What is the LANG cookie?
LANG is an HTTP cookie set by PayPal when a web page loads a PayPal widget, payment button, or form (such as a "Buy with PayPal" button or a checkout iframe). It is not set by the host website directly, but by the PayPal scripts or iframes embedded on the page.
It typically appears the first time a PayPal component loads and remains active for the short window during which the user may complete or abandon that interaction.
What data it stores
The cookie stores the preferred language or locale for the PayPal interface, so text shown inside the widget (buttons, messages, forms) appears in the correct language without needing to be re-detected on every reload.
It is stored on the .paypal.com domain, so it is sent to PayPal's servers rather than to the hosting website. The exact format of the value is not publicly documented by PayPal.
What it is used for
For PayPal, LANG provides a consistent interface experience (buttons, payment windows) in the language the user has previously used or that the browser indicates, avoiding a reset to the default language on every interaction.
For the website embedding PayPal, the benefit is indirect: visitors see payment components in the appropriate language, which can reduce confusion and checkout abandonment.
Does it require consent?
CookieFix classifies LANG under preferences (functional). Under Romania's Law 506/2004 (transposing the ePrivacy Directive) and GDPR, preference cookies that are not strictly necessary for basic site functionality generally require prior user consent.
- Site administrators should disclose this cookie in their cookie policy, including provider, purpose, and duration.
- If the PayPal widget only loads after an explicit user action (e.g., clicking a payment button), it may be treated as necessary for completing the requested transaction; if it loads automatically on the page, consent should be obtained beforehand.
How to block or delete LANG
Visitors can delete or block this cookie through browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari – cookie management per domain), looking for entries under paypal.com. Blocking it does not affect site navigation, but the PayPal widget may revert to its default language.
For site administrators, a CMP like CookieFix can automatically prevent PayPal scripts and iframes from loading until the visitor consents to the preferences category, avoiding premature setting of the LANG cookie.
Frequently asked questions
It remembers the user's preferred language for the interface of PayPal widgets or forms displayed on a website.
It has a typical duration of about 9 hours, after which it expires automatically.
Yes, since it is classified as a preference/functional cookie, it generally requires prior consent, except when it only appears due to an explicit payment action by the user.
It can be deleted through browser settings or automatically blocked by a CMP until consent is given, if the site administrator configures this.