Internet Explorer (Win) - Managing Cookies

Access to some web sites, including web sites in the UW network, requires cookies. This document explains how to manage cookies in Internet Explorer on Windows-based computers to meet your preferences. For general information on cookies, please see our document:
Web Browsers - Cookies FAQ.

Privacy Settings

The "Privacy Settings" menu in Internet Explorer can be accessed by going to:

  • View -> Privacy Report -> Settings -> Privacy, or
  • Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy

The "Privacy" tab allows you to set the level of privacy. The privacy options range from accepting all cookies (lowest) to blocking all cookies (highest). Move the slider UP for a higher level of privacy or DOWN for a lower level of privacy. It is recommended to keep the default setting of "Medium."

Additional options in the "Privacy Settings" dialog box include:

  • Sites: To customize privacy settings for individual website:
    1. Click Sites.
    2. In Address of Web site, type the complete address of the Web site for which you want to specify custom settings.
    3. Click Allow to always allow cookies from the specified Web site.
    4. Click Block to never allow cookies from the specified Web site.
    5. In Managed Web sites, you can view the web sites for which you have specified custom settings.
    6. Click Remove to remove certain website from the list and delete its custom settings.
    7. Click Remove All to remove all specified websites and their custom settings.
    8. Click OK.

  • Import: To import privacy preferences from saved files.
  • Advanced: To customize privacy settings for all web sites:
    1. Click Advanced.
    2. Check Override automatic cookie handling and specify how to handle cookies from first and third-party web sites (a web site other than the one you are currently viewing).
    3. Click Accept to always allow cookies to be saved on your computer.
    4. Click Block to never allow cookies.
    5. Click Prompt to have Internet Explorer asks whether or not you want to allow a cookie.
    6. Check Always allow session cookies to always allow session cookies to be saved on your computer. Session cookies are cookies that will be deleted when you close Internet Explorer.
    7. Click OK.

  • Default: To go back to the default settings if you are using a customized settings.

Deleting Cookies

To delete all cookies, follow these steps:

  1. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools -> Internet Options -> General.
  2. Click Delete Cookies.
  3. Click OK.

To delete an individual cookie, follow these steps:

  1. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools -> Internet Options -> General.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click View Files.
  4. Select the cookie you want to delete.
  5. On the File menu, click Delete.
  6. Click OK.