4 Simple Ways to View Cookies in a Web Browser

Cookies do a lot of work behind the scenes on websites—saving login info, tracking user behavior, and customizing your experience. Whether you’re a developer debugging an issue or just a curious user, knowing how to view cookies in your browser is useful. Here’s how to do it in four simple ways, no extra tools required.

1. Use Developer Tools (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)

Most modern browsers come with built-in developer tools that let you inspect cookies in seconds.

Chrome & Edge:

1. Right-click on the page and select Inspect (or press Ctrl + Shift + I).
2. Go to the Application tab.
3. Under Storage, click Cookies and select the website domain.
4. You’ll see a table with cookie names, values, expiration dates, and more.

Firefox:

1. Open Developer Tools (F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I).
2. Click the Storage tab.
3. Expand Cookies and select the site.
4. View and filter cookies as needed.

Safari (macOS only):

1. Go to Preferences > Privacy.
2. Click Manage Website Data.
3. Search for the site and select it to view stored cookies and other data.

2. Check Browser Settings (Quick & Easy)

You can also check some cookie data through your browser’s privacy or security settings.

Chrome:

• Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data > See all site data and permissions.

Firefox:

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data.

This view is more basic but still gives you access to domain-specific cookie storage.

3. Use Browser Extensions

If you’re digging deep into cookies regularly, consider a browser extension for easier access and advanced filtering.

• EditThisCookie (Chrome)
• Cookie-Editor (Chrome, Firefox)

These tools let you view, edit, delete, and even add cookies without opening dev tools.

4. Use Console Commands (for Developers)

If you’re already in the developer console, you can type a quick command:

document.cookie

This returns a string of all cookies for the current page. Keep in mind it only shows cookies accessible via JavaScript—some (like HttpOnly cookies) won’t show up.

Final Thoughts

Viewing cookies isn’t just for developers—it’s a powerful way to understand what a website is doing in the background. Whether you’re troubleshooting, optimizing, or just curious, these four methods will get you the data you need fast.

Want to go further? Try inspecting how cookies change when you log in, click buttons, or switch pages. It’s a simple way to learn more about how the web works.