Where to find cookie settings on your Mac browser
Cookie settings live in different places depending on which browser you use. Safari keeps them under Privacy settings. Chrome and Firefox both put them in Privacy & Security. The steps take less than a minute, and you only need to change them once — most browsers remember your choice after that.
You do not need to restart your browser or your Mac after turning cookies on. The change takes effect immediately the next time you visit a website that sets a cookie.
Key Takeaways
- Safari stores cookie settings in Preferences under the Privacy tab, where you can choose to accept cookies from websites you visit.
- Chrome and Firefox both use Privacy & Security settings, and the default in both browsers is to accept most cookies automatically.
- If you have blocked all cookies, websites may not remember your login, shopping cart, or language preference.
- You can allow cookies from all sites or only from sites you visit, depending on how much tracking you want to permit.
Enable cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Privacy tab.
Under "Cookies and website data," you will see three options. Choose Allow from websites I visit to accept cookies from sites you navigate to yourself. This is the most common setting and blocks tracking cookies from third-party advertisers while still letting websites remember you. If you want to accept all cookies with no restrictions, select Always allow. Close the Settings window when you are done.
Enable cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. Click Privacy and security on the left side, then click Cookies and other site data.
Chrome defaults to Allow all cookies, which means cookies are already on unless you or someone else changed this setting. If you see Block all cookies selected, click it and choose Allow all cookies instead. You can also select Block third-party cookies if you want to allow website cookies but block advertisers from tracking you across sites.
Enable cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left side.
Scroll down to the "Cookies and Site Data" section. Make sure the checkbox next to Cookies and Site Data is checked. Firefox is set to accept cookies by default, so if this box is already checked, cookies are on. If you see a message that says cookies are blocked, click the checkbox to turn them back on.
What to do if a website says cookies are disabled
Some websites will show a message saying "cookies are disabled" or "please enable cookies to continue." This usually means the site needs to store information about you — like a login session or items in your shopping cart — and cannot do that without cookies turned on.
After you turn cookies on using the steps above, go back to that website and refresh the page. The message should disappear. If it does not, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then visit the site again. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy and click Manage Website Data, then click Remove All. In Chrome and Firefox, go to Settings, find the Clear Browsing Data option, check "Cookies and other site data," and click Clear.
The difference between first-party and third-party cookies
First-party cookies come from the website you are visiting. They remember your login, your language choice, items in your cart, and other information that makes the site work better for you. Most people want first-party cookies on.
Third-party cookies come from advertisers and tracking companies whose code runs on the website you are visiting. They follow you across different websites to build a profile of your browsing habits and show you targeted ads. Safari and Firefox block third-party cookies by default. Chrome allows them by default but lets you block them if you want. If you are concerned about tracking, blocking third-party cookies is a middle ground between allowing all cookies and blocking everything.
Why websites ask you to accept cookies
When you visit a website in Europe or many other regions, you often see a banner asking you to accept cookies. This is required by law — the website must tell you that it uses cookies and get your permission before setting them. Clicking "Accept" or "Allow" on that banner tells the website it can set cookies on your device.
Turning cookies on in your browser settings does not automatically accept every website's cookie banner. You still need to click the accept button on each site's banner if one appears. Browser settings control whether cookies can be stored at all; website banners control which specific cookies each site is allowed to set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning on cookies slow down my Mac?
No. Cookies are small text files, usually just a few kilobytes each. Even with hundreds of cookies stored, they use almost no disk space and have no noticeable effect on your Mac's speed or performance.
Is it safe to turn on cookies?
First-party cookies from websites you trust are safe. Third-party tracking cookies are less risky than they used to be because browsers now block many of them by default, but they do let advertisers track your browsing. If you are concerned about privacy, allow cookies from websites you visit but block third-party cookies.
What happens if I keep cookies turned off?
Websites will not remember you. You will have to log in every time you visit, your shopping cart will empty when you close the browser, and sites will not remember your preferences like language or dark mode. Some websites will not work at all without cookies.
Do I need to turn on cookies for every website?
No. Once you turn cookies on in your browser settings, all websites can set cookies on your Mac. You do not need to change settings for individual sites unless you want to block cookies from one specific website, which most browsers allow you to do.