the file as clean_cookies.bat and run as needed.

⚠️ Attention: Commands ADB with superuser rights (su) may disrupt system operation if performed incorrectly. Always check the syntax and make backup copies.

6. Alternative ways to manage cookies

If manual deletion seems difficult, consider alternative methods:

Privacy-enhanced browsers

Some browsers automatically block or restrict cookies:

  • 🦊 Firefox Focus: deletes all data after closing tabs.
  • 🛡️ Brave: blocks trackers and allows you to configure rules for cookies.
  • 🌐 DuckDuckGo Browser: does not save cookies by default.

Extensions for blocking cookies

B Chrome i Firefox you can install extensions:

  • 🚫 uBlock Origin: blocks tracking cookies.
  • 🍪 Cookie-Editor: allows you to edit cookies manually.
  • 🔒 Privacy Badger: automatically blocks unwanted cookies.

Android settings for restrictions cookies

The latest versions of Android have built-in tools:

  1. Go to Settings → Google → Google account management → Data and personalization → Advertising settings.
  2. Disable the "Personalization" option advertising" to limit tracking cookies.
  3. T Settings → Applications → [Select browser] → Permissions disable access to the storage if synchronization is not needed.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with cookies, users encounter common errors. Let's look at the most common ones:

"I can't find the folder /data/data/"

Causes and solutions:

  • 🔌 Missing root access: use ADB or browser settings.
  • 📱 Android 11+ with shared storage: the path can be /data/user/0/com.android.chrome/....
  • 🔒 SELinux in enforcing mode: check the status with the command adb shell getenforce. If the result Enforcingtemporarily change to Permissive: 
    adb shell su -c setenforce 0

"After deleting cookies, sites do not remember me"

This is normal behavior. To restore sessions:

  • 🔑 Log in again to the sites using saved passwords (if synchronization is enabled).
  • 🔄 In Chrome check chrome://flags/#enable-sync and turn on synchronization.
  • 📥 Export cookies before deleting using extensions like EditThisCookie.

"Cookies are returned after clearing"

Possible reasons:

  • 🔄 Synchronization with Google account: disable it in your browser settings.
  • 📱 Applications in the background: some apps (for example Facebook) restore cookies. Check active processes in Settings → Applications → Running: use Settings → Applications → Running.
  • 🕵️ Hidden trackers: use uBlock Origin to block. in
💡

If cookies persist in returning, the problem may be WebView a system component that is used by many applications. Try clearing data Android System WebView in application settings.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about cookies on Android

Is it possible to transfer cookies from one Android device to another?

Yes, but with reservations:

  1. Copy the file Cookies from the first device (see section 4).
  2. Move it to the second device in the same folder (root access required).
  3. Make sure that the browser versions match - otherwise the file may be incompatible.

For Chrome it is easier to use synchronization through a Google account.

Why do some sites not work correctly after deleting cookies?

Some sites rely on cookies for:

  • 🛒 Saving a shopping cart (for example, Amazon, AliExpress).
  • 🎮 Saving progress in online games.
  • 📊 Displaying personalized content (for example, a feed Instagram).

If the site is broken, try:

  1. Refresh page (Ctrl + R or swipe down).
  2. Log in to your account again.
  3. Clear only cookies for this domain (not all in a row).
How to check which cookies are saved for a specific site?

Methods depending on the browser:

  • Chrome: Go to the site → click on the lock icon in the address bar → "Cookies".
  • Firefox: Open about:preferences#privacy → "Data Management" → select a site.
  • ADB: Use the command: 
    adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies "SELECT * FROM cookies WHERE host_key LIKE '%example.com%';"
Can cookies contain viruses?

No, cookies are just text files and cannot execute malicious code. However, they can:

  • 🕵️ Track your activity to display targeted advertising.
  • 🔑 Contain session tokenswhich attackers can steal through vulnerabilities (for example, XSS attacks).
  • 📍 Store geolocation or other sensitive data (rare, but possible).

To minimize risks:

  • Regularly clear cookies for unfamiliar sites.
  • Use browsers with anti-tracking protection (Brave, Firefox Focus).
  • Do not log into important accounts (banks, mail) on public Wi-Fi.
How to completely disable cookies on Android?

Completely disabling cookies will make many sites inoperable, but if you need it:

  1. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Cookies → disable "Allow saving local data."
  2. In Firefox: about:config → find network.cookie.cookieBehavior → set the value 2 (block all cookies).
  3. In Samsung Internet: Settings → Privacy → Cookies → select "Block all cookies".

Please note: many sites (including Google, Facebook, YouTube) will stop working correctly.