What is the intercom-session- cookie?
The intercom-session- cookie is set by Intercom, a service used by many websites and apps for live chat, customer messaging, and support. The prefix is followed by an identifier specific to that site's Intercom workspace, so the exact cookie name differs from site to site.
The cookie typically appears as soon as the Intercom widget (the chat bubble) loads on the page — i.e., whenever the site includes the Intercom script — regardless of whether the visitor interacts with it.
What data it stores
The cookie's value is an opaque identifier generated by Intercom, used to link browser activity to a session or to a visitor/user profile within the site's Intercom account. The exact value format is not publicly documented and may vary.
Data collected through this cookie is sent to Intercom Inc.'s servers and may be correlated with other visitor information (pages viewed, chat conversations, voluntarily submitted contact details), depending on how the site owner has configured the widget.
What it is used for
For Intercom, the cookie allows recognizing the same visitor on return visits, preserving chat conversation history, and linking the session to a user profile — the basis for targeted messaging, audience segmentation, and re-engagement campaigns.
For the site owner, this means continuity of support conversations, the ability to send personalized messages based on user behavior, and potentially tracking conversions generated through chat.
Does it require consent?
In CookieFix's classification, intercom-session- falls under marketing (advertising/tracking), since it supports segmentation and targeted messaging features, not just the minimal technical operation of chat.
- Under GDPR and Romania's Law 506/2004 (transposing the ePrivacy Directive), this cookie requires the visitor's prior consent before being set.
- The site owner must disclose it explicitly in the cookie policy, including the provider (Intercom Inc.), purpose, and duration.
- The Intercom widget should not load before the visitor has given consent for the marketing category.
How to block or delete intercom-session-
A visitor can delete or block this cookie from browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all allow deleting per-site cookies or blocking third-party cookies), though this may affect the chat widget's operation or the continuity of support conversations.
For site owners, the correct approach is to automatically block the Intercom script until consent is obtained. A consent management platform like CookieFix can hold back the Intercom widget script and load it only after the visitor accepts the marketing category, preventing the cookie from being set without consent.
Frequently asked questions
No, it's not technically harmful, but it collects chat session tracking data and must be handled according to consent rules for marketing cookies.
Because the intercom-session- prefix is followed by a unique identifier tied to each site's Intercom account, so the full name varies.
The typical duration is about one week, after which it expires automatically, though it may be renewed on a new visit or interaction with the widget.
Yes, since it's classified as a marketing/tracking cookie, it requires the visitor's prior consent under GDPR and ePrivacy rules.