What is the sc_anonymous_id cookie?
sc_anonymous_id is an HTTP cookie set by SoundCloud, the audio streaming platform, on the .soundcloud.com domain. It typically appears when a visitor interacts with an embedded SoundCloud player on a third-party website, or visits soundcloud.com directly.
Because it is set on the soundcloud.com domain rather than the hosting site's own domain, this cookie is technically a third-party cookie from the perspective of the visitor browsing the site that hosts the player.
What data it stores
The cookie stores a randomly generated unique identifier assigned to an anonymous visitor (without directly identifying information such as name or email). The exact value format may vary and is not publicly documented in detail.
Data collected through this identifier is sent to SoundCloud's servers, operated by SoundCloud Global Ltd. & Co. KG, and may be combined with other tracking signals used within the company's advertising ecosystem.
What it is used for
The stated purpose is to recognize a visitor as the same anonymous user across multiple visits or interactions with SoundCloud content, even without an account or login.
This allows SoundCloud to measure the performance of content played through embeds, analyze listening behavior, and potentially support targeted advertising or reporting activities for partners.
Does it require consent?
In CookieFix's classification, sc_anonymous_id falls under the marketing category (advertising/tracking). Under the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR, this type of cookie requires the visitor's prior, explicit consent before it can be set.
- The site owner embedding SoundCloud content must disclose this cookie in the cookie policy.
- The SoundCloud player should not load before consent for the marketing category is obtained.
- Setting it without prior consent can be treated as non-compliance by data protection authorities.
How to block or delete sc_anonymous_id
A visitor can delete or block this cookie through browser settings (per-site cookie management or clearing browsing data for soundcloud.com), or use third-party tracking blocker extensions.
For site owners, the recommended approach is to automatically block SoundCloud scripts and embeds until consent is given. A consent management platform like CookieFix can hold back the SoundCloud player from loading and enable it only after the visitor accepts the marketing category.
Frequently asked questions
It's a marketing cookie set by SoundCloud on the .soundcloud.com domain that assigns an anonymous identifier to visitors so they can be recognized across future interactions with SoundCloud content.
It typically has a duration of around 10 years, making it one of the longer-lived persistent cookies.
Yes, since it's classified as marketing/tracking, it requires prior consent under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive before being set.
By using a consent management platform (CMP) that blocks the SoundCloud player from loading until the visitor accepts the marketing category.