Cookies have become a bit of a hot topic, with many people thinking that blocking them is essential for privacy. While it’s true that some companies use cookies to track you excessively, not all cookies are bad. Some are actually crucial for websites to function correctly.
For example, cookies can keep you logged into your favorite sites, remember your settings like notification preferences, and even provide you with relevant local content.
What Exactly Are Cookies?
Cookies are basically files that websites create to store information about you on your device. This stored information lets a website recognize you, leading to a smoother browsing experience.
So, when a website keeps you logged in after you close your browser, it’s the cookies doing their job. Similarly, those items you left in your online shopping cart are usually remembered thanks to cookies.
There are primarily two kinds of cookies: first-party and third-party. First-party cookies come from the websites you directly visit. Third-party cookies, however, are created by other sites. If a website uses content like ads from another domain, that domain can create third-party cookies. For our purposes, we’re mainly interested in first-party cookies, since they’re the ones that save you time and make the internet experience more convenient.
How to Enable Cookies in Safari on iPhone
If you’ve previously turned off cookies on your iPhone, getting them back on is super simple.
- Head to the Settings app and scroll until you find Safari. Tap it.
- Look for the “Block All Cookies” toggle and switch it off.
- You’ll also see “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking” just above the cookie setting. This setting is useful for blocking third-party cookies. You can leave this on if you want an additional layer of privacy.
How to Delete Cookies in Safari
Sometimes you might need to clear your cookies, perhaps if a site is acting up or you’re trying to free up some space. While generally useful, cleaning them out every now and then doesn’t hurt. Keep in mind that clearing cookies will log you out of any websites you were signed into.
- Open the Settings app and navigate to Safari. Scroll down and tap Advanced.
- Tap Website Data.
Method 1: Deleting Specific Cookies
The websites using the most storage will be at the top of the list. You can delete the cookies from individual sites.
- Swipe left on a site and tap Remove.
Method 2: Deleting All Cookies
If you’d like to delete everything at once, you can:
- Tap Remove All Website Data at the bottom.
Note: This only clears cookies. If you want to clear your browsing history as well, use the second method below.
How to Enable Cookies in Chrome on iPhone
If you use Chrome on your iPhone, you’re in luck. Cookies are automatically enabled and stay on by default. There isn’t even an option to turn them off.
If you don’t want the browser to save cookies, you’ll want to use Incognito mode. In this mode, Chrome won’t save any cookies or site data.
How to Delete Cookies in Chrome
If you feel like cookies are slowing things down, you can clear them. Just remember that this will log you out of any websites and remove your preferences.
Method 1: Deleting Cookies from Chrome Settings
- Open the Chrome browser, and tap on your Profile icon in the top-right corner, or tap the three-dot menu icon at the bottom right of the screen and tap ‘Settings’.
- In settings, tap on Privacy.
- Tap the option for Clear Browsing Data.
- Make sure only “Cookies, Site Data” is checked. Uncheck all other boxes if you only want to clear cookies.
- Tap Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
- Confirm by tapping Clear Browsing Data on the prompt.
While some might tell you to disable cookies for privacy, keeping them enabled usually provides a much smoother browsing experience. So unless you are okay with some friction, keeping cookies on is often the better choice for most people.