Cookies let websites remember your logins and preferences, so if Safari is set to block them, some sites will not work properly. Turning cookies back on is a quick settings change on both Mac and iPhone or iPad.
What you'll need
- A Mac, iPhone, or iPad with Safari
Step by step
- On a Mac, open Safari settingsWith Safari open, click Safari in the menu bar and choose Settings (or Preferences on older versions).
- Check the Privacy tabClick the Privacy tab and make sure 'Block all cookies' is unchecked. Unchecking it allows sites to store cookies.
- On an iPhone or iPad, open SettingsGo to the Settings app, scroll down and tap Apps then Safari, or on many iOS and iPadOS versions tap Safari directly in the main list.
- Turn off Block All CookiesUnder the Privacy and Security section, toggle 'Block All Cookies' off. With it off, cookies are generally allowed.
- Reload the websiteReturn to the site that was not working and refresh the page so it can now store and read its cookies.
How to enable cookies in Safari on a Mac or MacBook Air
On a Mac, cookies are controlled from Safari's own settings rather than from System Settings. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and choose Settings (older versions call this Preferences). Then click the Privacy tab.
Look for the checkbox labeled 'Block all cookies'. When this box is checked, Safari refuses nearly all cookies, which can break logins and shopping carts. Uncheck it to let websites store cookies again. The same steps apply across MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini, since they all use the same Safari app.
How to enable cookies in Safari on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad the cookie setting lives in the Settings app, not inside Safari itself. Open Settings and find Safari: on newer iOS and iPadOS versions you may tap Apps first and then Safari, while on many versions Safari appears directly in the main Settings list.
Scroll to the Privacy and Security section and find the 'Block All Cookies' toggle. If it is green, cookies are being blocked; switch it off so that it is no longer green to allow cookies. After changing it, go back to the site and reload the page.
Accept or allow cookies vs block cookies: what is the difference
Allowing or accepting cookies means Safari lets websites save small files on your device to remember things like your signed-in state, items in a cart, or your language choice. Blocking cookies tells Safari to refuse that storage, which keeps less data on your device but can stop some sites from working as expected.
Blocking all cookies is different from Safari's cross-site tracking protection. 'Block All Cookies' is an all-or-nothing switch that affects nearly every site, while 'Prevent Cross-Site Tracking' targets only the cookies advertisers use to follow you between different websites. Many people keep cookies allowed and leave cross-site tracking protection on for a reasonable balance.
How to allow cookies for a specific website
Safari does not offer a simple per-site on and off switch for cookies the way it does for some other permissions. The practical approach is to keep cookies allowed overall by leaving 'Block All Cookies' turned off, so the site you care about can store what it needs.
If one site still fails, the usual fix is to clear that site's saved data and reload rather than block everything else. On a Mac you can review and remove individual site data under Safari settings in the Privacy area by choosing to manage website data, then reload the site to let it set fresh cookies.
How to view and manage stored cookies and website data
On a Mac, open Safari settings, go to the Privacy tab, and choose the option to manage website data. This shows a list of sites that have stored cookies or other data, and you can remove data for one site or remove all of it at once.
On iPhone and iPad, open the Settings app, tap Safari, and use 'Clear History and Website Data' to remove stored cookies and cache together. Clearing this data can sign you out of sites, so expect to log back in afterward.
Handy tips
- You can leave 'Prevent Cross-Site Tracking' turned on to still block many trackers while allowing normal cookies.
- If a single site still misbehaves, clearing that site's old cookies and reloading can help.
- Settings labels can move slightly between iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions, so look for the Privacy wording if a menu name does not match exactly.
FAQ
Is it safe to enable cookies?
Yes. Cookies from sites you use are generally safe and are often needed for logins. You can keep cross-site tracking protection on to limit advertisers while still allowing normal cookies.
Why do some sites not work with cookies blocked?
Many sites rely on cookies to keep you signed in and remember settings. Blocking them can break logins, shopping carts, and other features that need to remember you between pages.
What is the difference between blocking cookies and cross-site tracking?
Blocking all cookies stops nearly all site storage. Preventing cross-site tracking only limits cookies that follow you between different sites, so it is a narrower, more targeted protection.
How do I turn cookies on or off on a MacBook Air?
Open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, choose Settings, then the Privacy tab. Uncheck 'Block all cookies' to turn cookies on, or check it to turn them off. The steps are the same on any Mac.
How do I enable cookies in Safari on my iPhone or iPad?
Open the Settings app and tap Safari (on some versions you tap Apps first, then Safari). In the Privacy and Security section, switch 'Block All Cookies' off so it is no longer green.
Can I allow cookies for just one website in Safari?
Safari does not provide a straightforward per-site cookie switch. The common approach is to keep cookies allowed overall, and if one site misbehaves, clear that site's stored data and reload rather than blocking every site.
How do I see which sites have stored cookies?
On a Mac, open Safari settings, go to Privacy, and choose to manage website data to view and remove per-site data. On iPhone or iPad, Safari does not list each site, but you can clear all history and website data from Settings then Safari.
Do the menu names differ between iOS versions?
The labels can move slightly between iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions. If a menu name does not match exactly, look for the Privacy wording, which is where the cookie controls generally live.