Cookies not saved between browser sessions on iOS Safari

Question

I have an MVC 4 website where a user can login and I save a cookie with their session information so they don\'t have to login again.

public void SetCookie(H         


        

Answer 1

This is HORRIBLY embarrasing. I found out that I've had my iOS Safari browser in "Private Browsing Mode" FOR YEARS!

I feel like my "Software Developer" job title needs removed for awhile. Sorry for wasting everyone's time.

Answer 2

I think you answered your own question with persistent cookie. Regular cookies expire when the browser session ends (this is typically closing the browser). Persistent cookies have a date when they should be removed and can live across browser sessions.

Your code should look something like this:

private HttpCookie CreateAuthenticationCookie(int loginId, string username)
{
    string userData = string.Format("loginId:{0},username:{1}", loginId, username);
    var ticket = new FormsAuthenticationTicket(loginId, username, 
                         DateTime.Now, DateTime.Now.AddYears(1), 
                         false, userData, FormsAuthentication.FormsCookiePath);
    string encryptedTicket = FormsAuthentication.Encrypt(ticket);

    return new HttpCookie(FormsAuthentication.FormsCookieName, encryptedTicket){{
         Expires = DateTime.Now.AddYears(1);
    }};
}

This way your cookie will persist across browser sessions for one year.