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

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Turn on your iPhone’s browser cookies in a few simple steps

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: July 4, 2024 Tested

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Enabling Cookies on a Mac

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Enabling Cookies on iPhone and iPad

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Troubleshooting

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

Cookies are enabled by default in Safari on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. If the features of a certain website aren't working properly or you're getting errors about cookies, you may have disabled cookies in your settings. This wikiHow article will teach you how to allow cookies in Safari, and show you what to do if cookies aren't working properly.

Enabling Cookies in Safari on Mac or iPhone

Open the Safari app on your Mac device.
Choose Safari → Preferences… → “Advanced.”
Uncheck “Block All Cookies.”
On an iPhone, you can turn off “Block All Cookies” in the Safari tab of your
app.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Enabling Cookies on a Mac

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While Safari is open, you'll see the "Safari" menu at the top of your Mac's screen.^{[1]
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This option is near the top of the menu.

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It's at the top of the Preferences window.
As long as this option is not selected, Safari will save cookies to your Mac.
5
Allow tracking cookies (optional). Some cookies are placed on your Mac by advertisers who want to track your browsing activity. If you want to allow these types of cookies, you can remove the checkmark from "Prevent cross-site tracking."
- In most cases, you'll probably want to leave a checkmark in front of 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 enable this option.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Enabling Cookies on iPhone and iPad

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This is the gray gear icon on your Home screen and/or in your app list.^{[2]
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This option is in the 5th group of settings.^{[3]
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If this switch is on (green), cookies are blocked. Tapping the switch will once again allow cookies on your iPhone or iPad.^{[4]
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4
Allow tracking cookies (optional). 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.
- In most cases, you'll probably want to leave this switch on, as this protects your privacy. However, if websites aren't loading properly or you're unable to use features of certain sites, you can enable this option and see if it resolves the problem.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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1
Fix the error "Cookie functionality is disabled on your browser." 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]
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- Mac: Click the Safari menu, select Preferences, 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 (white) position.
2
Turn off private browsing mode. Even if you've enabled cookies, they won't work if you're browsing privately. To disable private browsing mode:
- Mac:
  - First, check to make sure private browsing is not always set to turn on—click the Safari menu, select Preferences, click General, and click the "New windows open with" menu.^{[6]
    X
    Research source} If "A new private window" is selected, choose A new window instead.
  - Then, 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]
  X
  Research source} Tap Private at the bottom (if you see it), select (number of) Tabs, and then tap Done.
3
Clear your cookies. Sometimes old cookies will stay on your computer, phone, or tablet and cause strange errors to appear on websites that aren't able to 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 Preferences, 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]
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Community Q&A

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Despite their poor reputation, cookies aren't inherently malicious.

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