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Users of computers with any kind of operating system may need to find where cookies are stored on their computer. Cookies are small files that hold bits of information about the user and past Internet activity. Generally, each website has its own cookies that are generated when the user goes onto and uses the site. The cookies stay on the user's computer after leaving the site. Cookies are most often used to keep track of what a user has done on a site or for settings that help the computer remember passwords, preferences and other elements of a customer's interaction with a company's website. For those who need to access cookies in XP, knowing more about how Windows XP systems handle these small data files can help a computer's owner or operator keep tabs on what's stored on the hard drive.



  1. 1
    Open Internet Explorer. This browser is the default browser for the Windows XP system. Other browsers may handle cookies in different ways, but this method is the easiest for many users.
  2. 2
    Click on the "Internet Options" command from the "Tools" menu.
  3. 3
    Click on "Settings" under the "General" tab of the "Internet Options" menu.
  4. 4
    Select "View Files." The cookies should pop up in a list.
  5. 5
    Scroll through the provided list of cookies. These should be in alphabetical order.
  6. 6
    Identify necessary cookies and unwanted cookies.
    • Look at whether or not you still use the site from which the cookies came. If you know that certain cookies relate to a site where you want to preserve your customized user settings, you'll want to leave those cookies alone. On the other hand, if you see cookies that relate to sites you no longer have interest in, those can be safely trashed.
  7. 7
    Try to decipher the names of cookies stored on your drive. Part of accessing these small bits of information is knowing how to identify them. Some are easily associated due to whole or partial words that also appear in the website name.

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    • Consider how other browsers handle cookies. Although Windows Explorer provides a straightforward way to handle cookies in Windows XP, the same might not be true for alternative web browsers. Users can usually figure out how to access the cookies from downloaded freeware browsers or other software by reading the included manuals for these programs, or by looking for relevant information online.


    • Deleting all cookies at once can have a negative effect on the user's web settings. Only do this if you are willing to go back through all of the websites that you use and re-enter all saved information.

    Article Info

    Categories: XP Instructions

    In other languages:

    Español: acceder a las cookies en Windows XP, Português: Acessar os Cookies no Windows XP

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