What is the _shopify_tw cookie?
_shopify_tw is an HTTP cookie automatically set by Shopify on online stores (e-commerce sites) built on the platform. It belongs to the internal family of cookies prefixed with „_shopify_”, used by Shopify for analytics and visitor behavior tracking.
The cookie is typically set on a user's first visit to a Shopify store, regardless of whether they make a purchase or simply browse product or category pages.
What data it stores
Shopify does not publish detailed technical documentation on the exact value format stored in _shopify_tw. In general, cookies in this family contain temporary identifiers used to distinguish sessions or visits from the same visitor over a limited period.
The data is stored in the visitor's browser and may be sent to Shopify's infrastructure for statistical processing as part of the store's operation.
What it is used for
The main purpose of _shopify_tw is to help analyze traffic and visitor behavior on a Shopify store over a short-to-medium timeframe (around two weeks). This information can contribute to statistical measurements related to visits, sessions, and interactions with the store.
For store administrators, this type of data helps understand traffic patterns and how visitors return to or navigate the site, without being directly tied to core shopping cart functionality.
Does it require consent?
- CookieFix category: statistics (analytics)
- As an analytics cookie, it is not strictly necessary for the site's core functionality, so under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (as transposed locally, e.g. Romania's Law 506/2004), it requires the visitor's prior consent before being set.
- Store administrators should list it in their cookie policy under the statistics category and ensure their consent banner blocks the related script until the user consents.
How to block or delete _shopify_tw
Visitors can manually delete or block _shopify_tw through their browser's privacy/cookie settings (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), either individually or by clearing all cookies for the site.
For Shopify store administrators, analytics cookies like this one should be blocked automatically until consent is given. A consent management platform such as CookieFix can handle this by preventing the related analytics scripts from running until the visitor provides explicit consent.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, as it is classified as a statistics/analytics cookie, it requires the visitor's prior consent under GDPR and applicable ePrivacy rules.
Its typical duration is around two weeks, after which it expires automatically from the browser.
It is set automatically by the Shopify platform on online stores built with this service, as part of its internal analytics functions.
Blocking it does not affect core store functions like the shopping cart or checkout, only Shopify's ability to collect statistical data about the visit.