Where to find cookie settings on your Mac browser
Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember things about you — your login information, items in a shopping cart, or your language preference. Most websites need cookies to work properly. On a Mac, the steps to turn cookies on differ slightly depending which browser you use, but all three major browsers (Safari, Chrome, and Firefox) have cookie settings in their preferences or settings menu.
The fastest way to enable cookies is to check your browser's default setting first. Safari, Chrome, and Firefox all allow cookies by default, so you may not need to change anything. If a website tells you cookies are blocked, or if you previously turned them off, you can turn them back on in under a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Safari, Chrome, and Firefox all allow cookies by default on Mac, so most people do not need to change any settings.
- In Safari, open Preferences, click Privacy, and make sure "Block all cookies" is unchecked.
- In Chrome, open Settings, go to Privacy and Security, then Cookies and other site data, and select "Allow all cookies".
- In Firefox, open Preferences, select Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and make sure cookies are set to "Allow".
- If you want to allow cookies for some sites but not others, all three browsers let you set rules for specific websites.
Enable cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Preferences (or Settings if you are on macOS Ventura or newer). Click the Privacy tab.
Look for the section labeled Cookies and website data. You will see a checkbox next to "Block all cookies". If that box is checked, click it to uncheck it. That is all you need to do — Safari will now accept cookies from websites you visit. Close the Preferences window and reload any website that was not working.
Enable cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Privacy and security.
Click Cookies and other site data. You will see three options: "Block all cookies", "Block third-party cookies in Incognito", and "Allow all cookies". Select Allow all cookies. Chrome will now accept cookies from all websites. If you want finer control, you can also use the "Block" and "Allow" sections below to set rules for specific websites.
Enable cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Preferences (or Settings on some versions). Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
Scroll down to the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. You will see a checkbox next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed". Leave that unchecked if you want cookies to stay on your computer. Below that, make sure the radio button next to Allow all cookies is selected. If it says "Block all cookies" or "Block cookies from unvisited sites", click to change it. Firefox will now accept cookies from websites.
Allow cookies for specific websites only
If you want to block cookies everywhere except on sites you trust, all three browsers let you create a list of allowed websites. This is useful if you are concerned about tracking but need cookies to work on your bank's website or your email.
In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy, and use the "Manage Website Data" button to see which sites have stored cookies. You can remove them one by one or all at once. Then check "Block all cookies" and add exceptions by visiting a site, clicking the lock icon in the address bar, and choosing to allow cookies for that site.
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. Scroll to "Sites that can always use cookies" and click "Add". Type the website address and click "Add". Chrome will allow cookies only on the sites you list.
In Firefox, go to Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data. Click "Manage Exceptions" and type the website address in the "Address of website" field, then click "Allow" and "Save Changes".
Understand the difference between first-party and third-party cookies
When you enable cookies, you are usually allowing two types: first-party cookies (set by the website you are visiting) and third-party cookies (set by advertisers or analytics companies). First-party cookies are what make a website remember you. Third-party cookies are used to track you across multiple websites for advertising.
If you want to block tracking but keep websites functional, you can block third-party cookies only. In Chrome, this is the default setting called "Block third-party cookies". In Safari, you can enable "Prevent cross-site tracking" in Preferences > Privacy, which blocks third-party cookies while allowing first-party ones. Firefox has a similar option called "Standard" or "Strict" tracking protection.
What to do if cookies are still not working
If you have enabled cookies but a website still says they are blocked, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then reload the page. In Safari, go to History > Clear History and select "all history". In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data and check "Cookies and other site data". In Firefox, go to Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data and click "Clear Data".
If the problem continues, the website itself may have a technical issue, or your browser extension might be blocking cookies. Check whether you have any privacy-focused extensions installed (like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger) and temporarily disable them to see if that fixes the problem. You can also try opening the website in a private or incognito window, which sometimes bypasses cookie blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cookies safe to enable?
First-party cookies from the websites you visit are safe — they just store your preferences and login information. Third-party cookies used for advertising and tracking are less private, but they do not install malware or steal passwords. If you are concerned about tracking, you can block third-party cookies while allowing first-party ones, which keeps websites working while reducing how much advertisers follow you across the web.
Will enabling cookies slow down my Mac?
No. Cookies are tiny files, usually just a few kilobytes each. Even if you have thousands of cookies stored, they will not noticeably affect your Mac's speed or storage. The only time cookies might slow things down is if a website uses them inefficiently, which is rare.
What if I want to delete cookies but keep them enabled?
You can delete existing cookies while leaving the setting to accept new ones turned on. In Safari, go to Develop > Empty Caches (or History > Clear History). In Chrome and Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, check "Cookies and other site data", and click Clear. New cookies will still be accepted on your next visit to a website.
Can I enable cookies just for one website?
Yes. All three browsers let you allow cookies for specific sites while blocking them everywhere else. In Safari, check "Block all cookies" in Preferences, then visit a site and click the lock icon in the address bar to allow cookies for just that site. In Chrome and Firefox, you can add websites to an "Allow" list in their cookie settings without enabling cookies globally.
Do I need to enable cookies if I use private or incognito mode?
Private and incognito mode still use your browser's cookie settings, but cookies are deleted when you close the window. If you enable cookies in your regular settings, they will work in private mode too — they just will not be saved afterward. Some websites may not function properly in private mode even with cookies enabled, because they expect cookies to persist.