How to Temporarily Allow Cookies in Microsoft Edge

How Microsoft Edge Protects Your Privacy

Microsoft Edge Tracking Prevention protects your privacy by stopping websites from following you. Edge offers three levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict, to control how many trackers are blocked. You choose the level that matches how private you want your browsing to be.

• Basic: This is the least strict. It allows most trackers. Websites and ads will likely be personalized, and most sites will work normally.
• Balanced (Recommended): This is the default for most people. It blocks trackers from sites you haven’t visited yet. Your ads might be less personalized, but most sites should still work.
• Strict: This is the most aggressive. It blocks most trackers from all sites. This offers the best privacy. But some parts of websites might not work because they rely on blocked elements.

It’s the “Strict” or even the “Balanced” setting that can sometimes cause website issues. When Edge blocks a tracker or site data that a website needs, you might see a message, or the site might just break.

Step 1Knowing When You Need to Allow Site Data

You'll know you need to allow site data in Microsoft Edge when a website shows a message asking for permission. This pop-up usually says something like, 'Allow [website name] to access cookies and site data?'. Websites ask for cookie permission because cookies are small files that help websites remember your choices and keep website functions working correctly.

"Allow [website name] to access cookies and site data?"

Websites may display a message requiring temporary cookie permission when cookies, which are small data files stored on your computer, are needed to show content or complete an action. This message means Microsoft Edge's privacy settings are preventing the website from working correctly.

Temporarily allowing cookies on a website grants access to essential content and trusted site features. Microsoft Edge lets users control cookie permission duration. For example, users can set cookies to be allowed for the current browsing session only, providing flexibility for browsing.

Step 2Letting a Website Use Cookies and Data for a While

To temporarily allow cookies and website data in Microsoft Edge, look for the pop-up message from the website. Make sure you recognize the website name asking for permission. If you trust the site and need its features to work, click the 'Allow' button on the message.

• Read the Message Carefully: Make sure you know which website is asking for permission and what it's asking for (cookies and site data).
• Click "Allow": If you trust the website and need the content to work, click the "Allow" button.

Temporarily allowing cookies gives a website access to cookies and site data for the current browsing session. This temporary permission expires 30 days after the website initially receives allowance.

Step 3Managing and Removing Temporary Permissions

You can manage and remove temporary cookie and site data permissions for websites in Microsoft Edge Settings. First, open Edge and click the three dots (...) in the top-right corner, then select 'Settings'. Next, find and click on 'Privacy, search, and services' to see and manage your permissions.

• Open Microsoft Edge Settings: Click the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of your Edge window. From the menu, choose Settings.
• Go to Privacy Settings: In the Settings menu, find and click on Privacy, search, and services in the left-hand menu.
• Find Cookies and Site Data: Scroll down in the "Privacy, search, and services" section until you find the option for Cookies. Click on it.
• See All Cookies and Site Data: Under the "Cookies and site data" settings, you'll see an option like See all cookies and site data. Click this to see a list of all websites that have saved data on your computer. This includes sites you've temporarily allowed.
• Remove Specific Site Data: You'll see a list called "Cookies and data stored for sites you have browsed." To remove data for a specific site, find that site in the list. You'll see a small trash can icon (Delete icon) next to it. Click this icon to remove all cookies and site data for that website.

Regularly clearing a website's cookies and site data can fix common computer issues and remove outdated information. For example, clearing cookies for an unused website removes that website's stored information from your computer. This cookie removal frees up approximately 1 kilobyte of disk space.

Step 4Changing Tracking Prevention Settings (If You Need To)

If you often need to allow temporary permissions or want to adjust how strictly Microsoft Edge blocks trackers, you can change your Tracking Prevention settings. Go to Edge Settings by clicking the three dots (...) in the top-right corner and choosing 'Settings'. Then, select 'Privacy, search, and services' from the left-hand menu to make your changes.

• Go to Settings: As before, click the three dots (...) in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
• Select Privacy, search, and services: Click this option in the left-hand menu.
• Choose Your Tracking Prevention Level: You'll see the Tracking prevention option near the top. Click on it. Here, you can choose between Basic, Balanced, and Strict.

Adjusting Microsoft Edge privacy settings from "Strict" to "Balanced" can resolve problems on many websites. This change avoids the need for users to manually allow each individual site. If "Balanced" settings still cause website issues, some older or highly specific websites may not function correctly with strong privacy controls.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/temporarily-allow-cookies-and-site-data-in-microsoft-edge

Summary

This guide explains how to temporarily allow cookies and site data in Microsoft Edge when websites don't work right, covering why sites need this data and how to manage permissions.