Many websites require you to enable cookies in your web browser so that everything loads as intended. These cookies are small text files that websites store on your computer to help them remember your name, email address, saved login information, and other details you've previously shared with the site. While cookies are unnecessary for most websites (and may even be harmful to your privacy), sometimes you need to allow websites to store them on your device so that they load properly.

Safari blocks third-party cookies from being stored on your Mac by default, and there’s even an option to prevent first-party cookies. If you’re wondering how to enable them in Apple’s native web browser, the following post should help you do so on a Mac.

Safari classifies cookies into two categories and lets users block both while browsing the web. For a better experience, Apple generally blocks third-party cookies but allows cookies from third-party websites to be stored on your Mac. But why? Does enabling cookies in Safari benefit you? Partially, yes.

Most of the time, cookies from websites you visit aren’t necessarily bad. These cookies are called first-party cookies and disabling them can impact the website’s ability to recognize you or your device, and in the worst case, prevent the website from loading as intended.