This article explains how to enable and disable cookies in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.

We suggest enabling third-party cookies if sites are not functioning properly. 

Cookies overview 

What are cookies

Cookies are small files stored by websites on your computer. They make your online experience easier by saving browsing information.

Sites use cookies to:

• keep you signed in
• remember your site preferences
• give you locally relevant content

Advertisers use tracking cookies to follow you around the web, recording your interests and habits.

Turn cookies off when necessary

You can disable cookies in any web browser. You can turn them off from the settings area of the browser you are using – it does not depend on the type of computer.

If you use more than one type of browser, then you need to check cookies on each of them.

Type of cookies

There are several types of cookies. Here below there is a few list of them:

• First-party cookies are created by the site you visit.
• Third-party cookies are created by other sites. These sites own some of the content, like ads or images, that you see on the webpage you visit.
• Session cookies are used only when a person is actively navigating a website; once you leave the site, the session cookie disappears.
• Tracking cookies may be used to create long-term records of multiple visits to the same site.
• Authentication cookies track whether a user is logged in, and if so, under what name.

To know more about cookies, read this the Wikipedia page "HTTP cookie".

Please note: if sites are not functioning properly, try enabling third-party cookies in your browser.  

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How to disable or enable your cookies

Google Chrome

1. Launch Google Chrome
2. Select the 3 little dots in the top-right corner.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select Settings
4. Select Privacy and security from the sidebar
5. From the Privacy and security section, select Site settings
6. Scroll down and select Third-party cookies (from the "Content" section) 
7. From here, you can:
   
   • Allow all cookies
   • Block third-party cookies in Incognito mode (select the arrow to read the description)
   • Block third-party cookies (select the arrow to read the description)
   • Block all cookies (not recommended)
   • Unlock or lock the option "Send a 'Do Not Track' request with your browsing traffic"
   • See all site data and permissions
   • Allow to use third-party cookies on specific websites

If you block third-party cookies, all cookies and site data from other sites are blocked, even if the site is allowed on your exceptions list.

If you need to clear your cookies, follow the article "Clear, enable, and manage cookies in Chrome".

 

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge
2. Select the 3 dots in the top-right corner
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select Settings
4. From the sidebar, select Cookies and site permissions
5. On the top, select Manage and delete cookies and site data
6. From here, you can:
   
   • Enable / disable cookies, by flipping on / off the switch next to Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended).
   • Block third-party cookies
   • Enable / disable the function Preload pages for faster browsing and searching by flipping on / off the switch

 

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox.
2. Select the 3 lines at the top-right of your screen.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select Settings
4. Select Privacy and security
5. From the Browser Privacy window, section Enhanced Tracking Protection, select Custom
   From here, you can:

• • Allow all types of cookies, including those previously excluded (for example the cross-site tracking cookies). To do that, check the box next to Cookies
  • Block all or part of the cookies by unchecking the box next to Cookies. You can use the drop-down menu that will appear on the right to select the option that best suits your needs.

To know more about how to clear cookies in Firefox, please read the article "Clear cookies and site data in Firefox".

 

Apple Safari on macOS

1. Select Safari from the menu bar
2. select the option Settings... 
   
3. Select Privacy
   
4. From there you can: 
   
   • Prevent cross-site tracking: check the box to prevent trackers from using cookies and website data to track you. Cookies and website data are deleted unless you visit and interact with the trackers’ websites.
   • Hide IP address from trackers: check the box to protect your IP address from websites that want to determine personal information (like your location).
   • Block all cookies: check or uncheck the box to block cookies. Websites, third parties and advertisers cannot store cookies and other data on your Mac. This may prevent some websites from working properly.
     Manage Website Data: this shows you which websites store cookies or data. Using this function, you can remove stored cookies and data. To do that, select one or more websites, then click Remove or Remove All. Removing the data may reduce tracking, but may also log you out of websites or change website behaviour.
   • Web advertising: check or uncheck the box to allow or not privacy-preserving measurement of ad effectiveness

Source: Manage cookies and website data in Safari on Mac

 

Apple iOS

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
   
2. Scroll down the sidebar and tap on the Safari item
   
3. Scroll down to the section Privacy & Security
   
   
4. Unlock or lock all the options you want

 

Android 

1. Launch the browser (for example Chrome or Firefox)
2. Tap on the 3 little dots in the top-right corner
   
3. Tap on Settings. Scroll down until you see the option Site settings or Site permissions.
   Examples from Firefox (on the left) and Chrome (on the right):
    
4. On the next screen, tap on Third-party cookies or Cross-site cookies.
   Example from Firefox (on the left) and Chrome (on the right):
    

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Unable or disable cross-site tracking

Cross-site tracking options are locked by default on many browsers, though you might need to unlock them.

Some of our university services need cross site tracking cookies to pass authentication information between them. For example, Blackboard requires cross-site tracking cookies to pass your profile to any reading lists of TurnItIn, Panopto, and Talis.

Follow the instructions below to change your settings.

Google Chrome

1. Launch Google Chrome and select the 3 little dots in the top-right corner.
   
2. Select Settings
3. Select Privacy and security from the sidebar
4. From the Privacy and security section, select Site settings
5. Scroll down to the option "Send a 'Do Not Track' request with your browsing traffic": unlock or lock this option to allow trackers on your browser:
   

 

Microsoft Edge

If you want to allow the tracking only on specific websites, please:

1. Go to the site you want to add as an exception
2. Select the padlock close to the URL
   
3.  Go to the section Permissions for this site
4. From the drop-down menu, unlock the option Tracking prevention for this site
   
   

 

Mozilla Firefox

If you want to allow the tracking only on specific websites, please:

1. Go to the site you want to add as an exception
2. Select the shield close to the URL
   
3.  Unlock the option Enhanced tracking protection
   

 

Apple Safari

1. Select Safari from the menu bar
2. Select the option Settings... 
   
3. Select Privacy
4. Uncheck the option Website tracking: Prevent cross-site tracking
   

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Related content

How to set up and manage Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Manage cookies and website data in Safari on Mac (external)

Clear, enable, and manage cookies in Chrome" (external)