The _gcl_aw cookie

_gcl_aw is a cookie set by Google Ads, from Google LLC. Stores Google Click ID (gclid) when a user arrives from a Google Ad. Used for conversion tracking and attribution.

Set by

Google Ads

Duration

90 days

Does the _gcl_aw cookie require consent?

_gcl_aw is used for advertising, so under the GDPR and the ePrivacy rules it may only be set after the visitor has agreed. Showing a banner is not enough on its own: the cookie must not be set before the visitor clicks accept.

Does your site set _gcl_aw before consent?

A free scan loads your site the way a new visitor sees it and lists every cookie that is set before anyone has said yes, _gcl_aw included.

How to put _gcl_aw behind consent

Remove the Google Ads snippet from your site and add your Google Ads ID under Integrations in Consentify instead. Consentify then loads Google Ads only after the visitor has accepted advertising, so _gcl_aw is never set before consent.

View all integrations

Free scan, no account

Not sure what's running on your Google Ads site?

Scan it first and you'll know exactly which scripts need consent before you set up the banner. Takes about ten seconds.

Results in about 10 seconds
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Other cookies set by Google Ads

Cookie	Purpose	Duration
_gcl_au	Stores a randomly generated id for Google Ads conversion measurement. Set on every visit, not only after an ad click.	90 days
_gcl_dc	Stores DoubleClick click ID for cross-network conversion attribution.	90 days
GCL_AW_P	Used by Google Ads to measure conversions from ad clicks on Google's own domain.	90 days