How to Enable Cookies on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac Browser

PDF download Download Article
Turn on your iPhone’s browser cookies in a few simple steps
PDF download Download Article

Cookies—small files sent to your device with details about your visit to specific sites—are enabled by default in Safari on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. However, if the features of a website weren’t working correctly or you received an error message about cookies, you may have disabled them in your settings. In this wikiHow article, we’ll teach you how to allow cookies in Safari (as well as Google Chrome and Firefox), plus show you what to do if cookies aren't working properly.

Quick Steps: Enabling Cookies in Safari on Mac or iPhone

  1. Open the Safari app on your Mac device.
  2. Choose Safari → Settings… → “Advanced.”
  3. Uncheck “Block all cookies.”
  4. On an iPhone or iPad, you can turn off “Block All Cookies” in theapp by going to Safari → Advanced.
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Enabling Cookies in Safari on a Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. While Safari is open, you'll see the "Safari" option at the top-left corner of your Mac's screen, just to the right of the Apple logo. Clicking on “Safari” will cause a drop-down menu to appear. [1]
  2. You’ll see the “Settings…” option near the top of the menu, under “Safari Extensions…”.
    Advertisement
  3. At the top of the Settings window, you’ll see a row of different tabs, with “Advanced” at the far right end of the row. Selecting “Advanced” will bring you to a menu that lets you adjust Safari’s privacy settings.
  4. As long as this option is not selected (meaning there’s no blue checkmark in the box), Safari will save cookies from websites and third parties to your Mac.
    • You can always re-select the “Block all cookies” option if you want Safari to start blocking cookies later.
  5. Some cookies are placed on your Mac by advertisers who want to track your browsing activity. If you want to allow these cookies, you can remove the checkmark from "Prevent cross-site tracking," which is located in the “Privacy” tab of the Settings window.
    • In most cases, you'll probably want to leave the checkmark for this option to preserve your privacy. However, if websites aren't loading properly or you can't use the features of certain sites, you may need to disable it.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Enabling Cookies in Safari on iPhone and iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. This is the gray gear icon on your Home screen (or in your app list). [2]
  2. You may need to search, since it’s further down in the 5th group of settings. Once you tap the “Safari” option, a list of settings for the Safari app will appear [3]
  3. The toggle that blocks or unblocks cookies is located under Safari’s advanced settings. You’ll find the “Advanced” tab at the very bottom of the Safari settings page.
  4. If this switch is on (green), cookies are blocked. Tapping the switch will unblock cookies again, allowing them in Safari on your iPhone or iPad. [4]
    • If the switch is already off (meaning cookies are allowed), it’ll be grey—so you don’t have to change anything.
  5. Some cookies are placed on your iPhone or iPad by advertisers who want to track your browsing across websites. If you want to allow these types of cookies, toggle the "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" switch to the Off (white) position. This switch is located on the main Safari settings page (not under Advanced).
    • In most cases, you'll probably want to leave this switch on, as this protects your privacy. However, if websites aren't loading correctly or you can’t use features of specific sites, you can enable this option and see if it resolves the problem.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Troubleshooting

PDF download Download Article
  1. This error often pops up when you try to use certain website features or try to sign a document in your browser. If you've already enabled cookies but still see this error, try allowing third-party cookies: [5]
    • Mac: Click the Safari menu, select Settings… , click Privacy , and then remove the checkmark from "Prevent cross-site tracking."
    • iPhone/iPad: Open your Settings , tap Safari , and then toggle the "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" switch to the Off (grey) position.
  2. Even if you've enabled cookies, they won't work while you're browsing privately. To disable private browsing mode:
    • Mac computer:
      • First, check to ensure private browsing is not always set to turn on—click the Safari menu, select Settings… , click General , and click the "Safari opens with" menu. [6] If "A new private window" is selected, choose A new window instead.
      • To open a new window, just close the currently open Safari window, click the File menu, and then select New Window .
    • iPhone/iPad: Open Safari and tap the overlapping squares at the bottom. [7] Tap the “Tab Groups” option at the bottom (which looks like three blue bullet points and lines), select (number of) Tabs , and then tap Done .
  3. Sometimes, old cookies will stay on your computer, phone, or tablet and cause strange errors to appear on websites, so they can't save the newer version of the cookie. Clearing your cookies will log you out of websites you're signed in to, but it should resolve most cookie problems.
    • Mac: Click the Safari menu, click Settings… , click Privacy , click Manage Website Data , and then click Remove All .
    • iPhone/iPad: Open Settings , tap Safari , tap Advanced , select Website Data , and then tap Remove All Website Data . [8]
    4. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Enabling Cookies on Google Chrome

PDF download Download Article
  1. You’ll see the “Chrome” option on the top left corner of your screen, next to the Apple logo (assuming you’re on a Mac). From there, you’ll see a drop-down menu appear.
  2. Click on the “Settings…” option in the drop-down menu, and a new tab will open in Chrome with settings options. In the sidebar on the left side of the screen, go to the “ Privacy and security ” settings page.
  3. If that option is filled in with a blue circle, you’ve successfully selected and enabled cookies in Google Chrome on your Mac!
    • Alternatively, you can choose to block third-party cookies only while in Incognito mode or block them altogether.
    4. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Enabling Cookies on Mozilla Firefox

PDF download Download Article
  1. The “Firefox” option is located in the top left corner of your screen, next to the Apple logo (on a Mac). From there, you’ll see a drop-down menu appear.
  2. Click on the “ Settings… ” option in the drop-down menu, and a new tab will open in Firefox with settings options. In the sidebar on the left side of the screen, go to the “ Privacy & Security ” settings page.
  3. There are three main privacy options: Standard, Strict, or Custom. The “ Standard ” option automatically allows first-party cookies while blocking third-party cookies across sites; in most cases, you can leave this active. If you want to allow all cookies, do the following:
    • Select the “ Custom ” Browser Privacy option.
    • Uncheck the “ Cookies ” box under “Custom.” This will allow all cookies in Firefox, including third-party ones.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I enable cookies in Safari?
    Community Answer
    You can go to Safari, and click on preferences. Then, you click on "privacy," where you can select a “cookies and website data” option. You need to choose the "always allow" option.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 77 Helpful 20
  • Question
    What do I do if I don't have the "Always allow" button, only the "Block all cookies" or "Manage data"?
    Community Answer
    I found that I had to uncheck "Website tracking" - then everything worked fine.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 36
  • Question
    What do I do if I have allow cookies selected and I still get messages that I must enable cookies?
    Community Answer
    You have to uncheck “Prevent cross-site tracking” as well as unchecking “Block all cookies”. Then it will work. This is the same on your phone too.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Enabling cookies can often allow you to view and have access to a larger number of websites that require cookies in order to function or display properly.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Despite their poor reputation, cookies aren't inherently malicious.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      2 Easy Ways to Delete Cookies Using the Safari Web Browser
      How to
      Block a Website in Safari
      How to
      Change Your Start Page on Safari
      How to
      Disable Private Browsing in Safari on iPhone or iPad: Quick Guide
      How to
      Access Blocked Sites with Safari on Mac and iPhone
      2 Easy Ways to Check Your Safari Search History
      Simple Steps to Change Your General Preferences on Safari
      2 Simple Ways to Bookmark a Website in Safari
      2 Simple Ways to Clear Safari Search History
      3 Easy Ways to Transfer and Import Bookmarks with Safari
      Simple Ways to Open Safari in Full-Screen Every Time on Mac
      4 Simple Ways to Clear History in Safari on Desktop or Mobile
      How to
      Change Safari Settings on iPhone or iPad
      Website Tinting in Safari: What it Does & How to Turn it On or Off
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-and-website-data-sfri11471/mac
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105082
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105082
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105082
      5. ↑ https://support.ewu.edu/support/solutions/articles/10000057364-how-do-i-disable-prevent-cross-site-tracking-in-safari-
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/use-private-browsing-ibrw1069/mac
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203036
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105082

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Safari.
      2. Click the Safari menu
      3. Click Preferences... .
      4. Click the Privacy tab.
      5. Remove the checkmark from "Block all cookies."

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 596,388 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement