How to Block Third-Party Cookies

How to Block Third-Party Cookies: The Short Answer

To block third-party cookies, open your browser's privacy settings and turn on the third-party cookie block. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies and select Block third-party cookies. In Edge, turn on Block third-party cookies under Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies. Safari and Firefox already block or isolate third-party cookies by default, so most Safari and Firefox users are protected without changing anything.

The steps below were checked against each browser vendor's official help pages. Menu names can change between browser versions, so if a label looks slightly different on your device, look for the closest match.

First-Party vs Third-Party Cookies

	First-party cookies	Third-party cookies
Set by	The site shown in your address bar	Another domain embedded in the page, such as an ad network, social button or video player
Typical uses	Sign-in, shopping cart, language and other preferences	Cross-site advertising, retargeting, cross-site analytics, embedded sign-in and chat widgets
Effect of blocking	Sites forget you; sign-in and carts stop working	Less cross-site tracking; some embedded content may break

Blocking third-party cookies is the usual privacy choice. Blocking all cookies is rarely practical because most sites need first-party cookies to work. To learn more, read All About Cookies and our guide to session cookies.

Browser Defaults at a Glance

Browser	Third-party cookies by default	Block third-party cookies	Block all cookies
Chrome	Allowed (blocked in Incognito)	Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies	Site settings > On-device site data
Safari	Blocked	Settings > Privacy > Prevent cross-site tracking	Settings > Advanced > Block all cookies
Firefox	Isolated by Total Cookie Protection	Enhanced Tracking Protection > Strict or Custom	Enhanced Tracking Protection > Custom > Cookies
Microsoft Edge	Allowed	Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies	Same page, turn off cookie data
Samsung Internet	Configurable	Site permissions > Cookies	Site permissions > Cookies

Chrome's status in 2025 and 2026

Google planned for years to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome. In July 2024 it dropped that plan in favour of a user-choice prompt. On April 22, 2025, Google announced it would keep its current approach to third-party cookie choice and would not roll out a standalone prompt. On October 17, 2025, it confirmed that approach again and retired most Privacy Sandbox technologies, including Topics and Protected Audience. Third-party cookies therefore stay on by default in normal Chrome windows, and blocking them is up to you. Read our analysis of Google's decision to retain third-party cookies.

Safari and Firefox block them already

Safari has blocked third-party cookies by default since Safari 13.1 and iOS 13.4 in March 2020, as part of Intelligent Tracking Prevention. Firefox's default Standard mode blocks known cross-site tracking cookies and uses Total Cookie Protection, which keeps every other third-party cookie in a separate "cookie jar" for each site, so it cannot follow you across sites.

How to Block Cookies in Chrome

Chrome on a computer

To block third-party cookies:

1. Open Chrome and select More (three dots) > Settings.
2. Select Privacy and security > Third-party cookies.
3. Choose Block third-party cookies.

Sites on your exceptions list can still use third-party cookies.

To block all cookies and site data:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings.
2. Select Additional content settings > On-device site data.
3. Choose Don't allow sites to save data on your device (not recommended). Google warns that sites may not work as expected.

Chrome on Android

1. Open Chrome and tap More > Settings.
2. Tap Site settings > Third-party cookies.
3. Select Block third-party cookies.
4. To block all site data, go to Site settings > On-device site data and turn the toggle off.

Chrome on iPhone and iPad

Google's help page for Chrome on iPhone and iPad covers only deleting cookies, under Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Browsing Data. It does not list a setting to block cookies.

How to Block Cookies in Safari

Safari on Mac

1. Choose Safari > Settings and click Privacy.
2. Make sure Prevent cross-site tracking is selected. This blocks third-party cookies.
3. To block every cookie, click Advanced and turn on Block all cookies.

Safari on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings > Apps > Safari.
2. Make sure Prevent Cross-Site Tracking is on.
3. To block every cookie, tap Advanced, turn on Block All Cookies, then tap Block All. Safari removes existing cookies and website data and reloads your tabs.

How to Block Cookies in Firefox

1. Open Firefox Settings and select Privacy and security. In recent versions, click Advanced settings under Enhanced Tracking Protection.
2. Select Strict to block all cross-site cookies, or select Custom.
3. In Custom, check Cookies and choose All cross-site cookies (may cause websites to break) from the drop-down. Choose a stricter option in the same list to block more cookies.
4. Select the reload button if Firefox shows one.

To block a single site from storing cookies, use Manage exceptions in the Browsing data section.

How to Block Cookies in Microsoft Edge

1. Select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies.
2. Turn on Block third-party cookies.
3. To block all cookies, turn off Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended).
4. To block one site, add it under Not allowed to save and read cookies.

Edge also has Tracking prevention under Privacy, search, and services, with Basic, Balanced (Recommended) and Strict levels.

How to Block Cookies in Samsung Internet

1. Open the Settings app and tap Apps > Samsung Internet.
2. Tap Samsung Internet settings > Sites and downloads > Site permissions > Cookies.
3. Choose Block third-party cookies or Block all cookies.

What Breaks When You Block Cookies

Feature	Block third-party cookies	Block all cookies
Staying signed in	Usually works	Breaks
Shopping carts	Usually works	Breaks
Embedded sign-in, chat, payment or video widgets	May break	Breaks
Cross-site ads and retargeting	Reduced	Reduced
Remembering your cookie banner choice	Usually works	You see the banner on every visit

If a site breaks, add an exception for that site instead of turning protection off everywhere. See how to enable cookies for exception steps.

How to Clear Existing Cookies

Blocking stops new cookies, but cookies already stored stay until they expire or you delete them.

Browser	Delete cookies
Chrome (computer)	More > Delete browsing data > Cookies and other site data > Delete data
Chrome (Android)	Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data > Cookies and site data
Safari (Mac)	Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All
Safari (iPhone)	Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
Firefox	Menu > History > Clear recent history > Cookies and site data
Microsoft Edge	Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Cookies and other site data > Clear now
Samsung Internet	Menu > Settings > Personal browsing data > Delete browsing data

To view the cookies a site has stored in Chrome DevTools, see How to Manage and Delete Cookies.

Global Privacy Control: An Opt-Out Signal

Blocking cookies stops tracking in your own browser, but it does not tell the website what you want. Global Privacy Control (GPC) does. It is a signal your browser sends with every request that asks sites not to sell or share your personal data. California and several other US states treat it as a valid opt-out request. Firefox has supported GPC since version 120 through the Tell websites not to sell or share my data setting, and other privacy-focused browsers and extensions also send it.

For Website Owners: Browser Settings Do Not Replace Consent

A visitor who blocks third-party cookies has not given or refused consent for your site's cookies. Under the EU ePrivacy Directive and the GDPR you still need consent before setting non-essential first-party or third-party cookies, and under US state laws you must honour opt-outs such as GPC.

UniConsent helps you meet both requirements:

• Cookie banner with equal Accept and Reject options, in more than 50 languages.
• Prior blocking of tags and cookies until consent is given, so advertising and analytics scripts do not run on a refusal.
• Cookie scanner that finds the first-party and third-party cookies your site sets.
• Global Privacy Control detection that applies the opt-out automatically.
• Google Consent Mode v2 and IAB TCF support, so tags receive the visitor's choice.

Start with UniConsent for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I block third-party cookies?

For most people, yes. Blocking third-party cookies reduces cross-site tracking and rarely breaks sites. If a site you trust stops working, add an exception for that site.

Does Chrome block third-party cookies by default?

No. In normal windows Chrome allows third-party cookies by default and blocks them only in Incognito. In 2025 Google decided to keep its current approach and not show a standalone choice prompt, so you need to turn on Block third-party cookies yourself.

Does Safari block third-party cookies?

Yes. Safari has blocked third-party cookies by default since Safari 13.1 and iOS 13.4 in 2020. Keep Prevent Cross-Site Tracking turned on.

What happens if I block all cookies?

Most sites will forget you between pages. You cannot stay signed in, shopping carts empty, and cookie banners reappear on every visit. Blocking only third-party cookies avoids most of these problems.

Does blocking cookies delete the cookies already stored?

Not in most browsers. Delete existing cookies separately in your browser's browsing data settings. Safari on iPhone is an exception: turning on Block All Cookies also removes existing cookies and website data.

Is blocking third-party cookies the same as opting out?

No. Blocking cookies limits what your browser stores, but it does not send an opt-out request. Global Privacy Control sends a signal that sites in California and several other US states must treat as an opt-out of sale or sharing.