Chrome, cookies and the Privacy Sandbox
Google's 2025 statements: Chrome keeps its third-party cookie choice, Incognito blocks them, and Privacy Sandbox parts such as IP Protection were retired.
Official source: Google, Next steps for Privacy Sandbox and tracking protections in Chrome. Verified on
In short
- 22 April 2025: Google said it will keep its existing way of letting users choose their third-party cookie setting and will not add a separate prompt. Users can change it in Chrome's privacy and security controls (Google).
- Incognito: the same post says Incognito already stops third-party cookies automatically, and that Google planned to strengthen tracking protections there, with IP Protection due in the third quarter of 2025.
- 17 October 2025: Google said it is retiring several Privacy Sandbox technologies, including IP Protection, because of low adoption and ecosystem feedback (Google).
How the story changed
In July 2024 Google had already said it would not phase out third-party cookies and would offer an informed-choice experience instead (SecurityWeek, a news report, not Google). The April 2025 post dropped even the prompt. The October 2025 post then retired parts of the Sandbox.
For your own browsing
- Chrome does not block third-party cookies for you by default in normal windows, as far as the posts above say. Check the setting yourself in Chrome's privacy and security settings.
- Incognito mode blocks third-party cookies, which is a narrower thing than hiding you from trackers.
- None of this addresses fingerprinting. The posts we read do not mention it, so we make no claim.
Limits
We read the October 2025 post only in part (it is short). We did not check Chrome releases after October 2025, nor Chrome's fingerprinting policies. Browser makers change course, so look at the settings in your own version.
Keep reading: Browsers compared · Reduce fingerprinting
Outside this page: Android and Google's ad products outside Chrome.
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