How to Clear Cookies to Bypass Paywalls

Most metered paywalls — like those used by the New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other newspapers — track how many articles you have read using browser cookies. Clearing those cookies resets your article count. Here is how to do it across all major browsers, including how to clear cookies for just one site.

Clear Cookies for a Single Site in Chrome

1. Open the article in Chrome and click the lock icon (or information icon) to the left of the URL in the address bar.
2. Click "Cookies and site data" or "Cookies" in the dropdown.
3. Click "Manage cookies and site data."
4. Find the publication's domain in the list and click the trash icon to delete those cookies.
5. Reload the article — your article count resets.

Alternative: Go to chrome://settings/cookies and search for the specific site domain, then delete its cookies.

Clear Cookies for a Single Site in Firefox

1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
2. Select "Connection secure" then "More information."
3. In the Page Info dialog, click "View Cookies."
4. Search for the publication's domain and delete all associated cookies.
5. Close the dialog and reload the page.

Clear Cookies for a Single Site in Safari

1. Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy.
2. Click "Manage Website Data."
3. Search for the publication's domain and select it.
4. Click "Remove" to delete its cookies and data.
5. Reload the article page.

The Easier Alternative: Private Browsing

Instead of manually clearing cookies each time, private or incognito browsing achieves the same effect automatically. Every private window starts with a clean cookie slate, and cookies collected during a private session are discarded when you close the window. For regular paywall-resetting, private mode is faster and more convenient than manually clearing cookies.

When Cookie Clearing Does Not Work

If the publication uses login-based tracking, account-based metering, or browser fingerprinting, clearing cookies alone will not bypass the paywall. Fingerprinting identifies your browser by characteristics unrelated to cookies. For these publications, web archive tools are the most reliable alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing cookies bypass paywalls?

Clearing cookies resets metered paywall article counters that use browser cookies to count your monthly reads. After clearing, the publication treats you as a new visitor with a fresh article allowance. This works for cookie-based metered paywalls but not for login-required or server-side paywalls.

Should I clear all cookies or just for one site?

Clear cookies for just the specific publication's domain to avoid logging out of other sites. Most browsers allow you to delete cookies for a single site without affecting your other browsing sessions.

How often can I clear cookies to bypass paywalls?

You can clear cookies as often as needed. Each time you clear the publication's cookies, the article counter resets. Using private browsing mode achieves the same effect automatically for each new session.

Do paywalls still work after clearing cookies?

Yes — clearing cookies only bypasses metered paywalls that rely solely on cookies. Publications with login requirements, IP tracking, or browser fingerprinting are not affected by cookie clearing.