What is the `__zlcid` Cookie?

Set by Zendesk Live Chat (Zendesk, Inc.). Expires after Session.

Purpose

Session identifier for the Zendesk live chat widget.

Set when the Zendesk chat widget is loaded. Functional but not strictly necessary — consent required.

Cookie Details

Cookie Name	`__zlcid`
Service	Zendesk Live Chat
Provider	Zendesk, Inc.
Category	Functional
Duration	Session
Consent Required	Yes — requires explicit opt-in

Category: Functional

Functional cookies enhance the website's functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers. Consent is required under GDPR.

GDPR Requirements

Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, the __zlcid cookie requires explicit user consent before it can be set. This means:

The cookie must not be set when a user first visits your site — not even for a fraction of a second
A consent banner must be displayed, and the user must actively accept analytics/marketing cookies
If the user rejects or ignores the banner, this cookie must remain blocked
The cookie must be listed in your cookie policy with its name, purpose, and retention period
Users must be able to withdraw consent at any time, which must also remove or invalidate this cookie

How to Handle This Cookie

Block it by default — configure your Consent Management Platform (CMP) or tag manager to prevent Zendesk Live Chat from loading until the user accepts functional cookies.
Include it in your consent categories — map it to the "Functional" category in your CMP configuration.
List it in your cookie policy — document the cookie name, purpose, provider (Zendesk, Inc.), and expiry (Session).
Sign a DPA — ensure you have a Data Processing Agreement with Zendesk, Inc. covering their use of data collected via this cookie.
Verify it works — in an incognito browser, reject cookies and confirm __zlcid is not set.

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