My operating system is 10.12.4 - Sierra. My Safari is version 10.1. I am unable to delete all the cookies when I go into the Safari Preferences and try to delete the cookies., I get the spinning wheel and have to wait up to 3 min. for the cookies to be posted. Then when I try to delete them I have to do it several times and not all of them are deleted.
Website Data comprises of Caches, Cookies, Local Storage and Databases.
How to remove website data?
1. Empty Caches
Safari > Preference > Advanced
Checkmark the box beside "Show Develop menu in menu bar".
Develop menu will appear in the Safari menu bar.
Click Develop and select "Empty Caches" from the dropdown.
2. Delete Cookies
Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and Website Data...:
Click the “Manage Website Data” button.
Remove all cookies except ones from Apple, your internet service provider and banks.
3. Delete Databases and Local Storage items
Backup your Mac.
Quit Safari.
Hold the Option key on the keyboard down and click the “Go”menu in the Finder menu bar.
Choose “Library” from the dropdown.
Scroll down the list.
Click open the Safari folder.
Scroll down the list and click open the “Databases” folder.
Click open the “IndexedDB folder”.
If you find the items there, right click and choose “Move to Trash”.
Scroll down the list and click open the “Local Storage” folder
Right click the items you want to remove and choose “Move to Trash”.
Restart, launch Safari and test.
I have this same problem. Safari Version 10.1 (12603.1.30.0.34) Sierra 10.12.4
Several persistent cookies / databases - from reputable sites - that won't delete.
They do not appear in DATABASES or INDEXED DB folder. And even though I have cookies BLOCKED they and others keep reappearing.
As you open the system the spinning wheel appears ( SBBOD ) , you can run safe mode : Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
Then you can go to safari preferences as you mentioned in the question and try to delete cookies by clicking on manage website data .
Delete Cookies
Sierra 10.12.4
I just got rid of this problem via screen share w/Apple. Taskful, but it did the job. There's another option below it that I didn't try which seems quicker.
**OR?
*Would've preferred trying this first but didn't see it. I can't speak to its efficacy.
I have the same problem. I contacted Apple support and they told me you can't delete some cookies because it's the decision of the website who places them on your machine whether or not the cookies stay on your machine! She said all you can do is click the "ask websites not to track me," button, but that it's up to the websites to decide if they want to track you or not. I told her this didn't used to be the case; I was always able to delete my cookies.
I tried the solution described below: uncheck Safari from iCloud in System Preferences, then go to Finder and go to "Go" screen, but once there I clicked pressed the option button and nothing happened. Tried typing "user" and "library" also nothing.
I cannot believe that the user has no control over who places cookies on his machine. Please help!
Hey Djfalcon,
I'm running macOS Sierra, 10.12.5. That's a crazy answer you received from support. This issue shouldn't exist. It's unfortunate. I deal w/it continually as well. However, for me, I am able to delete them (sometimes I need to do it back to back and then manually delete a few cookies) using the method I described above.
-I always have to uncheck twice/double tap the Safari box in iCloud (in Sys. Pref.) as it rechecks itself the first time.
-When depressing "Option" in Go menu, Library is supposed to pop up under Home. In fact I just went thru the process again--had to do it twice and manually delete a couple, but it worked. I suppose this isn't much of a help, but thought I'd respond. Be well.
I have the same problem and, unfortunately, dominic23's fix did not work. The cookies and databases from the same sites keep popping up in the window in the Manage Website Data, despite the fact that I've not been to those sites since I followed the directions and deleted all of the garbage in the listed folders, shut down my computer, reset my modem for a different IP address and turned my computer back on.
I called Apple support and they are running a ticket on this with the software engineers. I've been told to expect information on Wednesday the 26th of July 2017 and will try to remember to post here if they can fix this bug.
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
Tried it, didn't work. I think its a glitch in Safari.
Did all that and when I again tried to delete cookies they were there. These are from financial institution I don't deal with and are listed as domain names, like bank.com.
No , its not a glitch , I am using Mac from few years , but spinning beach ball occurs if third party unidentified app is installed as what experienced .
Won't delete cookies.
