Where to find cookie settings on your Mac
Cookie settings live in your web browser, not in macOS itself. Each browser — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge — stores its cookie controls in a different place. The steps depend on which browser you use and which version you have installed.
On Safari, cookie settings are in Preferences under the Privacy tab. On Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, they are buried in Settings under Privacy and Security. You do not need to restart your computer or your browser after changing them — the new setting takes effect when ready for sites you visit next.
Key Takeaways
- Cookie settings are stored in your browser, not in macOS, so you must change them inside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or whichever browser you use.
- Safari's cookie controls are in Preferences > Privacy; Chrome, Firefox, and Edge keep theirs in Settings > Privacy and Security.
- You can block all cookies, allow only first-party cookies, or allow all cookies — the choice depends on whether you want sites to remember you.
- Clearing cookies from your browser removes the stored data that sites have already placed on your Mac; changing the setting controls what happens next.
How to change cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Preferences (or Settings if you have macOS Sonoma or newer). Click the Privacy tab.
Under "Cookies and website data," you will see three options: Always block, Allow only from websites you visit, and Always allow. Choose the one that fits your needs. "Always block" stops all cookies; "Allow only from websites you visit" blocks third-party tracking cookies but lets sites you intentionally visit remember you; "Always allow" lets any site place cookies on your Mac.
If you want to delete cookies that are already stored, click Manage Website Data in the same Privacy tab. You can remove all of them at once or select specific sites and click Remove.
How to change cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. Click Privacy and security on the left side, then click Cookies and other site data.
You will see four options: Allow all cookies, Block third-party cookies in Incognito, Block third-party cookies, and Block all cookies. The default is usually "Allow all cookies." Choose Block third-party cookies if you want to stop tracking cookies while still letting sites you visit remember you. Choose Block all cookies if you want maximum privacy.
To clear cookies already on your Mac, go back to Privacy and security and click Clear browsing data. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked, then click Clear data.
How to change cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left side.
Under "Cookies and Site Data," you will see a checkbox for Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. You can turn this on if you want Firefox to clear all cookies every time you close the browser. Below that, click Manage Exceptions if you want certain sites to always be able to place cookies, or click Manage Data to see and delete cookies that are already stored.
For more granular control, scroll down to "Enhanced Tracking Protection" and choose Standard, Strict, or Custom. Standard blocks known trackers; Strict blocks more trackers but may break some sites; Custom lets you pick exactly what to block.
How to change cookies in Edge
Open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left side.
Under "Cookies and other site data," you will see options to Allow all cookies, Block third-party cookies, or Block all cookies. The default is usually "Allow all cookies." Choose Block third-party cookies to stop tracking while keeping basic site functionality, or Block all cookies for maximum privacy.
To clear cookies already stored, scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and click Choose what to clear. Check Cookies and other site data and click Clear now.
What blocking cookies actually does
Blocking cookies does not make you invisible online, but it does prevent sites from storing small files on your Mac that remember who you are. When you block all cookies, you may have to log in to email, banking, or social media sites every single time you visit — the site cannot remember that you logged in before.
Blocking third-party cookies (the middle ground on most browsers) stops advertisers and data brokers from tracking you across different websites, but lets the site you are actually visiting remember you. This is the setting most people choose because it balances privacy with convenience.
If a site stops working after you change your cookie setting — buttons do not respond, pages do not load properly — try temporarily allowing cookies for that specific site. Most browsers let you add exceptions for individual websites without changing your overall setting.
The difference between changing settings and clearing cookies
Changing your cookie setting controls what your browser will do with cookies going forward. Clearing cookies removes the ones already stored on your Mac. These are two separate actions.
If you change your setting to "block all cookies" but do not clear existing cookies, the old cookies stay on your Mac — they just will not be updated or used by new sites you visit. If you clear cookies but do not change your setting, your browser will when ready start storing new cookies the next time you visit a site.
Most people do both at the same time: they change the setting to what they want, then clear the old data so they start fresh. You can do this in any order, and you can do it as often as you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing cookie settings make websites load faster?
Not noticeably. Blocking cookies removes a small amount of data transfer, but the difference in speed is usually less than a second per page. The main reason to block cookies is privacy, not performance.
Do I need to change cookie settings in every browser I use?
Yes. Each browser stores its own cookies and has its own settings. If you use Safari for some sites and Chrome for others, you need to change the setting in both browsers separately.
What happens if I block all cookies and then try to log into my email?
You will be able to log in, but the site will not remember you the next time you visit. You will have to enter your username and password again. Most people add email and banking sites to their browser's cookie exceptions so they stay logged in.
Can I set different cookie rules for different websites?
Yes. All four browsers let you add exceptions — sites where cookies are always allowed, or always blocked — without changing your overall setting. Look for "Manage Exceptions" or "Manage Data" in your browser's cookie settings.
If I clear cookies, will that delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cookies. Clearing cookies will not affect saved passwords, though you may have to log in again because the site will not remember that you were logged in.