Blocking cookies on Apple devices is becoming more important as websites increase tracking and cross-site data collection. Whether you’re browsing on a Mac running macOS Tahoe or using an iPhone with iOS 26, Apple includes built-in privacy settings that let you block all cookies and stop websites from storing personal data, tracking your activity, or building advertising profiles.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to block all cookies on Mac Tahoe and iPhone iOS 26, why many users enable full cookie blocking, and what changes to expect once cookies are disabled. The steps are simple, beginner-friendly, and designed to help you improve your online privacy across all Apple devices.
Where to Block All Cookies on Mac & iPhone
Before proceeding to the procedure, ensure your iPhone or Mac is updated to the latest OS. Also, do understand what cookies are.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small files of information generated by a web server and further sent to the web browser. Web browsers on your Mac computer store cookies they receive for a predefined period or the length of users’ session on website. They attach the relevant cookies to any future request that users make to a web server.
The cookies help the website to understand the user, allowing the website to personalize the user experience. For instance, e-commerce websites use cookies to understand what users place in their shopping bags. In addition to that, some cookies are necessary for security purposes.
Steps to Block All Cookies on iPhone
Here are the informative, clear, step-only instructions to block all cookies on iPhone using the latest iOS steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone from the Home Screen.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps to view the list of installed system apps.
- Select Safari from the list of apps to open Safari-specific settings.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Advanced.
This section contains additional web settings. - Find the “Block All Cookies” option.
It controls whether websites can store cookies on your device. - Turn ON the “Block All Cookies” toggle.
Your iPhone will display a confirmation warning because blocking cookies may log you out of websites and break some page functions. - Tap “Block All” to confirm.
Once confirmed, Safari will prevent all websites from storing cookies or tracking data.
Steps to Block All Cookies on Mac
Step 1: Select Safari from the Mac menu bar. Click Settings…
Step 2: Select Advanced Menu. Uncheck the box next to Block All Cookies.
Step 3: For confirmation, click on Block All from a pop-up.
Final Thought!
When you block all cookies on your Mac & iPhone, certain websites may become temporarily slower because they have to reload some of your previous content. Further, if you have relatable queries, please drop them in the comment box below.
Are there any exceptions to the rule of blocking all cookies on my Mac or iPhone?
No, there are exceptions to the rule of blocking all cookies on your Mac or iPhone.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of blocking all cookies on my Mac and iPhone?
Blocking all cookies on your Mac & iPhone can have advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the common.
Advantages of blocking all cookies
- Enhanced Privacy: Blocking cookies on your device can protect the website and third-party advertisers from tracking your browsing activities and personal information about you. Overall! This will enhance your online privacy.
- Reduce Tracking: As we all know, cookies are used for tracking purposes to create user profiles for targeted websites. Thus, blocking cookies on your Apple device will reduce the amount of targeted ads on your browser.
- Protection Against Cross-site Scripting Attacks: Hackers across the browser use cookies to execute cross-site scripting attacks. Hence, blocking cookies on your device will decrease the risk of attack.
- Minimized Online Profiling: Cookies on your device are used to create profiles of users’ behaviors and interests. Blocking cookies will limit the amount of data collected for these profiles.
Disadvantages of blocking all cookies
- Decrease website functionality: Most websites rely on cookies for various features, such as saving login credentials, maintaining a shopping cart, and saving site preferences. Thus, blocking cookies will lead to a less functional browsing experience.
- Repeated Logins: Blocking cookies will let you frequently log in to websites that generally remember your login profiles.
- Loss of personalization: As we all know, cookies allow websites to personalize your browser experience per your settings and past interactions. This eventually means blocking cookies can result in a less-tailored browsing experience.
- Difficult in form-filling: Cookies remember all form information, such as addresses and names. Blocking all cookies on your iPhone & Mac will make you fill out the form manually.
- Potential compatibility issue: Some websites take the help of cookies to work correctly, but if all cookies are blocked, the website is likely to malfunction.
- Security verification: Some websites use cookies as part of their security measures. This means blocking cookies could result in frequent security verification processes.
- Limited user experience: Most of the websites use cookies to remember language, settings, and various user-specific configurations. It means blocking all cookies can cause limited user experience.
How can I check if cookies are still being stored on my Mac or iPhone after blocking them?
If you want to check whether the cookies are stored on your Mac or iPhone, follow the steps below.
Check cookies on Mac
Step 1: Click Safari in the Mac Menu Bar. Select Settings…
Step 2: Go to the Privacy Menu. Click on the Manage Website Date
Step 3: Next to the Website Data.
On the next screen, you’ll see a list of websites that have stored cookies on your Mac computer.
Check cookies on iPhone
Step 1: Launch the Settings App on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll to Apps, then Search, and tap on Safari.
Step 3: Swipe down to the “Privacy & Security” menu. Enable toggle Prevent Cross-Site Tracking.
There, you’ll see the “Prevent Cross-site Tracking” toggle if it’s turned on; it means Safari is actively trying to prevent cross-site tracking, which means it’s blocking third-party cookies.
