Do cookies appear when you visit a page? Sometimes, you wonder what they could be and their functions. To begin with, cookies are small pieces of information that websites save on your computer or device when you visit them. They help the website remember things about you, like your username or what’s in your shopping cart, so the next time you visit, it knows who you are and what you like.
However, there is one thing you should note, all web browsers allow cookies by default, but for the sake of privacy, some people tend to disable cookies. Enabling them can enhance your web experience by making interaction smoother and more personalized. In this post, we will help you by explaining the process of enabling cookies on your web browsers, leveraging you to benefit from their features.
Why Enable Cookies?
Before we go into details about the main steps involved, it is important to understand why enabling cookies can be beneficial. The following are the importance of enabling:
- Personalized Experience: websites remember your personal preferences like your login information and language setting because of the function of cookies. It also saves you enough time.
- Efficient Shopping: E-commerce websites, like Jumia, Konga etc. use cookies to remember your shopping cart, making online shopping more convenient.
- Faster Browsing: pages load faster and smoothly on your device because of the information cookies stored in the site whenever you revisit a page. The site recognizes your presence immediately without struggling.
How to Enable Cookies in Google Chrome?
- Open Chrome: Launch the Google Chrome browser on your device. It is a circular design that consists of a red, green, and yellow segmented outer ring.
- Access Settings: Click the three vertical dots (menu) in the top-right corner of the screen and select “Settings.”
- Navigate to Privacy Settings: Scroll down and click on “Privacy and security” in the left sidebar.
- Open Cookies Settings: Select “Cookies and other site data.”
- Allow Cookies: Under the “General settings,” choose “Allow all cookies” to fully enable cookies. Alternatively, you can select “Block third-party cookies” to block tracking cookies while allowing essential ones.
- Customize Settings: You can also add exceptions to allow or block specific websites from using cookies by clicking “Sites that can always use cookies.”
How to Enable Cookies in Mozilla Firefox?
- Launch Firefox: Open Mozilla Firefox on your computer. A fox wrapped in a purple globe.
- Open Preferences: Click the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-right corner, and then click “Settings.”
- Go to Privacy & Security: In the left sidebar, click on “Privacy & Security.”
- Set Cookies Preferences: Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section.
- Enable Cookies: Select the options, Firefox has three options, Standard, Strict and Custom. Press the option that says “Standard” to enable cookies. If you want more control, select “Custom or Strict,” where you can choose to enable or block specific types of cookies, such as third-party trackers.
- Save Settings: Once you’ve made your changes, Firefox will automatically save them, and cookies will be enabled.
How to Enable Cookies in Microsoft Edge
- Open Edge: Launch Microsoft Edge from your desktop. A blue-green wave icon.
- Go to Settings: Click on the three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
- Navigate to Privacy Settings: Click on “Privacy, search, and services” in the sidebar.
- Set Cookies Preferences: Scroll down to the “Cookies and site permissions” section and click on “Manage and delete cookies and site data.”
- Allow Cookies: Ensure that the toggle for “Allow sites to save and read cookie data” is turned on. You can also decide whether to allow third-party cookies here.
How to Enable Cookies in Safari (Mac)
- Launch Safari: Open Safari on your Mac.
- Open Preferences: In the top menu bar, click on “Safari,” and then select “Preferences.”
- Go to Privacy: Switch to the “Privacy” tab within the Preferences window.
- Enable Cookies: Under the “Cookies and website data” section, ensure that “Block all cookies” is unchecked to allow cookies.
- Additional Options: You can further control how websites track you by managing cross-site tracking settings in the same window
How to Enable Cookies on Mobile Devices
Google Chrome (Android and iOS)
- Open Chrome: On your mobile device, launch the Chrome app.
- Access Settings: Tap the three dots (menu) in the top-right corner, then select “Settings.”
- Go to Privacy: Scroll down and tap on “Privacy and security.”
- Enable Cookies: Select “Cookies,” and choose “Allow all cookies.”
Safari (iOS)
- Open Safari Settings: Go to “Settings” on your iPhone or iPad, then scroll down to “Safari.”
- Allow Cookies: Under “Privacy & Security,” ensure that “Block All Cookies” is turned off.
Enabling cookies on your web browser is essential for enhancing your online experience. It makes no difference whether you are shopping, accessing personalized content, or revisiting websites you frequent, cookies help simplify your activity. Each browser has a little user-difference method for managing cookies, but the process is simple and only takes a few steps. If you value your privacy, most browsers also offer the option to block third-party cookies while still allowing the essential ones.
