What is the loid cookie?
loid is an HTTP cookie set by Reddit, the social media and discussion platform. The name likely stands for „logged-out id” – an identifier Reddit uses to recognize a browser even when the user is not signed in.
It appears on a website when that site includes embedded Reddit content – for example comment widgets, embedded Reddit posts, or share-to-Reddit buttons. The cookie is set on the .reddit.com domain, so from the hosting website's perspective it is a third-party cookie.
What data it stores
loid stores a unique identifier generated by Reddit, used to distinguish visitors' devices or browsers. The exact value format is internal to Reddit's platform and may vary; it is not documented in detail publicly.
Data collected through this identifier is sent to Reddit's servers (the .reddit.com domain) and can be combined with other Reddit cookies to build a behavioral profile (pages visited, interactions with embedded Reddit content).
What it is used for
- Helps Reddit recognize unique visitors, including logged-out ones, for audience statistics.
- Supports targeting and measurement of Reddit ads shown on other sites or within the platform.
- Helps personalize Reddit content embedded on third-party sites.
- For the website hosting the Reddit content, the cookie offers no direct benefit – it primarily serves Reddit's interests as an advertising provider.
Does it require consent?
loid is classified as a marketing (advertising/tracking) cookie. Under Romania's Law 506/2004 (transposing the ePrivacy Directive) and the GDPR, this type of cookie may only be placed after obtaining the visitor's explicit, prior consent through a compliant consent banner.
The website operator must declare this cookie in its cookie policy, classify it under the marketing/advertising category, and ensure the script that generates it (the Reddit embed) does not load before the visitor grants consent.
How to block or delete loid
A visitor can delete or block this cookie via browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge – per-site cookie management), by using private/incognito mode, or with tracker-blocking extensions. Blocking it does not affect the essential functions of the visited site, only the display of or interaction with embedded Reddit content.
For website operators, the correct approach is to automatically block Reddit scripts (embeds, comment widgets, share buttons) until the visitor consents to the marketing category. A CMP such as CookieFix can do this automatically, holding back Reddit content from loading until the consent banner is accepted.
Frequently asked questions
It does not store sensitive data like passwords, but it holds an identifier that can be linked to browsing behavior, which classifies it as personal data under the GDPR.
Your site most likely includes a widget, an embedded Reddit post, or a share-to-Reddit button, which automatically sets this third-party cookie.
Yes, since it is a marketing cookie, prior visitor consent is required under Law 506/2004 and the GDPR.
Its typical duration is about 2 years from being set or last updated, based on Reddit's practice.