Benefits of enabling cookies

Cookies need to be enabled in your Internet browser in order for you to save many search settings like SafeSearch, location, and Google Instant.

A cookie is a small file on your computer that saves Internet settings. If cookies aren't enabled, many Google search preferences will not be saved.

Since cookies are saved to your computer, the settings they save will also only apply to the specific computer and browser that you used to set those preferences. Therefore, cookies are especially helpful if you typically use the same computer and browser. Cookies also help provide a better search experience by allowing personalized results.

How to enable cookies

See the Google Accounts help center to learn how to enable cookies.

Note that third-party cookies also need to be enabled for some Google search settings to work (like the SafeSearch lock). In some browsers, like Safari, the default setting is not to allow third-party cookies; so check that these cookies are also enabled if you want to save such Google settings.