What is the cmplz_preferences cookie?
cmplz_preferences is an HTTP cookie created by Complianz, a widely used consent management platform (CMP) plugin for WordPress. It appears as soon as a visitor interacts with the Complianz-generated cookie banner and chooses which cookie categories to allow.
It is set by the website itself (a first-party cookie), not by an external service, since Complianz runs directly on the server of the site using it.
What data it stores
The cookie typically stores a record of which cookie categories the visitor has expressed a preference for (for example statistics, marketing, preferences), as internal identifiers or boolean-like values used by the Complianz script.
The exact value format can vary depending on the plugin version and the site's configuration. The data stays on the site's own domain and is not sent to external Complianz servers.
What it is used for
The cookie's purpose is purely functional: it lets the Complianz script know which cookie categories have already been accepted or declined, so the consent banner isn't shown again on every visit or page navigation.
For the site owner, this cookie is essential for the consent mechanism to work correctly and for keeping visitors' choices consistent across the session and future visits.
Does it require consent?
cmplz_preferences is classified as a strictly necessary cookie, since it stores only the visitor's consent preferences, not tracking or advertising data. Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (implemented in Romania via Law 506/2004), strictly necessary cookies do not require prior consent.
- It should still be listed, with purpose and duration, in the site's cookie policy.
- It is not blocked by a CMP before consent is given, precisely because the consent mechanism itself depends on it.
How to block or delete cmplz_preferences
A visitor can delete or block this cookie from browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari – the site-specific cookie management section). Deleting it will make the Complianz consent banner reappear on the next visit.
For site owners using a different CMP than Complianz, or wanting centralized control over all scripts, a platform like CookieFix can automatically block tracking scripts until consent is given; strictly necessary cookies like cmplz_preferences remain active, though, since they are essential for the banner to function.
Frequently asked questions
It's a cookie set by the Complianz WordPress plugin that records which cookie categories a site visitor has accepted or declined.
No. It's a strictly necessary cookie used only to remember consent preferences, not for tracking or advertising.
No, since it's strictly necessary it can be set without prior consent, but it must be listed in the site's cookie policy.
The typical duration is 1 year, after which the stored preferences expire and the consent banner may reappear.