Cookies are turned on by default in Firefox, but you may need to adjust your settings if you've blocked them
Mozilla Firefox stores cookies automatically unless you've changed your settings. Cookies are small files that websites save on your computer to remember things about you — your login information, items in your shopping cart, or your language preference. If a website isn't working properly, or you can't stay logged in, the problem is often that cookies are blocked.
The steps below show you how to check your cookie settings and turn them back on if they're off. This takes about two minutes and requires no restart of Firefox.
Key Takeaways
- Firefox allows cookies by default, so you only need to change settings if websites are asking you to turn them on.
- You can check your cookie settings by opening Firefox menu, selecting Settings, then Privacy & Security, and looking at the Cookies and Site Data section.
- If cookies are blocked, you can allow them for all websites or just for specific sites you trust.
- Clearing old cookies can sometimes fix login problems, even if cookies are turned on.
Open Firefox Settings and find the Privacy section
Start by opening Firefox on your computer. In the top right corner, you'll see three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other — this is the menu button. Click it.
From the menu that drops down, click Settings. A new tab will open showing your Firefox preferences. On the left side, you'll see several options listed vertically. Click Privacy & Security. You're now in the right place to adjust your cookie settings.
Locate the Cookies and Site Data section
Scroll down the Privacy & Security page until you see a section labeled Cookies and Site Data. This section contains a checkbox and some text explaining what Firefox is currently doing with cookies.
Below that checkbox, you'll see a button that says Manage Exceptions and another that says Clear Data. These buttons let you handle specific websites or remove old cookies. For now, focus on the checkbox itself — that's where you control whether cookies work at all.
Check what your current cookie setting is
Look at the checkbox next to "Cookies and Site Data." If the box is checked, cookies are turned on. If it's empty, cookies are blocked. You can also see text below the checkbox that describes what Firefox is doing — it might say "Accept cookies and site data from websites" or "Reject all cookies."
If the checkbox is already checked and cookies are on, but a website is still having problems, skip ahead to the section on clearing old cookies. If the checkbox is empty or you see that cookies are being rejected, move to the next step.
Turn cookies back on if they're blocked
If cookies are turned off, click the checkbox next to "Cookies and Site Data" to turn them back on. The box should now show a checkmark. Firefox will now accept cookies from websites you visit.
Close the Settings tab and go back to the website that was having trouble. Refresh the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R on your keyboard (Cmd+R if you're on a Mac). The website should now work properly. You may need to log in again, since Firefox just cleared out the old blocked cookies.
Allow cookies for just one website if you want to be selective
If you want cookies turned on overall but blocked for certain websites, you can set rules for individual sites. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Manage Exceptions. A small window will pop up.
Type the website address (for example, amazon.com) into the box at the top. Then click the dropdown menu that says "Allow" or "Block" and choose which one you want. Click Save Changes. Now Firefox will follow that rule for that specific website, even if your general setting is different.
Clear old cookies if you're having login problems
Sometimes cookies get corrupted or outdated, and clearing them fixes the problem even though cookies are turned on. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data. A window will appear with checkboxes.
Make sure the box next to "Cookies and Site Data" is checked, then click Clear. Firefox will delete all stored cookies. Go back to the website and log in again. Firefox will create fresh cookies this time, and the website should work properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a website keep asking me to turn on cookies if they're already on?
The website may be checking for a specific cookie it created before, which might have been deleted. Clear your cookies using the method above, then log in to the website again. It will create a new cookie, and the message should stop appearing.
Will turning on cookies make Firefox less secure?
Cookies themselves don't install malware or viruses. Firefox blocks tracking cookies from advertisers by default, even when cookies are on. If you're concerned about privacy, you can use the Manage Exceptions feature to block cookies on specific websites while allowing them on others you trust.
What's the difference between clearing cookies and turning them off?
Turning off cookies prevents Firefox from storing any new cookies. Clearing cookies deletes the ones already stored. If you clear cookies but leave them turned on, websites can create new cookies the next time you visit. This is useful when old cookies are causing problems.
Do I need to restart Firefox after changing cookie settings?
No. Firefox applies cookie setting changes immediately. You don't need to close and reopen the browser. Just refresh the website you were having trouble with, and the new settings will take effect.