Delete Flash Cookies on Mac: Easiest Way

The easiest way to delete Flash cookies (Local Shared Objects, or LSOs) on a Mac is to use the Storage tab inside the Flash Player Settings panel, which you can open from System Preferences or directly from your browser. From there, you can delete individual sites’ data or click “Delete all sites” to wipe every Flash cookie at once. This method is built into Flash Player itself, so it works regardless of which browser you use and doesn’t require any third-party software.

What Are Flash Cookies and Why Do They Matter?

Flash cookies, officially called Local Shared Objects (LSOs), are small files that Adobe Flash Player stores on your computer. Unlike regular browser cookies, which are tied to a specific browser and can be cleared through browser settings, LSOs are stored in a shared folder that every browser with Flash installed can access. This means a Flash cookie set in Safari can be read by Chrome, and it survives even if you clear your browser’s cookies.

Websites originally used Flash cookies to remember preferences, game progress, or video settings. But because they persist after normal cookie deletion, they were also used to track users across sessions. While Flash is now largely obsolete—Adobe officially ended support for Flash Player on December 31, 2020—many older Macs still have Flash installed, and some legacy websites still use it. If you care about privacy or just want a clean slate, knowing how to remove these files is useful.

How Flash Cookies Are Stored on a Mac

On macOS, Flash cookies are stored in a hidden folder within your user library. The path is:

~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/#SharedObjects

Inside that folder, you’ll find subfolders with random names (like “ABC123DEF”), each containing subfolders for individual websites. Each site’s folder holds .sol files—the actual Flash cookies. There’s also a separate folder at ~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/macromedia.com/support/flashplayer/sys/ that stores settings like global storage limits.

Because the #SharedObjects folder is hidden by default, you won’t see it in Finder without enabling hidden files. But you don’t need to manually dig through it—the Flash Player Settings panel does the job safely.

Step-by-Step: Delete Flash Cookies via Flash Player Settings

Here’s the most reliable method, which works on any Mac with Flash Player installed:

1. Open System Preferences (from the Apple menu or Dock).
2. Click the Flash Player icon (it looks like a red square with a white “f”). If you don’t see it, Flash Player isn’t installed.
3. In the Flash Player Settings window, click the Storage tab.
4. You’ll see a list of websites that have stored Flash cookies. To remove one, select it and click Delete.
5. To remove everything, click Delete all sites. Confirm when prompted.

Alternatively, you can access the same settings from your browser by right-clicking on any Flash content and choosing Global Settings or Settings, then navigating to the Storage tab. This is handy if you’re already on a page that uses Flash.

Manually Deleting Flash Cookie Files in Finder

If you prefer a hands-on approach or the Settings panel isn’t working, you can delete the files directly:

1. Open Finder and press Shift + Command + G to open the “Go to Folder” dialog.
2. Type ~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/#SharedObjects and press Enter.
3. You’ll see one or more random-named folders. Inside each are site-specific folders.
4. To delete a specific site’s cookies, open the random folder, find the site’s folder, and move it to the Trash.
5. To delete all Flash cookies, move the entire #SharedObjects folder to the Trash. Flash Player will recreate it when needed.

Be careful: this method removes all Flash data, including legitimate game saves or settings for sites you still use. Only do this if you’re okay with losing that data.

Important: Flash Is Dead, So Why Bother?

Adobe officially ended Flash Player support on December 31, 2020, and most modern browsers block Flash content entirely. However, many Macs still have Flash Player installed from before that date. If you never uninstalled it, those Flash cookies may still be sitting on your hard drive. Even if you no longer use Flash, the files remain, and they could contain tracking identifiers or other data that websites could theoretically access if you ever run an old Flash app.

If you’re concerned about privacy and no longer need Flash, the best solution is to uninstall Flash Player completely. Adobe provides an uninstaller, but you can also manually remove the Flash Player plugin from /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ and delete the associated preference files. Once Flash is gone, its cookies are gone too—and there’s nothing left to track you.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes the Settings panel doesn’t show all sites, or you get an error when trying to delete. Here are common issues and solutions:

• Flash Player icon missing in System Preferences: This means Flash isn’t installed, or the preference pane was removed. You can still delete cookies manually via Finder.
• Settings panel says “No data” but you know there are cookies: The panel only shows sites that have stored data in the current browser. If you used Flash in a different browser, switch to that browser and check again.
• Can’t find the #SharedObjects folder: The folder is hidden by default. Use the “Go to Folder” shortcut (Shift + Command + G) and type the path exactly, including the # symbol.
• Deleting doesn’t stick: If a site immediately recreates its Flash cookie, it’s because the site is actively using Flash. Close the browser and delete again, or uninstall Flash entirely.

Alternatives to Deleting Flash Cookies

If you’re not ready to delete everything, you can limit what Flash stores. In the same Storage tab, you can set a global storage limit (e.g., 10 KB per site) or block third-party Flash content. You can also set Flash to “Ask me before storing data” so you get a prompt before any site writes a cookie.

For modern browsers, the built-in cookie controls are the real solution. Safari, Chrome, and Firefox all have settings to block third-party cookies and clear site data. Since Flash is obsolete, most tracking now happens through HTML5 storage (localStorage and IndexedDB), which you can clear via browser settings. If you want a clean privacy slate, clearing those is more relevant than Flash cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting Flash cookies log me out of websites?

Yes, if a website used Flash cookies to remember your login session, deleting them will log you out. However, most modern sites use regular cookies or HTML5 storage for sessions, so the impact is minimal. You may need to re-enter preferences on sites that still use Flash.

Can I delete Flash cookies in Safari’s preferences?

No, Safari’s privacy settings don’t touch Flash cookies. You must use the Flash Player Settings panel or manually delete the files. That’s why Flash cookies were once called “zombie cookies”—they resurrect after normal cookie clearing.

Is it safe to delete the #SharedObjects folder?

Yes, it’s safe. Flash Player will recreate the folder if it’s needed. You’ll lose any Flash-based game saves or settings, but those are rare today. Always quit your browser before deleting to avoid file locks.

How do I know if I still have Flash Player installed?

Check System Preferences for a Flash Player icon. You can also go to /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ and look for Flash Player.plugin. If you see it, Flash is installed. If not, you don’t have Flash cookies.

What’s the difference between a Flash cookie and a regular cookie?

A regular cookie is a small text file stored by your browser, tied to a specific browser and domain. A Flash cookie is a binary file stored by Flash Player, shared across all browsers, and not cleared by browser settings. Flash cookies can hold more data (up to 100 KB by default) and are harder to remove.

Should I uninstall Flash Player completely?

If you no longer visit sites that require Flash (which is nearly all of them now), yes. Uninstalling removes the security risks and all Flash data. Adobe’s official uninstaller is the safest way, but you can also manually delete the plugin and preference files. After uninstalling, you won’t be able to view Flash content, but that’s rarely needed in 2024.

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