What cookies are and why you might want to change them

A cookie is a small file that a website stores on your computer. When you visit that site again, your browser sends the cookie back to it. Cookies let websites remember you — your login, items in your cart, your language preference. Without them, you'd have to log in to every site from scratch each time.

The trade-off is that cookies also let websites and advertisers track where you go and what you do. A cookie from an ad network can follow you across dozens of sites, building a profile of your interests. Some people accept this trade-off. Others find it invasive and want to block or delete cookies regularly. Your browser lets you choose where you fall on that spectrum.

Changing your cookie settings does not require technical knowledge — it's a menu in your browser preferences. The choice you make affects your privacy, but it also affects how smoothly websites work. A site that relies on cookies to remember you will feel broken if you block them all.

Key Takeaways

  • Most browsers let you choose between allowing all cookies, blocking third-party cookies only, or blocking all cookies — each choice trades convenience for privacy differently.
  • Third-party cookies (used by ad networks) are the main privacy concern; first-party cookies (used by the site itself) usually just make the site work.
  • You can change your default cookie setting and also delete cookies you've already collected, either all at once or by site.
  • If a site stops working after you change cookie settings, you can add that site to an exception list so it can use cookies while your default stays strict.
  • Private or incognito browsing mode automatically deletes all cookies when you close the window, with no settings to change.

Where to find cookie settings in the major browsers

Each browser stores this setting in a different place, but they all call it something like "Cookies" or "Site data".

Chrome: Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Go to Settings. Click Privacy and Security on the left. Click Cookies and other site data. You'll see your options.

Firefox: Click the three horizontal lines in the top right. Go to Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data. You'll see your options there.

Safari (Mac): Click Safari in the menu bar at the top. Click Settings. Click Privacy. Look for "Cookies and website data" and choose your preference.

Safari (iPhone or iPad): Go to Settings. Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Privacy. Look for "Block All Cookies" and toggle it on or off.

Edge: Click the three dots in the top right. Go to Settings. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Scroll to Cookies and other site data. You'll see your options.

The three main cookie settings and what they mean

Allow all cookies: Your browser accepts every cookie every website tries to set. This is the default in most browsers. Websites work smoothly. Ad networks and data brokers can track you across the web. This is the most convenient but least private option.

Block third-party cookies: Your browser allows cookies from the website you're visiting (first-party cookies) but blocks cookies from ad networks and other companies embedded in that site (third-party cookies). This is a middle ground. Most sites still work because they can use their own cookies to remember you. Ad networks can't follow you as easily across the web. This is the default in Firefox and Safari now, and it's what most privacy-conscious people choose.

Block all cookies: Your browser rejects every cookie. Sites that rely heavily on cookies may break — you might get logged out unexpectedly, or your shopping cart might empty. This is the most private option but also the most inconvenient. Most people who choose this also use the exception list (see below) to allow cookies on sites they trust.

How to delete cookies you've already collected

Changing your setting going forward doesn't erase cookies that are already on your computer. You can delete them separately, and you can do it all at once or by individual site.

Delete all cookies at once: In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data. Check the box next to "Cookies and other site data". Choose the time range (Last hour, Last 24 hours, All time). Click Clear data. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All. On iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.

Delete cookies from one site: In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data > All cookies and site data. Search for the site name. Click the trash icon next to it. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data. Search for the site. Click Remove Selected. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data. Find the site and click Remove.

Deleting cookies will log you out of most sites. You'll have to log back in the next time you visit. This is normal and expected.

How to allow cookies on specific sites even if your default is to block them

If you set your browser to block all cookies but find that a site you trust doesn't work, you can add that site to an exception list. Your browser will allow cookies from that site while keeping cookies blocked everywhere else.

In Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data > Sites that can always use cookies. Click Add. Type the website address (for example, amazon.com). Click Add.

In Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data. Under Exceptions, type the website address and click Allow. Click Save Changes.

In Safari on Mac: Go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data. Find the site you want to allow. Click Remove to delete its stored cookies, then visit the site again and it will ask permission to set new ones. Click Allow.

In Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and other site data > Manage exceptions. Under "Allow" type the website address and click Add.

Using private or incognito mode for temporary browsing

If you want to browse without collecting cookies at all, you don't have to change your settings. You can use your browser's private mode instead. In Chrome it's called Incognito. In Firefox it's Private Window. In Safari it's Private. In Edge it's InPrivate.

When you open a private window, your browser doesn't save cookies, history, or search history. When you close the window, everything is deleted. This is useful if you're using a shared computer, or if you want to browse without being tracked, or if you want to see what a website looks like when it doesn't recognize you.

The downside is that you'll be logged out of everything. If you want to check your email in a private window, you'll have to log in each time. Most people use private mode for specific tasks rather than all the time.

What happens when you change your cookie settings

Changing your default cookie setting takes effect when ready for new cookies. Websites you visit after the change will follow your new rule. Cookies that are already on your computer stay there until you delete them separately.

If you switch from allowing all cookies to blocking third-party cookies, you probably won't notice much difference. Most sites work fine. You might see fewer ads that seem to follow you around the web, but you won't see a dramatic change in how sites behave.

If you switch to blocking all cookies, some sites will break. You might get logged out, or a shopping cart might not work, or a video player might not remember where you were. If this happens, check whether the site is on your exception list. If it's not, add it. If it is, the site may have a technical problem unrelated to cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will blocking cookies make websites load faster?

Slightly, but not noticeably. Cookies are tiny files. The real speed difference comes from blocking ads and trackers, which some extensions do but cookie settings alone do not. If you want faster loading, a content blocker or ad blocker will have more effect than changing cookie settings.

If I block all cookies, will websites know I'm blocking them?

Yes, the website will see that you rejected its cookies. Some sites respond by showing a banner asking you to allow them. Some sites work fine anyway. A few sites may refuse to let you in, though this is rare. If a site refuses, you can add it to your exception list.

Do I need to change cookie settings if I use a VPN?

No. A VPN hides your IP address from websites, but it doesn't affect cookies. Cookies are stored on your computer, not sent through your VPN connection. You can use both a VPN and strict cookie settings together, but they do different things.

What's the difference between cookies and tracking pixels?

A tracking pixel is a tiny invisible image that a website embeds in a page. When you load the page, your browser downloads the image, and the company that owns it learns you visited. Cookies and pixels both track you, but they work differently. Your cookie settings don't block pixels — you need a content blocker or tracker blocker for that.

If I delete all my cookies, will I lose my passwords?

No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies, usually in your browser's password manager. Deleting cookies will log you out of sites, but your saved passwords stay. You can log back in using the password your browser has saved.