Cookies are turned off by default in Safari on iPhone, but you can turn them back on in Settings in about one minute
Cookies are small files that websites store on your phone to remember you — your login, your shopping cart, your preferences. Without them, many websites won't work properly: you'll get logged out randomly, shopping carts will empty, or pages won't load the way they're supposed to. Safari on iPhone blocks cookies by default to protect your privacy, but this sometimes breaks websites you actually want to use.
The fix is straightforward. You go into your iPhone's Settings app, find the Safari section, and toggle cookies back on. The setting is called "Block All Cookies" and you need to turn it off. This takes about 60 seconds and works immediately — you don't need to restart Safari or your phone.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are turned off by default in Safari on iPhone to protect privacy, but this can break website features like login and shopping carts.
- You enable cookies by opening Settings, scrolling to Safari, and toggling off the "Block All Cookies" switch.
- The change takes effect immediately in Safari without restarting your phone.
- If a website still doesn't work after enabling cookies, the problem is usually something else — try clearing your Safari history and cache.
- You can also allow cookies only from websites you visit, which blocks tracking cookies from advertisers while keeping functional cookies.
Step-by-step: Turn on cookies in Safari
Step 1: Open Settings. Tap the gray Settings icon on your home screen. It looks like a gear.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Safari. You'll see a list of apps. Safari is usually near the bottom. Tap it.
Step 3: Find "Block All Cookies" and toggle it off. Scroll down in the Safari settings until you see "Block All Cookies" with a toggle switch next to it. The switch will be green if it's already on (blocking cookies). Tap the switch to turn it off. It will turn gray.
Step 4: Go back to Safari and reload the website. Close Settings and open Safari. Go to the website that wasn't working and reload the page by pulling down from the top of the screen and releasing, or by tapping the reload icon (circular arrow) at the top right.
What to do if the website still doesn't work
If you've turned on cookies and the website still won't let you log in or still has problems, the issue is usually not cookies. Try clearing your Safari history and cache, which removes old data that might be conflicting with the site.
To clear your Safari data: open Settings, tap Safari, scroll down, and tap "Clear History and Website Data." Choose how far back you want to clear (usually "All time" is safest) and tap "Clear History and Data." Then go back to the website and try again. This usually takes 30 seconds and fixes most login and loading problems.
If the website still doesn't work after that, the problem is on the website's end, not your phone. Try contacting the website's support or try accessing it from a different browser like Chrome or Firefox to see if the problem is specific to Safari.
The difference between "Block All Cookies" and "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking"
Safari actually has two separate cookie settings, and they do different things. "Block All Cookies" turns off all cookies, which breaks most websites. "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" is turned on by default and is the better option — it allows cookies from websites you visit, but blocks cookies from advertisers and trackers on other sites.
If you want privacy but still need websites to work, leave "Block All Cookies" off and leave "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" on. This is the middle ground: you get functional cookies (login, shopping cart, preferences) but you block the tracking cookies that follow you around the internet. Most people should use this setup.
Only turn on "Block All Cookies" if you're on a shared device or a public WiFi and you want maximum privacy. Just know that many websites won't work properly.
Why Safari blocks cookies by default
Apple turned on "Block All Cookies" by default because cookies can be used to track you across the internet. Advertisers and data brokers use tracking cookies to build a profile of your browsing habits, which they then sell or use to show you targeted ads. By blocking all cookies, Safari stops this tracking completely.
The downside is that blocking all cookies also stops functional cookies — the ones that let you stay logged in, keep items in your shopping cart, or remember your font size preference. This is why the default setting breaks some websites. Apple chose privacy over convenience, which is why you sometimes have to turn cookies back on.
Cookies on other iPhone browsers
If you use Chrome, Firefox, or another browser on your iPhone, the cookie settings are different. Chrome and Firefox generally allow cookies by default and have their own privacy settings. If you're having trouble with a website in a different browser, look in that browser's settings (not your iPhone's Settings app) for cookie or privacy options.
Some people switch browsers specifically because Safari's default settings are stricter. If you find yourself constantly turning cookies back on in Safari, you might prefer Chrome or Firefox, which are less restrictive. Both work fine on iPhone and sync across your devices if you use them on a computer too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to turn cookies back on every time I use Safari?
No. Once you toggle off "Block All Cookies" in Settings, it stays off until you turn it back on. The setting persists across all websites and all Safari sessions.
Will turning on cookies make my iPhone less secure?
Cookies themselves don't make your phone less secure. They're just small text files. The privacy concern is that cookies can be used to track your browsing. If you keep "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" turned on (which is the default), you block most tracking while still allowing functional cookies.
What if I only want to allow cookies for one specific website?
Safari doesn't have a per-website cookie setting on iPhone. You can only turn cookies on or off globally. If you need cookies for one site but want to block them everywhere else, you'd need to use a different browser or manually clear cookies after each session, which is impractical.
Can I turn cookies back off after I turn them on?
Yes. Go back to Settings, tap Safari, and toggle "Block All Cookies" back on. Any websites that were working will stop working again, so only do this if you've decided you prefer privacy over website functionality.
Why does my bank or email keep logging me out even with cookies on?
Banks and email services sometimes log you out for security reasons, not because of cookies. They might log you out after a period of inactivity, or if you access the account from a new device. This is intentional and not a cookie problem. Check your account settings to see if you can adjust the timeout period.