Google Ads and cookie consent on Shopify
Google Ads (Google) is one of the most common trackers on Shopify. Here’s what it does, the data it collects, and how to check whether it fires before your visitors consent.
What is Google Ads?
Google Ads drops conversion and remarketing tags (often via DoubleClick) to measure Google Shopping/Search campaigns and retarget visitors.
What data does Google Ads collect?
Ad clicks, conversions, purchase value and a conversion linker identifier (cookie `_gcl_au`), plus DoubleClick remarketing cookies (`IDE`).
Why it needs consent
Google Ads is a marketing/advertising tracker. In Europe, a non-essential tracker like this must only fire AFTER the visitor consents. If it loads or sets its cookie before, the very purpose of cookie banners isn’t being respected.
How it shows up
We detect Google Ads via these network/cookie signals:
Does Google Ads fire on YOUR store?
Our free scanner loads your storefront in a clean browser, without touching the cookie banner, and tells you in ~30 seconds which trackers fire before consent — and which app loads them.
Scan my store for freeHow to make it compliant
The fix is to actually block the tracker until the visitor consents (via your tag manager, theme, or a properly configured banner). We’re building the Shopify compliance assistant that pinpoints the responsible app and blocks trackers before consent — automatically.
We can help you fix it
Leave your email: we’ll reach out to see how to sort this on your store.
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Other trackers to know
Independent information page, not affiliated with Shopify or the vendors mentioned. Not legal advice.