Where to find cookie settings on your Mac browser
Cookie settings live in your browser's preferences, not in macOS itself. The exact location depends on which browser you use — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge each stores these controls in a different menu. On most browsers, you'll find them under Preferences or Settings, then look for a Privacy or Security section.
The fastest way is to use your browser's keyboard shortcut to open preferences: Command+Comma (the comma key) on Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all use this same shortcut on Mac. Once preferences open, look for Privacy, Security, or Cookies in the left sidebar or tab menu.
Key Takeaways
- Cookie settings are in your browser's preferences, accessed through Command+Comma or the menu bar, not in macOS settings.
- Safari lets you block all cookies or only third-party cookies; Chrome and Firefox let you block all cookies or allow them with exceptions.
- Blocking all cookies will break many websites, so most people choose to block only third-party cookies or allow cookies with restrictions.
- You can delete existing cookies from your browser at any time without affecting your browser settings going forward.
- Private browsing mode (Incognito on Chrome, Private on Safari) does not save cookies at all, even if your settings allow them.
Cookie settings in Safari
Open Safari and press Command+Comma to open Preferences. Click the Privacy tab at the top. Under "Cookies and website data," you'll see three options: "Always block," "Allow from websites I visit," or "Allow from current website only."
"Always block" stops all cookies, but this breaks login systems on most websites — you'll get logged out constantly and won't be able to save preferences. "Allow from websites I visit" is the middle ground: it blocks tracking cookies from advertisers while letting the website you're on store cookies it needs. "Allow from current website only" is the most permissive and is Safari's default.
Below those options, you'll see a checkbox for "Block all cookies." If you check this, Safari ignores your selection above and blocks everything. Most people leave this unchecked and use the three options instead.
Cookie settings in Chrome
Open Chrome and press Command+Comma. Click Privacy and security in the left sidebar, then click Cookies and other site data. You'll see four options: "Allow all cookies," "Block third-party cookies in Incognito," "Block third-party cookies," or "Block all cookies."
"Allow all cookies" is the default and lets websites store any cookie they want. "Block third-party cookies" stops tracking cookies from advertisers and social networks while letting the website itself store cookies — this is a good middle ground. "Block all cookies" breaks most websites the same way it does in Safari.
Below these options, you can add specific websites to an allow list or block list. Click "Sites that can always use cookies" or "Sites that never can use cookies" to add exceptions. This is useful if one website breaks when you block cookies but you want to keep blocking everywhere else.
Cookie settings in Firefox
Open Firefox and press Command+Comma. Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar. Under "Cookies and Site Data," you'll see a button labeled "Manage Exceptions" next to a checkbox for "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed."
The main setting is a dropdown menu with four choices: "Allow all cookies," "Reject all cookies," "Reject third-party cookies," or "Reject trackers." "Reject trackers" is Firefox's default and blocks cookies from known tracking companies while allowing others. "Reject third-party cookies" is stricter and blocks any cookie from a domain different than the one you're visiting.
If you want to block cookies everywhere except on specific sites, click "Manage Exceptions" and type in the website address. You can allow cookies on that site while blocking them everywhere else, or block them on that site while allowing them everywhere else.
Cookie settings in Edge
Open Edge and press Command+Comma. Click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar. Under "Cookies and other site data," you'll see a dropdown with four options: "Allow all cookies," "Block third-party cookies," "Block all cookies," or "Block third-party cookies in InPrivate."
"Block third-party cookies" is a good starting point — it stops tracking while letting websites function. If you want to add exceptions, scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and look for "Manage exceptions." You can add websites where you want to allow or block cookies regardless of your main setting.
Deleting cookies you already have
Your browser stores cookies from every website you've visited. You can delete all of them at once, or delete cookies from specific websites. Deleting cookies does not change your cookie settings going forward — it just clears out the old data.
In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy and click "Manage Website Data." You'll see a list of every website that has stored cookies on your Mac. Select the ones you want to delete and click "Remove." To delete everything, click "Remove All."
In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, press Command+Shift+Delete to open the "Clear browsing data" window. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, set the time range to "All time," and click Clear data. This deletes all cookies at once. If you want to delete cookies from one website only, you can usually right-click on the site in your history and choose an option to clear data for that site.
What blocking cookies actually does
Cookies are small text files that websites store on your Mac. Some cookies are necessary — they let you stay logged in, remember items in your shopping cart, or save your preferences. Other cookies track you across websites to build a profile for advertisers.
When you block cookies, you're preventing websites from storing these files. Blocking all cookies breaks most websites because they can't remember who you are or what you were doing. Blocking only third-party cookies stops advertisers from tracking you while letting websites function normally.
Private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome, Private in Safari, Private Window in Firefox, and InPrivate in Edge) does not save cookies at all, even if your settings allow them. When you close the private window, all cookies from that session are deleted. This is useful if you want to browse without leaving a trail, but it doesn't change your permanent cookie settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will blocking cookies log me out of websites?
If you block all cookies, yes — you'll be logged out constantly because websites can't store the login cookie. If you block only third-party cookies, you'll stay logged in because the website itself can still store the cookies it needs. Most people block third-party cookies and allow first-party cookies.
Can I block cookies from one website but allow them on another?
Yes. Every browser has an exceptions list where you can add specific websites. In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, look for "Manage exceptions" or "Sites that can always use cookies" in the cookie settings section.
Do I need to delete cookies regularly?
No. Deleting cookies does not speed up your browser or improve security — it just clears out the data websites have stored. You only need to delete cookies if you want to remove tracking data or if a website is misbehaving because of a corrupted cookie.
What's the difference between blocking cookies and using private browsing?
Blocking cookies in your settings prevents websites from storing cookies permanently. Private browsing mode stores cookies while you're browsing but deletes them when you close the window. You can use both together — private browsing with cookies blocked is the most restrictive option.
If I block all cookies, will websites still work?
Most websites will break. You'll get logged out, shopping carts will empty, and saved preferences won't load. Blocking third-party cookies only is a better choice — it stops tracking while letting websites function normally.