Cookies are turned on by default in Chrome, but you may need to check your settings if websites say you have them disabled
Google Chrome stores cookies automatically unless you have changed your settings. Cookies are small files that websites use to remember you — they let sites keep you logged in, remember what you put in a shopping cart, or track which pages you have visited. If a website tells you that cookies are off, or if you cannot stay logged into an account, you may have accidentally blocked them. The steps to turn them back on take less than a minute.
Chrome gives you three levels of control: allow all cookies, block third-party cookies only, or block all cookies. Most people should use the first or second option. Blocking all cookies will break many websites. If you turned off cookies to stop tracking, blocking only third-party cookies does the same job while keeping websites working.
Key Takeaways
- Cookies are on in Chrome by default, so you only need to change this setting if a website is not working or says cookies are disabled.
- Open Chrome settings, go to Privacy and Security, then Cookies and other site data, and choose "Allow all cookies" or "Block third-party cookies".
- If you want to block cookies for only one website, you can set that site to "Block" instead of changing your whole browser.
- Clearing your cookies will log you out of websites and erase saved passwords, so only do this if a website is behaving strangely.
Open Chrome settings and find the cookies menu
Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome. Select "Settings" from the menu. On the left side, click "Privacy and security". Then click "Cookies and other site data".
You will see a list of options. The top choice is usually "Allow all cookies" — this is the default and means cookies are on. If you see "Block all cookies" selected instead, that is why websites are not working. If you see "Block third-party cookies" selected, that is fine for most people and will not break websites.
Choose the right cookie setting for what you need
Allow all cookies is the standard choice. Websites can store cookies on your computer, and you will stay logged in. Most people should use this setting. The downside is that some advertisers can track you across different websites.
Block third-party cookies stops advertisers from tracking you across sites while keeping websites working normally. This is a good middle ground if you want privacy without breaking things. Chrome is moving toward this as the default.
Block all cookies will break many websites. You will get logged out constantly, shopping carts will not work, and some pages will not load at all. Only use this if you have a specific reason and are willing to deal with broken websites.
Block cookies for a single website instead of your whole browser
If one website is not working but you want to keep cookies blocked everywhere else, you can set that site to allow cookies. Go to the same "Cookies and other site data" page. Scroll down to "Sites that can always use cookies" and click "Add". Type the website address and click "Add site".
Now that website will work even though your browser is set to block cookies overall. You can remove it from the list anytime by clicking the X next to its name.
Clear your cookies if a website is behaving strangely
Sometimes old or corrupted cookies cause websites to act broken — you cannot log in, pages load wrong, or buttons do not work. Clearing cookies can fix this. Go back to "Cookies and other site data" and click "Manage all site data". You will see a list of every website that has stored cookies on your computer. Click the trash icon next to a website to delete just that site's cookies, or click "Remove all" to clear everything.
Warning: clearing cookies will log you out of every website. You will have to sign back in. Some websites will also forget your preferences, like dark mode or language choice. Only clear cookies if a website is actually broken.
Check if a specific website is allowed or blocked
You can see what Chrome is doing with cookies for any individual website. Go to the address bar and click the lock icon (or the info icon) on the left side of the web address. Click "Cookies and site permissions". You will see whether that site can use cookies, and you can change it right there without going into settings.
This is useful if one website keeps saying cookies are off even though you have them turned on in your browser settings. You can click the dropdown next to "Cookies" and choose "Allow" for just that site.
Understand what happens when you sync Chrome across devices
If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your cookie settings sync to all your devices — phone, tablet, and other computers. This means if you turn off cookies on your laptop, they will also be off on your phone. If you want different settings on different devices, you need to sign out of Chrome on one of them, or change the setting on each device separately.
Your actual cookies (the data websites store) do not sync across devices. Each device keeps its own set. This is why you might be logged in on your phone but logged out on your computer — they have different cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a website say cookies are disabled when I have them turned on?
The website may be checking for a specific type of cookie that you have blocked. Click the lock icon next to the web address, go to "Cookies and site permissions", and set that site to "Allow". If that does not work, try clearing just that website's cookies and refreshing the page.
Will turning on cookies let websites track me?
Yes, some tracking will happen. If you want privacy without breaking websites, use "Block third-party cookies" instead of "Allow all cookies". This stops advertisers from following you across sites while letting each website work normally.
What is the difference between cookies and cache?
Cookies are data that websites ask Chrome to store — login information, preferences, tracking data. Cache is data that Chrome stores on its own — images, scripts, and pages you visited so they load faster next time. Clearing one does not clear the other.
Do I need to restart Chrome after changing cookie settings?
No. The change takes effect right away. If a website was broken because cookies were off, refresh the page and it should work. You may need to sign in again.
Can I allow cookies for some websites and block them for others?
Yes. Set your browser to "Block all cookies", then go to "Sites that can always use cookies" and add the websites where you want cookies allowed. Or set your browser to "Allow all cookies" and use the lock icon to block cookies for specific sites you do not trust.