Cannot remove cookies since Sierra update?

Cookies and website data will be populated from sources other than the obvious open pages and tabs. They include Top Sites, Quick Website Searches, Search Engine Suggestions, Top Hits and others.

Also, when you click "Remove All" it will take some time to delete all of them. The window will repopulate before it's finished removing everything, so let it take a moment or two to finish.

Safari for Mac: Search preferences in Safari

Santa Cruz Paul wrote:

I tried the Finder method of deleting the Safari databases. I don't have Safari in my Library folder (???)

Read the following: How to delete "database" Cookie?

Replying to a seven month old Discussion is ineffective. The only reason I found your question is that this one has not yet been marked "Solved".

I am also experiencing this issue with Safari since the Sierra update (10.12.4)

Keep in mind, I normally have my Safari settings fairly restrictive which includes private browsing (except at this moment where private window does not allow me to reply).

Here are the steps I am using to clear out the persistent cookies.

1) open a terminal session

2) run the following unix commands:

rm -r ~/Library/Safari/Databases/*

rm -r ~/Library/Safari/LocalStorage/*

rm -r ~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/#SharedObjects/*

I brought my MacBook Pro to the Genius Bar for the same reason. This problem seemed to originate when I did the upgrade to Sierra. They worked on my computer for approximately 1.5 hours without success. They finally suggested we backup everything, uninstall Sierra 10.12.5 and reinstall. That did not work either, nor have any of the many suggestions posted here.

I have too many websites listed and more are being added to attempt a one-on-one removal. It would take me hours, if not days to remove all the sites.

I truly hope Apple is working on a solution, because my understanding is the accumulation of this list can cause the computer to eventually run slower..

It is indeed incredibly frustrating

As the 2nd article points out, they are capable of regenerating after deletion with files that go to many parts of the system.

Safari/Browsers – can’t delete cookies

Evercookie

The myth of the dangerous cookie

Quit Safari.

In Finder go to Go menu and then Go to Folder.

Copy and paste this ~/Library/Safari/Databases.

Delete the contents of the folder.

Launch Safari again and check if all is ok.

If that doesn’t work, copy and paste this ~/Library/Safari/LocalStorage.

Delete the contents of the folder.

Then go to Safari/History and delete any entries for the related websites.

Test.

I'm on Sierra 10.12.6. For me, they just reappear much more than usual in Sierra while deleting them in "Manage Website Data" in Safari Preferences - Privacy but they deleted eventually. Before Sierra, they would reappear once or twice but it took about 5 or 6 times to delete them now. Crazy. Each time, a little less reappeared until finally I was just left with the cookies I choose to leave on so I don't have to log back in to some websites. I use Private Browsing for websites I don't need to log into so I don't get so many cookies.

At first I thought I couldn't even load the cookies as I usually do in Preferences - Privacy - Manage Website Data since it just stayed in "Loading Website Data..." for about 2 to 3 minutes. It took that long to load all the cookies since I hadn't deleted them lately on my iMac with Sierra, my laptop has previous OS. But still, there wasn't a really massive amount of cookies, that was a strange long wait.

Are you looking in your user library?

Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library.

I tried the Finder method of deleting the Safari databases. I don't have Safari in my Library folder (???)

This worked for my stubborn cookies! THANK YOU!!

You are welcome.

Still doesn't work. no matter how many times i remove all..they continue to return., over and over till infinity...

Evercookie

This worked awesome for me! Thank you so much.

You are welcome.