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Safari "Accept cookies" setting keeps changing to "Never"

I have an iPhone 4S. When I first bought the device, cookie setting ("Accept Cookies") for Safari was set to "Never." I changed this to "From visited" so I can log in to Amazon.com, facebook, etc. However, a few days later, the setting would revert back to "Never."


I'm not sure what is causing this. I just tried turning off the phone and turning back on to see if that causes the setting to go back to "Never" but that is not the case.


I found a thread on this issue (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2622794?answerId=12527908022#12527908022) from 2010, but there is no answer to it.


Please let me know if you know why this is happening.

iPhone, Windows Vista

Posted on Oct 27, 2011 3:31 PM

Reply
44 replies

Dec 6, 2011 6:23 PM in response to ethan397

This has happened to me.... a lot.

First, a few questions, then I'll give you the long fabled history of my issue.


1: Are those of you who are having this problem using Gmail? And are you using it in the Mail app and/or via Safari?

2: are you on your first iPhones? Or have you owned previous models?

3: which iPHone do you have and what size? (32gb, 64gb?)


I've had a 3G and a 4, and I'm now on the 4S 64GB. Before the 4S I never had a problem.


Problems since buying the 4S:

  • my 4s crashed a lot when not in use. I would return to it after leaving it in standby for a while (ie: I finish a phone call, I turn the screen off and leave it alone.) Upon returning to the phone I find that it's off and needs a hard reset in order to start it again.

    note that the crashing has become a lot less frequent with each attempted solution, and could theoretically be unrelated.

  • Safaris Cookies keep changing to 'never'. An important fact here: this isn't "reverting" to never. The default setting is to accept from visited. So the change is extra strange for this reason.
  • Maps: while I set it to "show traffic", it keeps changing to hide traffic.

    note that the cookies and traffic issues happen at irregular intervals. And so far as I've noticed, they don't seem to occur in unison.

  • My email settings changed to 'sync only 2 days' as opposed to just showing everything. This happened once only. Points to note: I have 4 email accounts associated with my mail app, and two of them are gmail accounts. This ONLY happened to the gmail accounts. At the time, the Gmail accounts were setup via Exchange (google's free exchange/push service).


Attempted solutions:

  • Restored the phone. Problems kept happening.
  • Was given a replacement phone. Problems kept happening.
  • Restored the replacement phone, and setup as new device. Problem kept happening.
  • Took off the Exchange accounts, at apple's suggestion. Problem appeared to have gone away.... for two days. Then they started again.
  • Replaced the phone a second time because the guy at the Apple store couldn't think of anything to say except "this isn't my fault, but why we'll give you a new phone if it will make you happy" (-- repeating this s though I were being confrontational. Boy must he have been having a bad day.)


As the phone(s) has been restored as new twice, after which I never got to the point of reloading all my apps, music etc., and because things such as using an exchange server have changed, and the phone has been changed twice, here are the only consistencies I'm aware of:


  • I have 2 google email accounts in the mail app
  • I access a 3rd gmail account via safari
  • I use iCloud for calendars, contacts, reminders, bookmarks docs & data and find my iphone
  • my SIM card is the same (can't fathom why this could matter.... could it???)
  • my iTunes account is the same.


As of now, I've restored this 3rd iPhone 4S 64GB and set it up as a new device. I did this an hour ago. I'm making a point not to load any apps on here at all. No exchange accounts at all. And I'm going to see what happens.

Dec 7, 2011 7:19 AM in response to phillusion

I am also seeing the traffic randomly turn off in addition to the cookie issue. I have one gmail account in the email app, and a separate one in Safari. This 4S is an "upgrade" from a 4, though I'm beginning to regret it. I never had these problems with the 4, and the 4S just doesn't feel any faster. And the battery life ***** despite the updated OS and turning off virtually all location services. All I really got was a better camera and a lot of new problems.

Dec 7, 2011 7:47 AM in response to phillusion

My answers in bold:


1: Are those of you who are having this problem using Gmail? And are you using it in the Mail app and/or via Safari?


I use Gmail via Exchange. Just one gmail account. I occasionally access Gmail via Safari. Note I use Google App (Free edition) for my gmail, so it doesn't end in gmail.com.


2: are you on your first iPhones? Or have you owned previous models?


I had iPhone 3 before. I then switched to a different phone, and 4S replaced that. But iTunes kept my old apps from iPhone 3 and restored them onto 4S.


3: which iPHone do you have and what size? (32gb, 64gb?)


White 16GB with AT&T.

Dec 7, 2011 11:41 AM in response to ethan397

just wanted to add another voice to people who are having this problem. It started after I went to iOS 5. My answers are below in bold.




1: Are those of you who are having this problem using Gmail? And are you using it in the Mail app and/or via Safari?


I access Gmail both via the mail App and via Safari. (Why? I prefer Safari but sometimes with spotty cell coverage the mail App is able to download messages when Safari is not working.)


2: are you on your first iPhones? Or have you owned previous models?

This is my first iPhone (4). I regularly update the iOS.


3: which iPhone do you have and what size? (32gb, 64gb?)

4, Black, 32GB, ATT

Other things: I don't use iCloud, I don't sync over wifi.


Dec 7, 2011 12:13 PM in response to ethan397

Me to Apple Support: I've got rid of exchange accounts, had my phone replaced, restored as new and...etc etc.


Apple support: I've just talked to the senior advisor, and you're going to have to turn off your exchange accounts.


Me to Apple support: I've got rid of exchange accounts, had my phone replaced, restored as new and...etc etc Now can I please speak directly with whoever you're getting answers from?


Me to senior advisor: I've got rid of exchange accounts, had my phone replaced, restored as new and...etc etc


Senior advisor: So we can replace your phone for you...


me to senior advisor: stop talking. let's go through this again.

Dec 8, 2011 9:50 AM in response to ethan397

Ditto.


I have an iPhone 4 32Gb and an iPad 2. I have only noticed the problem on my iPhone. I have the same exchange accounts on both devices and use Gmail through Safari occasionally as well.


I have always turned my iPhone back to "always" accept cookies but I'm going to try putting it on "from visited" to see if that helps. My iPad is set to "from visited" and haven't noticed it change.


Again, only noticed it once I switched to iOS 5

Dec 8, 2011 10:21 AM in response to ShawnJSpencer

I doubt that'll help because I also have tried changing to "from visited" yet I have the same problem.


I also have that Google Map problem where "show traffic" setting goes back to "off" automatically once in a while.


Everyone, let's all file bug report with Apple. Hopefully enough people will complain that they'll address this issue.


File it here:


http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

Safari "Accept cookies" setting keeps changing to "Never"

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