Everything about Google Ads

The _gcl_dc cookie

_gcl_dc is a cookie set by Google Ads, from Google LLC. Stores DoubleClick click ID for cross-network conversion attribution.

Duration

90 days

Category

Advertising

Needs consent

Yes

Does the _gcl_dc cookie require consent?

_gcl_dc 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_dc 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_dc included.

How to put _gcl_dc 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_dc 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.

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  • Shareable report link

Other cookies set by Google Ads

CookiePurposeDuration
_gcl_auStores a randomly generated id for Google Ads conversion measurement. Set on every visit, not only after an ad click.90 days
_gcl_awStores Google Click ID (gclid) when a user arrives from a Google Ad. Used for conversion tracking and attribution.90 days
GCL_AW_PUsed by Google Ads to measure conversions from ad clicks on Google's own domain.90 days