# How to enable Browser Cookies

Cookies are small text files that save information about usage settings and history when you visit a website. They have no direct meaning for the function of a website, though. Cookies became important first for internet applications, such as an online shop. With them, a website can be individually customised to fit the user.

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPQhME1UYQU)As a result, cookies should be used as a **service**: The website should remember a user and their preferred settings. This improves the user experience and enables seamless interaction between user and website. Personalisation also simplifies the use of online offers such as stores or forums. But the collection of user data also represents a type of **logbook** about the user and their virtual activities.

To protect their privacy, users can object to the use of cookies (opt-out procedure). According to the [EU Cookie Directive](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/digital-law/what-do-eu-cookie-laws-mean-for-you/) however, text files may only be used without asking if it’s technically necessary. Otherwise, website operators have to expressly inform their visitors if cookies are used on their site. But the EU Directive doesn’t set whether or not user consent has to be obtained first (opt-in procedure).

In most browsers, cookies are enabled by default. But more and more users are becoming sensitive to the subject of data protection and the internet, and so switch this function off or only allow cookies on request to maintain control over data collection. But how do you enable cookies in the different browsers?

## Enable cookies in Firefox

**Step 1**: Open the Firefox menu by clicking on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner

[![Image: Firefox settings](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/4/csm_EN-Firefox-settings_c6a71106c1.webp "Firefox settings")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-Firefox-settings.png) Firefox settings **Step 2**: Select “Options,” which is also marked with the gear symbol. This brings you first to the menu for the general configuration of Firefox

[![Image: Firefox menu: “Settings”](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/7/9/csm_EN-firefox-settings2_0a78c4e0a3.webp "Firefox menu: “Settings”")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-firefox-settings2.png) Firefox menu: “Settings” **Step 3**: Another tab opens with the settings. Click on “Privacy and Security”

**Step 4**: Under “History” you can then enable all cookies by selecting the option “**Firefox will remember history**” (if you want to create an alternative history based on user-defined settings, then tick the box next to “**Accept cookies from sites**”)

[![Image: Enable cookies in Firefox](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/5/csm_EN-firefox-settings3_1dff04c4b2.webp "Enable cookies in Firefox")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-firefox-settings3.png) Enable cookies in Firefox ## Enable cookies in Chrome

Enabling cookies in Chrome works much the same as in Firefox, but the menu labels just look a bit different.

**Step 1:** Open the settings of your web browser by clicking on the three-dot symbol and then “Settings”

**Step 2:** Scroll down until you get to the extended settings (“Advanced”)

**Step 3:** Under “Privacy and security” click on “Content settings”

**Step 4**: Select “Cookies” and move the button next to “**Allow sites to save and read cookie data**” to the right (if you also want to enable the option “**Keep local data only until you quit your browser**” then cookies will only be saved as long as your browser is running)

[![Image: Chrome: Enable cookies](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/9/csm_EN-chrome-settings_d103981c0d.webp "Chrome: Enable cookies")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-chrome-settings.png) Chrome: Enable cookies ## Enable cookies in Safari

This is how you enable cookies in the Safari browser:

**Step 1:** Open the settings with the gear symbol in the top-right corner

**Step 2**: Click on “Settings”

**Step 3**: In the new window that opens, click on the “Privacy” tab

**Step 4**: Make sure there’s **no tick mark** next to “Block cookies”

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMTzxVJpqgU)## Enable cookies in Internet Explorer

To enable cookies in Internet Explorer, proceed as follows:

**Step 1:** Click on the gear in the top-right corner to get to the settings

[![Image: To enable cookies in Internet Explorer, proceed as follows: Step 1: Click on the gear in the top-right corner to get to the settings](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/2/csm_EN-internet-explorer-settings_fac0598e92.webp "To enable cookies in Internet Explorer, proceed as follows: Step 1: Click on the gear in the top-right corner to get to the settings")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-internet-explorer-settings.png) To enable cookies in Internet Explorer, proceed as follows: Step 1: Click on the gear in the top-right corner to get to the settings **Step 2**: Select “Internet options” to open a new dialogue window

[![Image: Internet Explorer: gear menu](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/a/d/csm_EN-internet-explorer-settings2_de98cfec89.webp "Internet Explorer: gear menu")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-internet-explorer-settings2.png) Internet Explorer: gear menu **Step 3:** Click on the “Privacy” tab

**Step 4**: Select the desired cookie setting using the controls

[![Image: Internet Explorer: enable cookies](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/5/csm_EN-internet-explorer-settings3_bcfa0a29af.webp "Internet Explorer: enable cookies")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/EN-internet-explorer-settings3.png) Internet Explorer: enable cookies With the controls, you can select a setting. Each level is explained in detail, so you can select which level you want based on the explanation. The standard setting “**Medium**” blocks cookies from third parties that don’t have a privacy policy and can use your data to contact you without your permission. First party cookies are also somewhat restricted. If you want to enable all cookies, move the controls down until the option “**Allow all cookies**” is displayed.

Note Microsoft has discontinued the development of Internet Explorer in favor of its successor, Microsoft Edge. For reasons of security, a switch to this browser or another current browser is strongly recommended.

## Enable cookies in Opera

If you use the browser Opera, then you’ll enable cookies as follows:

**Step 1:** First, click on the Opera button in the top-left of the browser

**Step 2**: Click on “Settings”, which is marked with a gear

**Step 3**: In the opened window, click on “Privacy & Security”

**Step 4**: In the “Cookies” section, select the option “**Allow local data to be set (recommended)**”

[![Image: Opera: cookie settings](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/b/csm_En-opera-settings_3d47b7b73f.webp "Opera: cookie settings")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2018/En-opera-settings.png) Opera: cookie settings


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/how-to-enable-cookies-in-your-browser/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/how-to-enable-cookies-in-your-browser/) for AI/LLM consumption.