What is the wpml_browser_redirect_test cookie?
The wpml_browser_redirect_test cookie is generated by WPML, one of the most widely used multilingual plugins for WordPress. It only appears on sites that have the "Redirect users based on their browser language" option enabled in WPML's settings.
It is set by the site itself (first-party cookie), not by an external WPML server, the first time a visitor lands on a page and WPML tries to determine whether it should redirect them to the matching language version.
What data it stores
The cookie does not store personal or identifying data. Its role is purely technical: it records that the browser has already been tested for cookie support during the current session, so the redirection script doesn't keep running repeatedly on the same visit.
The exact value format is not publicly documented by WPML and can vary between plugin versions; it is not sent to third-party servers, stays local to the visitor's browser, and is automatically deleted when the session ends.
What it is used for
Its practical purpose is to prevent a redirect loop: without this test, the site could repeatedly try to check and redirect the visitor toward their browser's language, which would slow down navigation or interfere with the page loading correctly.
For the site owner, the cookie supports a convenience feature (automatic language redirection), not an essential function — the site works without it, the visitor simply won't be automatically routed to the matching language version.
Does it require consent?
In CookieFix's classification, wpml_browser_redirect_test falls under the preferences (functional) category, not strictly necessary. Under the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (implemented in Romania via Law 506/2004), cookies in this category require prior visitor consent before being set.
Site owners should list it in their cookie policy, include it under the preferences category in the consent banner, and make sure it isn't placed before the visitor has given consent.
How to block or delete wpml_browser_redirect_test
Visitors can delete or block this cookie anytime from their browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) — via per-site cookie management or by clearing browsing data. Being a session cookie, it disappears automatically once the browser is closed anyway.
- For site owners: the WPML script that sets this cookie should be blocked automatically until consent is obtained, like any other non-essential cookie.
- A CMP platform such as CookieFix can handle this automatically, blocking the browser-language redirect until the visitor accepts the "preferences" category in the banner.
Frequently asked questions
It's a session cookie set by the WPML plugin to test whether the visitor's browser accepts cookies, as part of its automatic browser-language redirection feature.
No, it's not strictly necessary — the site works fine without it. It only supports redirecting visitors to their preferred language, so it's classified as functional/preferences.
It's a session cookie: it's automatically deleted when the visitor closes their browser or the browsing session ends.
Yes, since it's classified as preferences/functional, it should only be set after the visitor consents to that category, per GDPR and the ePrivacy rules.