Cookies are turned off by default in most Samsung browsers, and you'll need to turn them back on manually
Cookies are small files that websites store on your phone to remember your login information, shopping cart contents, and preferences. Without them enabled, many websites won't work properly — you might get logged out unexpectedly, lose items in your cart, or see the same welcome message every time you visit. On a Samsung phone, the steps to turn cookies on depend on which browser you're using: Samsung Internet (the built-in browser) or Google Chrome.
The process takes less than a minute and involves opening your browser settings, finding the privacy or cookies section, and toggling the setting on. After you enable cookies, you may need to refresh the website you were trying to use.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Internet and Google Chrome have different locations for the cookies setting, so you need to know which browser you're using.
- In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy > Cookies and toggle the switch to on.
- In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Site settings > Cookies and site data and toggle the switch to on.
- After enabling cookies, refresh the website you were visiting by pulling down on the page or tapping the refresh icon.
- Cookies are safe to enable — they only store information that websites need to function, not passwords or payment details.
Enable cookies in Samsung Internet
Samsung Internet is the default browser that comes with most Samsung phones. Open the app by tapping the compass icon on your home screen or in your app drawer.
Once the browser is open, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings. On the Settings page, tap Privacy. You'll see a toggle switch next to Cookies — tap it to turn it on. The switch will turn blue when it's active.
Go back to the website you were trying to visit and refresh the page by pulling down from the top of the screen or tapping the circular arrow icon at the top. The site should now work normally.
Enable cookies in Google Chrome
If you're using Google Chrome instead of Samsung Internet, the steps are slightly different. Open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Tap Settings from the menu that appears. On the Settings page, tap Site settings. Scroll down and tap Cookies and site data. You'll see a toggle switch — tap it to turn it on. The switch will turn blue when cookies are enabled.
Return to the website and refresh the page by pulling down from the top or tapping the refresh icon. The page should now load with cookies enabled.
What to do if you still can't log in after enabling cookies
Sometimes a website won't work even after you turn cookies on. This usually means the site has a separate setting you need to adjust, or there's a temporary problem with the website itself.
Try clearing your browser cache, which removes old stored data that might be conflicting with the new cookies. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy > Delete browsing data and make sure Cookies and site data is checked, then tap Delete. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data, check Cookies and site data, and tap Clear data. After clearing, go back to the website and try logging in again.
If the problem persists, try using a different browser or visiting the website on a computer to see if the issue is specific to your phone. You can also contact the website's support team — they may have a known issue or a workaround.
The difference between cookies and cache
Cookies and cache are related but do different jobs. Cookies store information that websites ask you to remember, like your username or language preference. Cache stores images, videos, and other files so websites load faster the next time you visit.
You can have cookies turned on but cache turned off, or vice versa. Most of the time you want both enabled for the best browsing experience. If a website isn't working, try clearing both — go to your browser settings, find the privacy or data section, and look for options to clear both cookies and cache together.
Why websites ask for cookie permission
You may have noticed that many websites now show a banner asking if you want to accept cookies. This is because of privacy laws in Europe and other regions that require websites to ask your permission before storing data on your device.
When you see this banner, tapping Accept or Allow tells the website it's okay to store cookies on your phone. Tapping Reject or Decline tells the website not to store cookies, which may cause the site to work poorly or not at all. If you've rejected cookies on a site and now want to use it, you'll need to turn cookies on in your browser settings (as described above) and then revisit the site to accept the banner again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cookies safe to turn on?
Yes. Cookies only store information that websites need to function, like your login status or shopping cart contents. They cannot store passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data. Cookies are a normal part of how the internet works and are safe to enable.
Will turning on cookies slow down my phone?
No. Cookies are very small files — typically just a few kilobytes each — and have no noticeable effect on your phone's speed or storage. You can safely enable them without worrying about performance.
Do I need to enable cookies on every website?
No. Once you turn cookies on in your browser settings, they stay on for all websites you visit. You only need to change the setting once. Individual websites may still ask you to accept their cookies through a banner, but that's a separate step from the browser setting.
What if I want to turn cookies off again later?
You can turn cookies off anytime by going back to the same settings menu where you turned them on. In Samsung Internet, go to Settings > Privacy > Cookies and toggle the switch off. In Chrome, go to Settings > Site settings > Cookies and site data and toggle the switch off. Keep in mind that many websites won't work properly without cookies enabled.
Can I enable cookies for some websites but not others?
Most Samsung phone browsers don't have a built-in way to allow cookies for specific sites only. Your options are to turn cookies on for all sites or off for all sites. Some browsers let you manage individual cookies through advanced settings, but this is more technical and not necessary for most users.