Shopify Cookies: What They Are, How They Work, and How Long They Last

Have you ever wondered how Shopify stores remember your customers’ carts, login details, and preferences even after they leave? The answer lies in Shopify cookies. These small data files are essential for running your online store smoothly, ensuring security, and enhancing user experience.

For businesses, cookies are not just technical tools; they are the backbone of personalisation, analytics, and compliance. Shopify uses a combination of first-party and third-party cookies to maintain seamless store performance, gather analytical insights, and support marketing integrations.

In this blog, we’ll break down every type of Shopify cookie, explain its purpose, and list its duration, so you can understand what each cookie does, why it matters, and how long it stays active.

What Are Shopify Cookies and Why They Matter

Shopify cookies are small text files stored on a user’s browser when they visit or interact with a Shopify-based website. These cookies allow Shopify and store owners to remember key details such as cart items, session activity, language preferences, and login information. They help in delivering a seamless shopping experience while maintaining performance, personalisation, and security.

They matter because cookies directly influence how your store functions and how user data is handled. Proper cookie management ensures smooth checkout processes, personalised recommendations, and adherence to data privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA. In short, they’re essential for both user experience and legal compliance.

Types of Shopify Cookies

1. Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are fundamental to Shopify’s core operations. They enable essential functions like adding items to the cart, managing checkout processes, and securing customer logins. Without these, Shopify stores cannot operate properly, which is why they don’t require user consent under most privacy laws.

Cookie Information Table

Cookie Name	Usage	Duration
_shopify_country	Identifies the visitor's country to show the correct currency and region.	Session
cart, cart_sig	Keeps items in the cart and ensures secure checkout validation.	2 weeks
checkout_token	Enables secure payment and order processing.	Session
secure_customer_sig	Authenticates logged-in customers securely.	1 year
storefront_digest	Maintains password-protected store access.	Persistent

2. Performance & Analytics Cookies

Performance and analytics cookies gather information about how visitors interact with your store. They track page views, visit duration, and navigation patterns, helping Shopify merchants optimise design, speed, and user journey. The insights they provide are vital for understanding customer behaviour and improving sales funnels.

Analytics Cookie Information Table

Cookie Name	Usage	Duration
_shopify_s	Tracks session-based analytics for store performance.	30 minutes
_shopify_y	Distinguishes unique users for performance tracking.	1 year
_s, _y	Counts visits and sessions per user for analytics.	1 year
shopify_sa_t, _shopify_sa_p	Tracks referral and marketing analytics to optimise performance.	30 minutes
_landing_page	Measures landing page performance and conversion trends.	2 weeks

3. Marketing & Advertising Cookies

Marketing cookies are used for targeted advertising and remarketing campaigns. They track conversions, measure ad effectiveness, and help Shopify merchants optimise paid marketing efforts. These cookies enable integrations with platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, and TikTok to reach the right audiences.

Marketing Cookie Information Table

Cookie Name	Usage	Duration
_shopify_sa_t	Tracks marketing referrals and campaign interactions.	30 minutes
_shopify_sa_p	Analyses visitor behaviour related to ads and promotions.	30 minutes
_shopify_tm, shopify_tm	Enables TikTok and Twitter ad tracking for better audience targeting.	1 year
_fbp, _fbc	Used by Facebook Pixel for conversion tracking.	3 months
__adroll, __ar_v4	Supports remarketing ads and performance optimisation.	1 year

4. Functional & Preference Cookies

These cookies store customer preferences, improving user experience during repeat visits. They help remember login details, selected currencies, and language choices, allowing for personalised browsing and consistent service across sessions.

Preference Cookie Information Table

Cookie Name	Usage	Duration
localization	Stores the user's preferred region and language settings.	1 year
cart_currency	Remembers the customer's preferred store currency.	2 weeks
identity_state	Maintains login session state for returning users.	1 year
_shopify_d	Identifies the user device for an optimised browsing experience.	Session
_tracking_consent	Records and manages cookie consent preferences.	1 year

5. Security & Compliance Cookies

Security and compliance cookies safeguard sensitive information and manage consent preferences. They play a crucial role in fraud prevention, data protection, and legal compliance under GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations.

Security Cookie Information Table

Cookie Name	Usage	Duration
_tracking_consent	Saves the user's consent decision for cookies.	1 year
cookieConsent_status	Indicates whether the user has accepted cookies.	1 year
shopify_m	Used to enhance site security and prevent fraud.	1 year
_ab	Detects admin access for Shopify login security.	Session
_secure_session_id	Protects checkout and session data integrity.	Session

How to Check and Manage Cookies on Your Shopify Store

Monitoring and managing cookies ensures compliance and transparency for your users. Here’s how businesses can easily do it:

Use browser Developer Tools to check active cookies.
Run a cookie scan using consent management platforms like Seers Ai.
Review new cookies after adding apps or theme updates.
Regularly update your cookie policy and consent banner to reflect changes.

These steps not only maintain compliance but also build user trust, an essential factor for any growing eCommerce business.

Wrapping Up

Understanding Shopify cookies isn’t just about technical compliance; it’s about maintaining transparency, trust, and smooth store functionality. Each cookie type serves a purpose; from keeping carts active to protecting user data.

For businesses, managing cookies effectively ensures compliance with global data laws while enhancing user experience and marketing performance.

If you haven’t reviewed your store cookies recently, now is the time. Run a cookie scan today and make sure every cookie on your Shopify store is transparent, compliant, and secure.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does disabling non-essential Shopify cookies affect analytics reporting?

When visitors opt out of performance or marketing cookies, Shopify can’t track their actions in analytics. That means metrics like sessions, conversion rates, or attribution become less accurate or incomplete. To maintain clarity, correlate data with consent-aware tools and report disclaimers for missing segments.

Can a Shopify store function if all cookies are blocked by the user?

Not fully. Blocking strictly necessary cookies disrupts critical operations; e.g. cart persistence, checkout, and login. Shopify relies on those cookies to maintain core functions. Non-essential cookies affect analytics or personalisation only, but necessary ones are indispensable for storefront integrity.

What is Shopify’s Customer Privacy API, and how does it relate to cookies?

Shopify’s Customer Privacy API allows scripts to check user consent settings in real time. It integrates with cookie banners so that non-essential cookies are conditionally blocked until consent is granted. This ensures that tracking, marketing, and analytics only run under allowed conditions; key for GDPR/CCPA compliance.

Why do Shopify session counts sometimes differ between Shopify analytics and Google Analytics?

Shopify defines a session as ending after 30 minutes of inactivity or at midnight UTC. Google Analytics uses its own rules (e.g. different session timeouts, cross-domain behaviour). Moreover, users rejecting cookies or blocking scripts cause gaps. The discrepancy is often due to consent decisions or differing cookie handling.

Do third-party apps on Shopify set their own cookies, and who controls them?

Yes. Apps installed on a store can introduce third-party cookies, such as analytics pixels or ad trackers. Although Shopify handles its core cookies, the merchant remains responsible for disclosing and governing these external cookies. Proper consent tools should control both first- and third-party cookies.

Merchants should audit cookies at least monthly or immediately after installing/removing apps or customising the theme. Such changes often introduce new cookies or scripts. Regular reviews help keep your cookie list accurate, maintain compliance, and prevent surprises in analytics or user privacy.

Rimsha Zafar

Rimsha is a Senior Content Writer at Seers AI with over 5 years of experience in advanced technologies and AI-driven tools. Her expertise as a research analyst shapes clear, thoughtful insights into responsible data use, trust, and future-facing technologies.