How to Enable Cookies in Edge | Two Settings to Change

Enabling cookies in Microsoft Edge requires flipping one toggle in Settings to “Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended),” plus a second toggle if you need third-party cookies too.

One wrong toggle sends a shopping cart empty or a login screen spinning. The fix is two settings deep in Edge’s menu, and the wrong menu section is the most common reason people scroll past the answer. Edge comes with cookies turned on by default, so if a site is failing, either someone turned them off or your privacy settings are blocking too aggressively. Here is exactly where to look.

Where the Cookie Toggle Lives in Edge

Microsoft moved the cookie controls to a consistent spot across Edge 100 through the current 2026 builds. The menu name hasn’t changed in years, but plenty of older guides point to a dead path.

• Click the three dots (top-right corner) and select Settings.
• On the left panel, click Privacy, search, and services.
• Scroll down to the Cookies section and click it.
• Flip the toggle for Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended) to On.

That is the standard method for Edge on Windows 10 and 11, and the same path works on macOS too. A site that needs cookies will start working immediately after this toggle is enabled — no restart required.

The Second Toggle Most People Miss

Some websites — especially ones with embedded payment forms or cross-site logins — also need third-party cookies. Edge blocks these by default, and that block can break a site even when first-party cookies are enabled.

In the same Cookies settings area, look for Block third-party cookies. By default it is toggled On. Toggle it Off to allow advertiser and tracking cookies across sites. If you prefer not to disable the block for everything, you can add individual sites to an allowed list: click Add under Blocked to save cookies, enter the site’s URL, and check Including third-party cookies.

Security trade-off: turning off the third-party block increases tracking exposure. Microsoft recommends keeping it enabled for general browsing. Only disable it for sites that genuinely break without it.

Can I Clear or Delete Cookies Without Disabling Them?

Yes. Enabling cookies and clearing them occasionally are separate actions. To wipe all cookies while keeping the feature active:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete — this opens the “Clear browsing data” panel directly.
2. Set the time range to All time.
3. Check Cookies and other site data.
4. Click Clear now.

To clear cookies for one specific site instead of everything: go to Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Cookies → See all cookies and site data, search for the site, click the down arrow, and hit Delete.

Enabling Cookies on Edge Mobile (iOS and Android)

The mobile app uses a different menu path. Open Edge, tap the three dots at the bottom (iOS) or top-right (Android), tap Settings, then tap View advanced settings, then tap Cookies. Select Don’t block cookies to enable them. The mobile UI hasn’t changed across recent versions, but it’s easy to miss the “View advanced settings” step — users often land in the main Settings page and assume cookies aren’t there.

What Success Looks Like on Mobile

After selecting “Don’t block cookies,” the setting saves immediately. Return to the site that was failing and refresh — the login or cart should load normally.

Common Mistake: Looking in the Wrong Menu

Edge’s Settings has a section called Cookies and site permissions that sounds like the right place. It isn’t. That section controls individual site exceptions for location, camera, and notifications — not the master cookie toggle. The actual cookie switch lives exclusively under Privacy, search, and services → Cookies. Following old guides that reference the pre-2022 menu path (Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies) will land you in the wrong screen.

Does This Work on All Versions of Edge?

Yes. The toggle is present in every Edge version from 2015 onward, including Edge 115+ (2023) and the current stable builds in July 2026. The UI path shown above has been consistent since Edge 100. No subscription, account tier, or region unlocks or restricts this setting — it is free and included with the browser on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

If the Toggle Is Grayed Out (Enterprise Devices)

Organizations can lock cookie settings through Group Policy. If the toggle appears dimmed, your IT administrator has enforced a policy that blocks changes. You will need to contact them to request an exception. There is no workaround at the browser level.

How to Check That Cookies Are Working

1. After enabling the toggle, visit a site that requires a login (like a webmail or shopping account).
2. Sign in. If the login holds after closing and reopening the tab, cookies are active.
3. If you still get login loops, check whether third-party cookies are blocked and whether the site is on your blocked list.

The Quick Way to See All Cookies Stored on Your Device

Open Edge’s DeveloperTools by pressing F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I, then click the Application tab and select Cookies from the left panel. This shows every cookie for the current site, including name, value, and expiration. Enterprise devices with DeveloperTools disabled by policy cannot use this method.