How to Turn on Cookies and JavaScript: Quick & Easy Guide

A step-by-step guide to turning on JavaScript and cookies to stop errors

Many websites use JavaScript to display content, and cookies to support features like login and online shopping. If a website isn't displaying properly, you can't use certain features, or you see an error like " enable JavaScript and cookies to continue," cookies and/or JavaScript are likely turned off. This wikiHow teaches you how to enable JavaScript and cookies in Chrome , Safari , Microsoft Edge, and Firefox on any device.

Quick Steps

  1. Click the menu in Chrome and go to Settings > Privacy and security .
  2. Select Allow third-party cookies .
  3. Go to Site Settings > Additional content settings > On-device site data .
  4. Select Allow sites to save data on your device and click the back button.
  5. Click JavaScript and select Sites can use JavaScript .
Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Google Chrome on a Computer

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  1. You'll see the three-dot menu at the top-right corner of Chrome on your PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
  2. It's on the left panel.
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  3. If you only want to change your settings for third-party cookies, such as those that track you across websites, click Third-party cookies under "Privacy and security," and then select Allow third-party cookies .
    • This does not enable all cookies if you've disabled them. Google has moved this setting to a more hidden area, which we'll go to next.
    • Click the back button when you're finished to return to the previous screen.
  4. It's under "Privacy and security."
  5. If you don't see this option at the bottom of the menu, skip to the next step.
  6. It's the last option on the page.
  7. The first option on this page enables cookies throughout Chrome.
    • Click the back button once to return to the previous page.
  8. It's under the "Content" header.
  9. If JavaScript was disabled, this re-enables it.
    • You may also want to ensure there aren't any sites in the "Not allowed to use JavaScript" section in the lower half of this page.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Google Chrome for Android

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
    • Cookies and Java are both enabled on Chrome for iPhone and iPad by default. There's no way to turn either on or off—they are both always on.
    • Chrome no longer has a simple "Cookies" switch. Instead, your browser allows you to enable or disable third-party cookies (those that track you across websites) or enable/disable "on-device site data." If you want to enable the useful cookies, such as the ones that keep you signed in to websites, you'll want to enable "On-device site data."
  2. You may have to scroll down to see it.
  3. You'll see it under "Advanced."
  4. As long as this switch is enabled, websites can save cookies on your Android. [1]
  5. It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
  6. If you also want to allow websites to leave third-party cookies on your Android, tap Third-party cookies and then select Allow third-party cookies . [2]
    • If you change this setting, tap the Back button to return to the previous menu.
  7. This option is near the middle of the Site Settings page.
  8. It will slide right and turn blue or green, which enables JavaScript on all websites.
    • If the JavaScript switch was already blue or green, JavaScript was enabled, and no changes were necessary.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Safari on a Mac

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  1. You'll see Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen when Safari is open on your Mac.
  3. If cookies were blocked , this re-enables them.
    • If you don't want websites to be able to track your browsing on other websites you visit, return to settings, click Privacy , and then select Prevent cross-site tracking . [3]
  4. It's the padlock icon at the top of the window.
  5. If this box was already checked, there's nothing to change— JavaScript was on already. But if it was off, checking this box will turn it back on.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

Safari on iPhone or iPad

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  1. Tap the grey app with gears on it. You'll typically find this app on the Home screen or in your App Library.
  2. It's about a third of the way down the Settings page.
  3. It's at the bottom of the menu.
  4. If this switch is already turned off (gray), cookies are enabled. If it's on (green), tap the switch to allow cookies.
  5. If the switch is already green, JavaScript is enabled. If it's off (gray), tapping this switch will enable it again.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

Microsoft Edge on a Computer

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  1. You'll see the menu at the top-right corner of Edge on your PC or Mac.
  2. It'll be in the left panel.
  3. This is the first option in the right panel.
  4. It's the first switch at the top of the page. As long as this switch is on, cookies are enabled.
    • If you don't want websites to use cookies to track your browsing on other websites, toggle the "Block third-party cookies" switch to On as well.
  5. It's at the top-left corner of the right pane. This returns you to the "Cookies and site permissions" page.
  6. It's about halfway down the right side of the page.
  7. As long as this switch is on (blue), Edge will display JavaScript on websites.
    • Check the "Block" list below the switch to make sure no sites you want to use are there. If you see a site you want to use JavaScript on, click the three dots next to its name and select Remove .
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Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Microsoft Edge on Mobile

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  1. You'll see these three lines at the bottom-right corner of Edge on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
    • Microsoft Edge for mobile devices doesn't give you an option to disable JavaScript. JavaScript is always on, so there's no need to enable it.
  3. It's near the top of the menu.
  4. Your options for blocking cookies will appear.
  5. Alternatively, if you want to block tracking/third-party cookies in Edge without affecting your web browsing, you can select Block only third party cookies instead.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

Firefox on a Computer

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  1. If you're using a PC, you'll see the three-line menu at the top-right corner of Firefox. On a Mac, you can click the Firefox menu at the top of the screen and select Settings . [4]
    • JavaScript is permanently enabled on Firefox, but you can still change your cookie preferences.
    • If you're encountering JavaScript errors in Firefox, uninstall and then reinstall Firefox.
  2. It's on the left panel.
  3. It's the first of the three tracking settings. This option allows all cookies, including third-party cookies that track you across different websites.
    • Alternatively, if you're using a Custom setting, you can just check the box next to "Cookies" to enable them.
    • If you'd rather not allow cross-site cookies to track you, select Strict instead. This could make websites act a little differently than expected, so if you run into problems, return to this screen and select Standard instead.
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Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

Firefox for Mobile

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  1. It's the three dots at the top-right corner on Android, or the three lines at the bottom-right on iPhone/iPad.
    • JavaScript is turned on by default in Firefox on Android and iOS—it's not possible to turn it on and off manually.
  2. It's the gear icon at the bottom of the menu.
  3. It's under the "Privacy" header.
  4. It's at the top of the screen. Once this feature is turned off, cookies will be re-enabled.
    • If the "Strict" option is selected under "Protection Level," you won't receive cross-site cookies—this means that websites can't use cookies to track your browsing on other sites. If you're okay with these cross-site cookies, select Standard (default) instead.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I enable cookies on an iPad?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Tap Safari, Settings and tap Enable Cookies. Or, check if your history is not set on Private. If it is, tap it to say Not Private.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Can I enable JavaScript on an iPad?
    Evan Thomas
    Community Answer
    No, you are not able to enable JavaScript using Safari. If you download the "Puffin" web browser from the app store, it has JavaScript built in, so you can use it there.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      • Cookies are bits of data that websites save to your computer, allowing the sites to personalize your experience. JavaScript is a common that makes it possible for your web browser to display richer content.
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      • Cookies may be either first-party or third-party. First-party cookies are cookies from the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies track you across several sites, allowing advertisers to target ads toward your preferences. Allowing third-party cookies is the default setting for most web browsers.
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      • In most web browsers, both cookies and JavaScript are enabled by default; you really shouldn't have to enable them unless you or someone else have previously disabled them.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/14114868?sjid=15619355203945709572-NC&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=1
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/prevent-cross-site-tracking-sfri40732/17.0/mac/14.0
      4. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/websites-say-cookies-are-blocked-unblock-them

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you're using Google Chrome on your PC or Mac, both JavaScript and cookies are enabled by default. If you're having trouble viewing or staying signed in to websites, you'll want to check your settings. In Chrome, click the three vertical dots at the top-right corner, and then select "Settings." Click "Privacy and Security" in the left panel. In the right panel, click "Cookies and site data." If you want to allow all cookies, select "Allow all cookies." You can also choose to allow most cookies while blocking tracking cookies from advertisers—to do this, select "Block third-party cookies." Now, click the back button in Chrome to return to your settings, and then click "Site Settings" in the right panel. Next, scroll down to the Content section and click "JavaScript" – If the switch is on and you see "Allowed (recommended)," JavaScript is turned on. If not, click the switch to enable it now. If you've blocked JavaScript for any websites, they'll appear under the "Block" header. You can unblock JavaScript on a website by clicking the three vertical dots next to the site's address and selecting "Remove." Your changes will take effect immediately.

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