Short answer: on a computer, open Chrome and go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings > On-device site data, then choose Allow sites to save data on your device. That is the setting that turns cookies back on for the sites you visit. If a site still says cookies are blocked, it needs third-party cookies: select Third-party cookies blocked at the left of the address bar and turn on Third-party cookies for that site.
Chrome has two separate cookie settings, and Google’s help explains both (Delete, allow, and manage cookies in Chrome):
- On-device site data covers first-party cookies, the ones made by the site in your address bar. They keep you signed in and remember your cart and preferences. If these are off, sites may not work as expected.
- Third-party cookies are made by other sites whose content is embedded in the page, such as images, ads and text. Some sites that rely on them may not work when they are blocked.
Turn cookies on for all sites (computer)
These are Google’s steps for on-device site data, the setting that controls whether sites can save cookies at all:
- Open Chrome.
- At the top right, select More (three dots) > Settings.
- Select Privacy and security > Site settings.
- Select Additional content settings > On-device site data.
- Choose Allow sites to save data on your device.
To go straight there, paste chrome://settings/content/siteData into the address bar.
The page offers three choices. With Allow, sites are most likely to work as you expect. Delete data sites have saved to your device when you close all windows keeps sites working while you browse, but they are less likely to remember you next time. Don’t allow sites to save data on your device is the one Google marks “not recommended” because sites may not work. If every site complains about cookies, check this setting first.
Turn cookies on for one site only
If you want to keep cookies blocked in general but let one site you trust use them, change that site’s own setting (Google’s site settings help):
- Go to the site.
- To the left of the web address, select View site information.
- Select Site settings.
- Next to On-device site data, choose Allow.
- Reload the page.
The site then uses its own setting instead of your default one.
When a site says third-party cookies are blocked
Chrome lets you choose whether to allow third-party cookies, under Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies. Incognito windows block them by default. If a login or embedded tool stops working, you have three options.
Allow them on this site for now
- On the site that isn’t working, at the left of the address bar, select Third-party cookies blocked.
- Turn on Third-party cookies.
- Select Close. The page reloads and the address bar shows “Third-party cookies allowed”.
Google says that in a normal window this adds the site to your exceptions list for 90 days, or until you turn it off. In Incognito it lasts only until you close your Incognito windows.
Always allow them on a site
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies.
- Under “Sites allowed to use third-party cookies,” select Add.
- Enter the web address and select Add. To cover a whole domain, type
[*.]before it, for example[*.]example.com.
Sites on this list can use third-party cookies in both normal and Incognito windows. The settings page is at chrome://settings/cookies.
Allow them everywhere
On the same Third-party cookies page, choose Allow third-party cookies. This makes the most sites work, but it also lets ad and tracking companies follow you between sites. If that worries you, see how to stop Chrome tracking you.
Turn cookies on in Chrome for Android
From Google’s Android steps for on-device site data:
- Open Chrome.
- To the right of the address bar, tap More > Settings.
- Under “Advanced,” tap Site settings > On-device site data.
- Turn On-device site data on.
For third-party cookies, Google’s Android cookie help gives two routes:
- All sites: tap More > Settings > Site settings > Third-party cookies, then choose Allow third-party cookies.
- One site: on that site, at the left of the address bar, tap Page info > Cookies and site data and turn on Third-party cookies.
iPhone and iPad
Google’s help for Chrome on iPhone and iPad documents no switch for turning cookies on or off. The only cookie step it documents there is deleting them, covered in how to see, delete and block cookies in Chrome, which also explains blocking.
Cookies are on but the site still complains
- You’re in Incognito. Third-party cookies are blocked there by default. Try the site in a normal window, or allow it for this session as shown above.
- Your browser is managed by work or school. Google notes that you might not be able to change cookie settings then. Select More (three dots): if the bottom of the menu says “Managed by your organization,” ask your administrator (check if Chrome is managed).
- The site’s saved data may be out of date. Try deleting that site’s cookies, then reload and sign in again.