Google Chrome - Get cookies.txt LOCALLY - Export cookies in JSON format and Netscape - 2026 - ENG
Published: 2026-07-25
Get cookies.txt LOCALLY is a free, open-source browser extension for Google Chrome (and Firefox) that exports cookies in Netscape (cookies.txt), JSON, and Header formats. All data processing is done entirely locally — no information is ever sent to external servers. As of 2026, it is the most popular cookie export tool, with over 700,000 users and a 4.8 rating on the Chrome Web Store.
Overview
The extension is developed by kairi003 and published on GitHub under the MIT license. The source code is fully open and unobfuscated, allowing anyone to inspect it for security.
Key metrics:
- Version: 0.7.2
- Manifest: Chrome Manifest V3
- Chrome Web Store users: 700,000+
- Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 (102 reviews)
- GitHub stars: 1,090
- Forks: 115
- Commits: 167
- Available for: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
Supported export formats
| Format | Extension | MIME type | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netscape | .txt | text/plain | curl, wget, MozillaCookieJar (Python3), HTTP clients |
| JSON | .json | application/json | Programmatic processing, API integrations, Puppeteer/Playwright |
| Header | .txt | text/plain | Cookie strings for HTTP headers (key=value;) |
Netscape format is the de facto standard for cookie files used in command-line tools. Each line contains seven tab-separated fields: domain, includeSubdomain, path, secure, expiration (Unix timestamp), name, value. The file starts with the header "# Netscape HTTP Cookie File".
JSON format exports an array of cookie objects matching the Chrome cookies.Cookie structure. Ideal for scripts and automation pipelines.
Header format generates a semicolon-separated string of name=value pairs for direct use in HTTP Cookie headers.
Features
Export modes
- Export — export cookies for the current domain in the default format
- Export As — export with a format picker before saving
- Export All Cookies — export cookies from all domains
- Copy — copy cookies for the current domain to the clipboard
User interface
The popup displays:
- Current URL of the active tab
- Cookie count badge on the extension icon (auto-updates on tab switch)
- Export and copy buttons
- Format selector dropdown
- Configurable export options
Background features
- Live badge counter — automatically updates the cookie count on the extension icon
- Update notifications — shows a notification on extension update with links to GitHub releases and an uninstall button
- Incognito support — works in incognito mode (split mode)
- Partitioned cookie support — correctly handles cookies with
partitionKey(Chrome 119+)
Security and privacy
The extension's core principle is zero data exfiltration. It:
- Never transmits cookies to external servers
- Contains no telemetry or analytics
- Requires no registration or account
- Source code is fully open for inspection
- No code obfuscation
Required permissions:
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| activeTab | Get the URL of the current active tab |
| cookies | Read cookies (not write or send) |
| downloads | Save cookie files locally |
| notifications | Show update notifications |
| <all_urls> | Access cookies from all domains |
Unlike many similar extensions, Get cookies.txt LOCALLY is not related to the original "Get cookies.txt" extension, which was reported to contain malware. This is a completely new, safe, open-source implementation.
Technical architecture
The extension is built on Chrome Manifest V3 with a service worker as the background script. The code follows a modular structure:
| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| cookie_format.mjs | Serializes cookies into Netscape, JSON, and Header formats |
| get_all_cookies.mjs | Retrieves cookies with partitionKey and cookie store awareness |
| save_to_file.mjs | Saves text to a file via the chrome.downloads API |
Partition key handling
Since Chrome 119, the browser supports partitionKey — a mechanism that scopes cookies to a top-level site context. The extension handles this correctly by making a separate chrome.cookies.getAll() call for partitioned cookies. For Chrome versions below 119, it gracefully falls back by catching the API error.
Firefox support
The extension is also available for Firefox. The Firefox build uses a background script instead of a service worker and supports Container Tabs via cookieStoreId. File saving is delegated to the background script because Firefox does not support saveAs in popup windows.
Comparison with alternatives
| Extension | GitHub stars | Formats | Manifest | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get cookies.txt LOCALLY | 1,090 | Netscape, JSON, Header | V3 | 700K+ users, open-source, Firefox support |
| Cookie.txt Export — LOCALLY | — | Netscape | V3 | 608 users, Netscape only |
| Export Cookies (kodopik) | 1 | Netscape | V3 | Minimal export, .txt only |
Known limitations
- Chrome < 119: cannot read some cookies with partition keys due to a Chrome API bug
- HttpOnly cookies: cannot be exported (Chrome API restriction)
- SameSite attribute: not included in Netscape format output (format specification limitation)
- Cookie store: exports cookies from one cookie store at a time
Using exported cookies
curl
curl -b cookies.txt https://example.com
wget
wget --load-cookies cookies.txt https://example.com
Python (MozillaCookieJar)
from http.cookiejar import MozillaCookieJar
from urllib.request import Request, urlopen
cj = MozillaCookieJar('cookies.txt')
cj.load()
req = Request('https://example.com')
cj.add_cookie_header(req)
response = urlopen(req)
Puppeteer / Playwright (JSON format)
const cookies = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('cookies.json', 'utf8'));
await page.setCookie(...cookies);
Installation
Chrome Web Store
The extension is available at Chrome Web Store. Click "Add to Chrome" and confirm the permissions.
Firefox Add-ons
Firefox listing: Firefox Addons.
Install from source
git clone https://github.com/kairi003/Get-cookies.txt-Locally.git cd Get-cookies.txt-Locally # Load in Chrome: chrome://extensions → Developer mode → Load unpacked
FAQ
Is this extension safe? Yes. The source code is open, unobfuscated, and does not send any data to external servers.
How is this different from the old "Get cookies.txt"? The old extension was reported to contain malware. Get cookies.txt LOCALLY is a completely new, safe, open-source implementation.
Does it work on Firefox? Yes. The extension supports Firefox, including Container Tabs.
How do I export cookies from all sites at once? Click the "Export All Cookies" button in the extension popup.
Which format should I use? Use Netscape (.txt) for curl/wget, JSON for programmatic processing, and Header for HTTP header strings.
Does it work in incognito mode? Yes. Enable "Allow in incognito" in the extension settings.
Summary
Get cookies.txt LOCALLY is the most popular, secure, and feature-rich cookie export extension for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. With open-source code, support for three export formats (Netscape, JSON, Header), over 700,000 users, and a 4.8-star rating, it has become the de facto standard for extracting browser cookies. The extension operates entirely locally, collects no telemetry, and requires no registration. Thanks to its modular Manifest V3 architecture, partitionKey support, and Firefox Container Tab compatibility, it remains an essential tool for web developers, automation engineers, and security researchers in 2026.
References
