I can't delete cookies. I'm using Mac OS High Sierra version 10.13.2. I use the Manage Website data tool. It takes several passes but deletes all cookies. Then after a few minutes they start reappearing and after a few hours, several hundred re-appear. I've also tried using Develop > Empty Cache but that does not work either.
iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)
Deleted Website Data reappearing?
Safari 11
Website Data comprises of Caches, Cookies, Local Storage and Databases.
Cookies and Caches help Safari run faster by storing relevant information locally.
But you can remove all those website data without any problem, it may even help.
Next time you visit the site, related cookies will be restored.
Websites one visits may have links embedded in to other web sites.
Those sites will store cookies in the cookies folder.
Cookies may not have the same name as the original website.
The homepage I have set, adds about 70 cookies.
A website may use service from other service providers.
When a user signs into ASC, a cookie from Badgeville will appear.
Cookies from websites added to AutoFill will appear automatically.
Websites that are related to widgets like Weather channel will reappear.
Cookies from built in search engines like Bing, Yahoo and other favorites like Facebook will reappear.
One of these may add additional cookies.
Cookies can come from Plug-ins and extensions installed on our Mac. There are Flash cookies.
Cookies from some of the bookmarked/favorites sites will reappear.
macOS stores cookies in different folders like Cookies folder, Databases folder, Local Storage folder, etc
This issue is not particular to Safari.
Compared to other browsers, Safari is more willing to show the presence of website data.
Private browsing helps a little bit.
Note: Shopping and notification sites
Empty the shopping cart/ bag.
Log out of the account.
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 click "Empty Caches" from the dropdown.
Do this twice.
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.
Quit Safari. Relaunch Safari holding the Shift key down.
Repeat the procedure again. Restart the Mac.
3. Safari > Preferences > Search > Smart Search Field > Enable Quick Website Search
Click the “Manage Websites “ button. Click “Remove All” button and then “Done”.
4. Delete Databases and Local Storage items
Remove the item from Reading List, Bookmarks, iCloud Tabs and History.
Log out of the sites if you have logged into these sites.
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”
or select all and 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 your Mac, launch Safari holding the shift key on the keyboard down and test.
iCloud syncing will restore some of this data.
You can temporarily disable iCloud syncing.
System Preferences > iCloud > Safari
It is not easy to remove cookies known as “Evercookies”
Deleted Website Data reappearing?
Safari 11
Website Data comprises of Caches, Cookies, Local Storage and Databases.
Cookies and Caches help Safari run faster by storing relevant information locally.
But you can remove all those website data without any problem, it may even help.
Next time you visit the site, related cookies will be restored.
Websites one visits may have links embedded in to other web sites.
Those sites will store cookies in the cookies folder.
Cookies may not have the same name as the original website.
The homepage I have set, adds about 70 cookies.
A website may use service from other service providers.
When a user signs into ASC, a cookie from Badgeville will appear.
Cookies from websites added to AutoFill will appear automatically.
Websites that are related to widgets like Weather channel will reappear.
Cookies from built in search engines like Bing, Yahoo and other favorites like Facebook will reappear.
One of these may add additional cookies.
Cookies can come from Plug-ins and extensions installed on our Mac. There are Flash cookies.
Cookies from some of the bookmarked/favorites sites will reappear.
macOS stores cookies in different folders like Cookies folder, Databases folder, Local Storage folder, etc
This issue is not particular to Safari.
Compared to other browsers, Safari is more willing to show the presence of website data.
Private browsing helps a little bit.
Note: Shopping and notification sites
Empty the shopping cart/ bag.
Log out of the account.
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 click "Empty Caches" from the dropdown.
Do this twice.
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.
Quit Safari. Relaunch Safari holding the Shift key down.
Repeat the procedure again. Restart the Mac.
3. Safari > Preferences > Search > Smart Search Field > Enable Quick Website Search
Click the “Manage Websites “ button. Click “Remove All” button and then “Done”.
4. Delete Databases and Local Storage items
Remove the item from Reading List, Bookmarks, iCloud Tabs and History.
Log out of the sites if you have logged into these sites.
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”
or select all and 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 your Mac, launch Safari holding the shift key on the keyboard down and test.
iCloud syncing will restore some of this data.
You can temporarily disable iCloud syncing.
System Preferences > iCloud > Safari
It is not easy to remove cookies known as “Evercookies”
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
See this article Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac - Apple Support
Manage cookies and website data in Safari on Mac - Apple Support
Clear all history and website data .
I tried all the above steps but some 200+ cookies returned the next day. Any other ideas?
This did not work. The cookies returned.
Can't delete cookies - Mac OS High Sierra version 10.13.2
