To block cookies in Safari on iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced and turn on Block All Cookies. To allow them, turn that switch off. Blocking every cookie can stop you from signing in to websites and break other features, so most people are better off leaving cookies on and clearing them now and then.
These steps come from Apple’s iPhone User Guide article Enable cookies on iPhone (iOS 27) and Apple’s support article Delete your Safari history, cache, and cookies on iPhone. Cookies are small files websites use to remember things like your sign-in and settings; Apple notes that some websites require them to work normally. The steps are the same on an iPad, as Apple’s iPad cookie guide shows.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then tap Safari. On older versions of iOS, Safari appears directly in Settings.
- Tap Advanced.
- Turn on Block All Cookies to block them, or turn it off to allow them.
With the switch on, websites can’t store cookies in Safari. Apple warns that some webpages might not work and you may not be able to sign in. With it off, sites that need cookies work normally again, though you may need to sign in again. If a site still reports blocked cookies afterward, see our guide on how to always allow cookies in Safari on iPhone for more checks.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced.
- Tap Website Data.
- Tap Remove All Website Data, then tap Remove Now.
Apple says this clears data used for tracking and by websites to save login information, while your browsing history stays. Expect to sign in to sites again.
For most people, no. Blocking all cookies affects every site, including the ones you trust, so you may get signed out of email, shopping and banking sites and have to re-enter preferences each visit. It makes sense mainly for short periods, such as testing how a site behaves without cookies, or on a shared device. If tracking is your concern, the privacy options below are less disruptive, and clearing website data occasionally removes cookies that have built up without breaking anything permanently. The same Advanced screen also has a switch that stops websites from checking for Apple Pay.
To remove data for just one site, open Website Data, find the site in the list, and delete only that entry so your other sign-ins stay intact.
Go to Settings > Apps > Safari, tap Clear History and Website Data, and choose a time frame. Apple notes this doesn’t change your AutoFill information. If the option is grayed out, check your web content restrictions in Screen Time.
Less disruptive privacy options
- Prevent Cross-Site Tracking: in Safari settings, this limits how advertisers follow you across sites without blocking every cookie.
- Privacy Report: in Safari, tap the Page Menu button, tap Privacy & Security, then Privacy Report to see the trackers Apple says Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention has stopped.
- Private Browsing: Apple says private tabs don’t appear in History or in the tab list on your other devices. See Browse the web privately in Safari.
- iCloud Private Relay: with iCloud+, Apple says Private Relay keeps websites from seeing your IP address and exact location.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I sign in to a website after blocking cookies?
Many sites use cookies to keep you signed in. Turn Block All Cookies off, reload the page, and sign in again.
Does blocking cookies affect other browsers?
No. This setting only applies to Safari. Chrome, Firefox and other browsers have their own cookie settings.
Can a Safari extension cause sign-in problems too?
Yes, content blockers can interfere with sites. See how to disable a Safari extension on an iPhone. If a site looks wrong on your phone, you can also request the desktop site.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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