Many WordPress websites utilize cookies to store temporary data in users’ browsers. Cookies enhance the user experience by remembering preferences and login statuses.
It is crucial to understand how cookies are utilized on your site, as many countries enforce strict regulations regarding cookie disclosure. These regulations require website owners to inform visitors about the cookies in use and the data they collect.
This article will help you determine if your WordPress website uses cookies. We have tested various methods and tools, and we will explain how to manage these cookies to ensure compliance with local regulations.
By the end of this guide, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how cookies function on your site and the measures you can take to manage them responsibly.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small files that contain data sent by a website to be stored in a user’s browser. They play a vital role on the internet and are commonly used to enhance user experience.
WordPress comes with two types of cookies by default.
The first type is session cookies, which are utilized for login purposes and are set for all users who are logged into a WordPress website.
Comment cookies are created when users leave comments on your WordPress blog. They store the user’s name, email address, and URL, allowing users to avoid re-entering this information for future comments.
In addition to WordPress, various third-party plugins and tools can also set cookies on your WordPress website.
Understanding Cookie Laws
Cookies are powerful tools that track extensive user information. Due to privacy concerns, many countries and regions have enacted laws that establish compliance requirements for website owners.
For example, the European Union has implemented the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive. Likewise, countries such as Canada, the UK, and Japan have laws mandating that website owners obtain user consent and disclose the data they collect, store, and track.
This is why you encounter cookie consent popups on various websites. These banners help website owners comply with GDPR, cookie regulations, and other privacy laws across different regions.
How to Check Which Cookies Are Stored by Your WordPress Website
All modern web browsers provide easy access to view the cookies set by any website you visit.
To start, log out of your WordPress website and clear your cookies and browsing history. This will help you see the cookies that regular visitors encounter on your site.
If your website allows user logins, such as for membership sites or online stores, consider testing the site while logged in as a registered user.
Now, let’s explore how to check which cookies are stored by your WordPress website.
Google Chrome
In Google Chrome, first navigate to your WordPress website.
Click the Padlock icon located next to your website’s URL in the browser’s address bar, then select ‘Cookies and site data’.
You will see a list of sites that are permitted to set cookies.
Select the ‘Manage on-device site data’ option.
Google Chrome will display your own website if it is using any cookies.
It will also show any third-party cookies that your website has set.
However, this view does not indicate how many cookies are set by your site or by third-party domains.
To see these cookies, you’ll need to explore further.
Click the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the browser’s address bar.
Next, chooseMore Tools » Developer Toolsfrom the browser’s menu.
Alternatively, you can open the developer tools by right-clicking anywhere on your website and selecting ‘Inspect’ from the menu.
This will open the developer tools panel. Switch to the ‘Application’ tab and look for ‘Cookies’ in the ‘Storage’ section.
In the ‘Cookies’ section, you will see your website’s URL. Clicking on it will display the cookies used by your site.
If your website uses third-party cookies, you will see another domain listed. Clicking on it will reveal which third-party cookies from that domain are stored by your site.
You can click on any cookie to view the data it is storing in your browser. The data will be displayed as ‘Cookie Value’ in the developer tools.
Mozilla Firefox
In Firefox, visit the website you want to check, then right-click anywhere to use the ‘Inspect Element’ tool.
This will split the browser window, showing the developer console panel. From there, switch to the ‘Storage’ tab and click on ‘Cookies’ to see all the cookies.
WPConsent Plugin
Another convenient way to check which services are using cookies on your WordPress website is by utilizing the scanning feature of the WPConsent plugin.
This method is ideal for website owners seeking an automated solution for detecting cookies.
Begin by installing and activating the WPConsent plugin. For assistance, refer to our comprehensive guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Important:There is a free version of WPConsent available. However, the free scanner only identifies common third-party scripts and essential features. To scan for popular plugins such as WooCommerce, WPForms, and others, you will need to upgrade to WPConsent Pro.
After activating the plugin, navigate toWPConsent » Scannerin the WordPress admin dashboard. Then, click the ‘Scan Your Website’ button.
WPConsent will scan your entire website for recognized third-party scripts, core features, and WordPress plugins that might be using cookies.
Once the scan is finished, you will receive a notification indicating how many services are setting cookies on your website. Click the ‘OK’ button to proceed.
You can now access a detailed report of all services that are setting cookies on your site, making it easier to monitor and manage your cookie usage.
The scan will provide recommendations for automatic configuration based on the findings. By clicking the ‘Automatically Configure Cookies’ button, you can easily set up a cookie consent banner and cookies policy that accurately reflects all detected services.
To gain deeper insights into WPConsent, feel free to explore our comprehensive WPConsent review.
Plugins That Enable Cookie Management
While examining the cookies used by your WordPress website, you may find that various WordPress plugins have set cookies.
As a website owner, you might prefer to disable these cookies to ensure compliance with cookie regulations in various countries and to minimize your legal risks.
However, not all WordPress plugins offer straightforward options to disable cookies and ensure your website remains compliant. Here are some plugins that allow you to easily turn off cookies without disrupting their functionality.
1. MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights is the top Google Analytics plugin available, enabling you to effectively install Google Analytics and configure an EU compliance add-on.
Begin by installing and activating the MonsterInsights plugin. For further assistance, refer to our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.
After setting up the plugin, navigate to the Insights » Addons section and install the EU Compliance addon.
This addon functions immediately without requiring any configuration.
To verify that the addon is active, go to the Insights » Settings section and select the ‘Engagement’ tab.
The addon will automatically anonymize IP addresses, disable Demographics and Interests Reports, stop user and author tracking, and more. It also seamlessly integrates with the Cookie Notice and CookieBot plugins.
2. WPForms
WPForms is the leading contact form plugin for WordPress, enabling you to create GDPR-compliant forms effortlessly.
Begin by installing and activating the WPForms plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
Once activated, go to the WPForms » Settings section and click on the ‘General’ tab.
Scroll down to find the GDPR section.
Check the box next to the ‘GDPR Enhancements’ option.
By selecting this option, additional settings will appear, allowing you to disable user cookies and user details for all forms.
WPForms enables you to create individual forms that comply with GDPR regulations. For more information, check out our guide on creating GDPR-compliant forms in WordPress.
3. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is the leading software for generating leads. It assists you in creating GDPR-compliant opt-in forms and lead campaigns for your website.
It allows you to easily include a Privacy Policy with a customizable checkbox. Users can only submit the form after checking the box. Additionally, it supports double opt-in for your forms.
Moreover, OptinMonster enables you to target visitors based on their geographical location, ensuring that GDPR-compliant opt-ins are presented to customers in EU countries.
OptinMonster only uses cookies to enhance user experience on your website, and these cookies are solely for on-site tracking purposes.
4. Smash Balloon
Smash Balloon is the top social media plugin for WordPress sites. It allows you to create social media feeds that comply with cookie and GDPR regulations.
The plugin checks if you have a cookie notification plugin activated and holds any cookies until the user provides consent.
Additional Strategies for Complying with Cookie Laws on WordPress Websites
Website owners must adhere to cookie regulations in various regions. Here are some essential steps to enhance your website’s compliance.
1. Create a Privacy Policy Page
A privacy policy page is mandatory to meet privacy and cookie regulations in different areas.
If you’re using WPConsent, it can automatically create a comprehensive cookie policy that outlines the purpose, duration, and type of each cookie, which can be easily integrated into your privacy page using a simple shortcode.
Check out our guide on how to effortlessly add a privacy policy page to your WordPress site.
2. Install a Cookie Notification Plugin
Cookie notification plugins display a message on your site informing users about cookie usage and requesting their consent.
WPConsent is one of the top cookie notification plugins available, and we utilize it on the CanadaCreate website to effectively showcase a customized cookie consent popup.
Additionally, unlike many cookie notice plugins that merely show alerts, WPConsent actively safeguards user privacy by automatically blocking all tracking scripts and cookies until users provide their consent.
You can follow our tutorial on how to implement a cookie popup in WordPress for detailed instructions.
Explore our curated list of top WordPress GDPR plugins to enhance your compliance efforts.
3. Monitor Plugins and Tools That Utilize Cookies
Review the cookies on your website to ensure each one corresponds to an installed plugin or tool. When adding new WordPress plugins or third-party tools, verify their options for GDPR and cookie law compliance.
As previously mentioned, you can use WPConsent Pro to routinely scan your website for any new cookies or tracking scripts introduced by plugins and tools.
This automated scanning feature allows you to keep an updated record of all cookies utilized on your site, ensuring continuous compliance with privacy regulations.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to check for cookies on your WordPress site and provided insights on achieving compliance with cookie laws. Additionally, consider reviewing our WordPress security guide and our expert recommendations for the best WordPress security plugins to safeguard your website and user information.
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