Starting from January 2nd, 2024, Google Drive will no longer require third-party cookies to be enabled for file downloads, according to Google’s recent announcement. This change aligns with Google’s broader initiative to disable third-party cookies by default in its Chrome browser, in line with similar actions taken by other browser developers like Mozilla and Apple, all aimed at enhancing user privacy.
This adjustment addresses a specific inconvenience in Google Drive where users could encounter difficulties downloading files if third-party cookies were disabled. To work around this issue, users were previously advised to manually create an exception for Google Drive, allowing the use of third-party cookies.
While Google’s official blog post doesn’t provide a detailed explanation for why Google Drive currently relies on third-party cookies, some speculation suggests that this reliance might be due to the service’s use of a distinct domain (googleusercontent.com) for hosting user-uploaded content, which could serve as a security measure. The third-party cookies are then employed to verify a user’s permission to download a particular file. Inquiries have been made to Google for further clarification on this matter, and we will update this post with any responses.
In essence, this forthcoming change in Google Drive’s functionality is aimed at streamlining the user experience and addressing potential issues related to third-party cookies. While the specific details behind this reliance on cookies are still unclear, Google’s action is part of a broader industry trend to enhance online privacy by reducing the use of third-party cookies.
