Third-party cookies are text files that ad networks put on your Mac when you visit websites. They follow you around different sites to gather info and show you relevant ads. That’s why you might see ads for stuff you checked out on one site pop up on another site.
Many see it as an invasion of privacy, so Safari blocks them by default. But what happens if you are looking for a new laptop? Isn’t it a good idea to get ads about laptops? If that is your case, you must change your settings to allow third-party cookies.
Here, we explain how to allow 3rd party cookies in Mac main browsers: Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.
When to Enable 3rd party Cookies
You should enable third-party cookies on Mac when:
- You Need It for a Web App. Some web-based apps require third-party cookies to work properly. You can change your Safari settings to always allow third-party cookies so you can access the apps you need anytime.
- You Want Targeted Ads. Allowing third-party cookies on Safari or any other web browser will help generate ads targeted to you. This is especially helpful if you’re looking for a specific product, say, new clothes.
Allow Third-Party Cookies on Safari
Here are the steps to allow 3rd-party cookies on Safari. iOS (iPad and iPhone) settings are the same because they share the same operating system.
Allow 3rd-party Cookies on Mac
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Step1. Launch the Safari browser by clicking its icon (it looks like a blue compass).
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Step 2. Click “Safari > Preferences.”
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Step 3. Click the “Privacy” tab.
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Step 4. Navigate to “Cookies and Website Data” and un-tick the option “Block all cookies”.
This will enable 3rd party cookies on Mac’s Safari.
Allow 3rd-Party Cookies on iPhone or iPad
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Step 1. Go to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Scroll down to “Safari” and click on it.
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Step 3. Turn off “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking” under “Privacy and Security”.
Also, turn off “Block All Cookies” (Turning off makes the green bar go white.)
Do you know you can also use Safari to do reverse image search on Mac?
Allow Third-Party Cookies on Firefox
Here are the steps to allow third-party cookies on Firefox on Mac:
- Step 1. Open Firefox & click the three lines in the upper right corner.
- Step 2. Click “Preferences > Privacy & Security > Custom”.
- Step 3. Either allow all cookies or allow third-party cookies with exceptions.
To enable all cookies, uncheck the box labeled “Cookies”. To allow third-party cookies but block those from sites you haven’t visited, keep “Cookies” checked and choose “Cookies from unvisited websites” from the menu.
Allow Third-Party Cookies on Chrome
These are the steps to allow third-party cookies on Chrome on Mac:
- Step 1. Open Google Chrome & click the three dots button on the upper right corner.
- Step 2. Click “Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies”.
- Step 3. Tick “Allow third-party cookies” and close the settings tab.
