How to Fix the “Third-Party or Local Storage” Error on Ancestry

You log in to Ancestry, ready to work on your family tree, but instead of your dashboard, you see a frustrating error message: “Third-party or local storage error.”

This error does not mean your account is broken. It means your web browser is blocking Ancestry from saving the temporary data (cookies) it needs to run. This often happens if you are using “Incognito” mode, have strict privacy settings, or are using an outdated browser.

Here is how to “allow” Ancestry on your specific browser so you can get back to your research.

Step 1: Universal Fix – Clear Ancestry Cache & Cookies (All Browsers)

Before diving into complex settings, try the simplest fix first. Old, corrupted files can cause this error.

1. Clear your browser history: Go to your browser settings and select “Clear Browsing Data.”
2. Select “Cookies and Cached images”: You don’t need to clear your history, just the cookies and cache.
3. Restart the browser: Close it completely and try logging in again.

(If you have trouble logging back in after clearing cookies, check our guide on Reset Your Ancestry Password).

Step 2: Enable Cookies for Ancestry (By Browser)

If clearing the cache didn’t work, your browser is likely blocking “Third-Party Cookies.” You need to tell it to trust Ancestry.

Google Chrome

1. Click the three dots (menu) in the top-right corner > Settings.
2. Click Privacy and security > Third-party cookies.
3. Scroll down to “Allowed to use third-party cookies” (or “Sites that can always use cookies”).
4. Click Add.
5. Type [*.]ancestry.com and click Add.
   • Note: The [*.] tells Chrome to allow all parts of Ancestry (DNA, Trees, Shoebox).

Microsoft Edge

The original article mentioned outdated “Advanced Settings.” Here is the modern path:

1. Click the three dots > Settings.
2. Select Cookies and site permissions from the left menu.
3. Click Manage and delete cookies and site data.
4. Ensure “Block third-party cookies” is turned OFF.
5. Or, under “Allow,” click Add and enter ancestry.com.

Apple Safari (Mac/iPhone)

Safari is strict about privacy and often blocks Ancestry by default.

1. Open Safari > Settings (or Preferences).
2. Click the Privacy tab.
3. Uncheck the box that says “Block all cookies.”
4. On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > Safari > Scroll down to “Privacy & Security” > Turn OFF “Block All Cookies.”

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the three lines (menu) > Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security.
3. Under “Enhanced Tracking Protection,” choose Standard (Strict mode often breaks Ancestry).
4. Scroll down to “Cookies and Site Data” > Manage Exceptions.
5. Type https://ancestry.com and click Allow.

Step 3: Check Your Extensions (Ad Blockers)

If you updated your settings and still see the error, an extension might be the culprit.

• Ad Blockers: Tools like uBlock Origin or AdBlock Plus can sometimes mistake Ancestry’s DNA features for ads.
• Privacy Tools: Extensions like “Privacy Badger” or “Ghostery” specifically block local storage access.

The Fix: Pause your ad blocker while on Ancestry.com, or add Ancestry to the extension’s “Allow List.”

Warning: Are You Using Internet Explorer?

If you are still using Internet Explorer 11, you will likely face permanent errors. Microsoft retired IE in 2022, and Ancestry no longer supports it. You may encounter issues where buttons (like Tracking Your DNA Kit) simply don’t click or load.

• Solution: Please switch to a modern browser like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox immediately for security and functionality.

Conclusion

The “Local Storage” error is simply a permission dispute between your browser and the website. By explicitly allowing ancestry.com to save cookies, you ensure that complex pages—like your Tree view or Ancestry Shoebox—can load their data without interruption.