What is the _shopify_s cookie?
_shopify_s is an HTTP cookie automatically set by the Shopify e-commerce platform on any online store running on its infrastructure, regardless of theme or niche. It appears as soon as a visitor loads a page on the store, being one of the core cookies generated by Shopify's engine.
It is set by the platform provider (Shopify Inc.), not directly by the store owner, but the store owner inherits it automatically by using Shopify as their hosting and e-commerce solution.
What data it stores
The cookie stores a session identifier generated by Shopify, used to recognize the visitor throughout a short browsing session on the store. The exact value is an internal alphanumeric string generated by Shopify; its precise format is not publicly documented and may vary.
The data is sent to the store's domain (the myshopify.com subdomain or a connected custom domain) and processed by Shopify's infrastructure for internal traffic statistics.
What it is used for
Its main purpose is to let Shopify distinguish visitor sessions for statistical analysis: number of visits, on-site browsing behavior during a session, and correlating actions within the same visit. It works alongside other Shopify cookies such as _shopify_y (a longer-lived identifier) and shopping cart cookies.
For the store owner, this data feeds into the traffic and behavior reports available in the Shopify admin panel.
Does it require consent?
In CookieFix's classification, _shopify_s falls under the statistics/analytics category, since its main purpose is traffic analysis rather than strictly necessary technical functions like the shopping cart or login.
- It requires the visitor's prior consent under the ePrivacy Directive (as transposed into Romanian law via Law 506/2004) and GDPR before being set.
- The store owner must disclose it explicitly in the cookie policy, including category, provider (Shopify), and duration.
- If the visitor declines consent, the cookie should not be set, which means it must be technically blocked until acceptance.
How to block or delete _shopify_s
A visitor can manually delete or block this cookie from browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — per-site cookie management), or browse in private/incognito mode to avoid it being stored.
For the store owner, automatically blocking it until consent is more reliable than relying on each visitor to remove it manually. A CMP platform like CookieFix can detect and block the script that generates _shopify_s before the visitor gives consent, activating it only after consent is granted for the statistics category.
Frequently asked questions
It's a session cookie automatically set by Shopify on online stores built on that platform, used to identify a visitor's session for statistical purposes.
It typically lasts 30 minutes, matching a short browsing session, after which it expires automatically.
Yes, since it's classified as an analytics cookie, it requires prior consent under GDPR and Romania's Law 506/2004, as it isn't strictly necessary for basic site functionality.
No, _shopify_s is not a marketing or targeted advertising cookie; its purpose is internal traffic analysis on the Shopify store itself.