What is the intercom-device-id- cookie?
intercom-device-id- is an HTTP cookie set by the Intercom script (live chat widget, messaging and customer support tool) when it loads on a website. The name shown in the browser is actually a prefix, followed by a unique identifier tied to the specific Intercom application (the workspace of the business using the service).
It typically appears as soon as the Intercom widget loads on a page, whether or not the visitor interacts with the chat window, since Intercom uses it to recognize the device on return visits.
What data it stores
The cookie stores an automatically generated identifier that is unique to the visitor's device and browser. The exact value format is not publicly documented in detail and may vary, but it does not typically contain directly readable personal data such as a name or email address.
The value is sent to Intercom's servers with each interaction with the widget, and is used to link sessions and events back to the same device over time.
What it is used for
The main purpose is to recognize a visitor's device across multiple visits and sessions, even before the visitor is logged in or otherwise identified. This lets Intercom reconstruct a user's conversation history and behavior on the site.
From the website's perspective, the cookie supports personalized messaging, visitor segmentation, and measuring the effectiveness of support or marketing conversations, which is why it is classified as a marketing/tracking cookie.
Does it require consent?
Under CookieFix's classification, intercom-device-id- falls into the marketing (advertising/tracking) category, since it links visitor behavior to a persistent, long-lived identifier.
- Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (as implemented via Romanian Law 506/2004), prior visitor consent is required before it is set.
- Site owners must disclose it explicitly in their cookie policy, including provider, purpose, and duration.
- The Intercom widget should only load after consent for the marketing/statistics category has been obtained.
How to block or delete intercom-device-id-
A visitor can delete or block this cookie manually through browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) in the per-site cookie management section, or by using private/incognito browsing to prevent it from persisting.
For site owners, the recommended approach is using a consent management platform (CMP) such as CookieFix, which automatically blocks the Intercom script from loading until the visitor accepts the marketing cookie category, preventing this cookie from being set prematurely and out of compliance.
Frequently asked questions
It's an HTTP cookie set by Intercom to identify a device or browser over the long term, used by the Intercom live chat and messaging widget embedded on websites.
Its typical duration is about 9 months, after which it expires automatically unless renewed by a new interaction with the Intercom widget.
No. It is classified as marketing/tracking, so it requires the visitor's prior consent before being set, under GDPR and the ePrivacy rules.
By using a consent management platform (CMP) that blocks the Intercom script until consent is given, or by having the visitor delete it manually from browser settings.