---
title: "Cookies and storage · Docs"
description: "Import, paste, export and copy cookies in Donut Browser profiles: JSON, Netscape cookies.txt and name=value, plus Playwright storage state with Local Storage."
url: "https://donutbrowser.com/docs/cookies/"
---

# Cookies and storage

Cookies carry a signed-in session. Donut can move them into a profile, out of it, and between profiles. All cookie tools are free. Close the profile's browser first: cookies cannot be read or written while it runs.

![Cookies section of the profile panel for Shop · US-East 01. Buttons Export, Import and Copy. A counter shows 10 cookies stored and a list of cookie domains. A Local Storage card offers Export and Import of a Playwright storageState file, with an Include IndexedDB checkbox.](https://donutbrowser.com/img/docs/cookie-management.webp "Import, export or copy a profile's cookies and local storage.")

## Import or paste cookies

In the profile panel, open **Cookies** and click **Import**. The **Cookie Management** dialog opens on its **Import** tab. Paste the cookies, or click **or choose a file**. Donut reads three formats:

| Format | Example |
| --- | --- |
| JSON | An array of cookies, or `{"cookies": [...]}`, as browser extensions and automation tools export them |
| Netscape | A `cookies.txt` file, one cookie per line |
| Name=value | `name=value; name2=value2`. This form has no domain, so you name the site, and choose this domain and its subdomains or this host only |

Before it writes anything, Donut shows each cookie (site, name, path, expiry, Secure, HttpOnly, SameSite) and lists the lines it could not read. Then choose a mode:

- **Merge** updates the cookies that match, adds the rest, and deletes nothing.
- **Replace matching sites** first deletes the profile's cookies for the sites in the paste, then writes the paste. Cookies for other sites stay.

Expired cookies are skipped unless you tick **Also import cookies that have already expired**. If the profile clears its data on close, the cookies last until the end of the next session.

![Cookie Management dialog, Import tab. A large field takes pasted cookies as JSON (an array or a {cookies: [...]} object), a Netscape cookies.txt file, or name=value pairs, or you choose a file. Mode: Merge (update matching cookies, add the rest, delete nothing) or Replace matching sites (delete this profile's cookies for the pasted sites, then write the paste). Buttons: Cancel and Import.](https://donutbrowser.com/img/docs/cookie-import.webp "Paste or load cookies in JSON, Netscape cookies.txt or name=value format.")

## Export cookies

In the **Cookies** section of the profile panel, **Export** saves all cookies as JSON or Netscape TXT. The **Export** tab of **Cookie Management** saves only the cookies you select.

## Copy cookies between profiles

**Copy** in the **Cookies** section of the profile panel, or **Copy Cookies** in the action bar, copies cookies from one source profile to one or more target profiles. Pick domains or single cookies. A cookie with the same name and domain in the target is replaced; other cookies stay.

## Storage state

The **Local Storage** part of the Cookies section exports one Playwright `storageState` file with the profile's cookies and Local Storage. Tick **Include IndexedDB** to add IndexedDB records; the export then opens the profile in the background for a moment, with no page load. Import takes the same file. The local API has the same routes: see [Import and export storage](https://donutbrowser.com/docs/rest-api).

## Sessions from other browsers

[Profile import](https://donutbrowser.com/docs/profile-import) moves the cookies and passwords of Chrome, Edge, Brave and other Chromium browsers when the system unlocks their key. For cookies it cannot move (Chrome 127 and later on Windows, a locked keyring, or another anti-detect tool), export the cookies from the old browser and import them here.