How to Enable Cookies on iPhone
Though not all users are comfortable using cookies, enabling cookies on your iPhone is crucial for accessing all the features of a website, keeping you logged in, and providing a more customized visit. In this guide, learn how to enable cookies on your iPhone using Safari or other popular web browsers like Chrome or Edge.
What are cookies on iPhone?
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your device after you visit. They help websites keep you logged in and remember saved preferences to provide you with a faster and more personalized browsing experience. The next time you visit that website, your browser pulls the cookies and sends them to the web server to return saved data.
Cookies on iPhones function the same way that cookies on any other device do, essentially allowing websites to know that you're a specific user. This way, the website can deliver a customized view based on the user's previous site activity. Enabling cookies on an iPhone can be crucial for accessing all the features of a website.
Advantages and disadvantages of enabling cookies
By default, iPhone browsers like Safari have some cookie-related settings enabled to protect your privacy. For instance, Safari blocks cross-site tracking cookies to prevent advertisers from tracking your activity across the web.
However, keeping these default settings and blocking cookies has some drawbacks. They may allow advertisers to track your online activity, potentially affecting your privacy. While cookies can enhance your browsing experience, they aren't necessary for using the Internet. Additionally, they can slow your device performance over time, as a build-up of cookies takes up valuable storage space.
But while iPhone cookies may raise privacy concerns among some, they also offer many benefits to the typical web user, including:
- Improved speeds. Cookies speed up your browsing experience by keeping you logged into websites and remembering your preferences and settings.
- Personalization. Cookies enable personalized content or products based on your habits because they allow sites to recall previous information about a user.
- Allowing peak functionality. Cookies allow websites to function as designed, providing the best user experience. This is especially true for websites with many pages.
The choice to enable or disable cookies is one that each web user must make. While they can be seen as a violation of online privacy, in many cases, they actually help provide the user with a better online experience.
How to enable browser cookies on iPhone (Safari)
To enable cookies on your iPhone’s default browser, Safari, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Apps.
- From the apps list, find Safari.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Advanced.
- Toggle off Block All Cookies.
When the Block All Cookies option is enabled, it means all cookies will be blocked, and no cookies from any website will be stored on your device. Toggling the option off means that websites are able to use cookies and you won't encounter accessibility issues when visiting sites that use cookies online.
How to enable browser cookies on iPhone (other browsers)
If you use a different browser on your iPhone, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge, follow these general steps.
If you want to enable cookies in Google Chrome on iPhone:
- Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu at the bottom right.
- Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies.
- Select Allow third-party cookies.
To enable cookies on Mozilla Firefox on iPhone:
- Open Firefox and tap the three-line menu at the bottom right.
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Cookies.
- Select Standard to allow cookies, which blocks some third-party cookies but enables most site functionality.
To enable cookies on Microsoft Edge on iPhone on iPhone:
- Open Edge and tap the three-dot menu at the bottom of the screen.
- Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies.
- Select Don't block cookies.
Enabling cookies on these browsers allows websites to function freely, providing a smoother online experience.
Troubleshooting common issues
If you have any issues with cookies on your iPhone, it might be due to one of the following:
- Cookies not being saved or remembered. Double-check your cookie settings to make sure that cookies and cross-site tracking are enabled.
- Websites not functioning correctly. If your device is performing slowly or websites are crashing, delete your browser history, cache, and cookies. Your device and browser could be bogged down in too much data. Additionally, make sure that your browser is running the latest software version.
- Cookies are turned off. If you receive a message that your cookies are turned off, go to your iPhone's settings and make sure that they're toggled on. To enable cookies, go to Settings > Safari and toggle off Block All Cookies and Block Cross-Site Tracking.
Enabling cookies on your iPhone can improve your online experience by letting websites remember your login information and preferences. However, manage your cookie settings wisely to maintain privacy and security. Adjust your settings according to your needs and privacy preferences. Also, regularly clear your browsing data and update your browser to ensure a smooth online experience.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on cookies in Chrome on iPhone?
To understand how to enable cookies on the Chrome iPhone app, open the app and tap the three-dot menu at the bottom right. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies and select Allow third-party cookies.
How to I turn on cookies in Safari?
To understand how to enable cookies on the browser on iPhone, Safari, open the iPhone settings app and scroll down to Apps. Find Safari and tap it; scroll to the bottom of that page and tap Advanced. Then, toggle off Block All Cookies.
Should I allow cookies on my iPhone?
Though they do present privacy concerns to some, we recommend allowing cookies on your iPhone if you want to experience an optimized website experience.
