FunctionalConsent required
What is the woocommerce_recently_viewed Cookie?
Set by WooCommerce (Automattic / WooCommerce). Expires after Session.
Purpose
Stores the last few products a user has viewed to power the 'Recently Viewed' widget.
Cookie Details
| Cookie Name | woocommerce_recently_viewed |
| Service | WooCommerce |
| Provider | Automattic / WooCommerce |
| 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 woocommerce_recently_viewed 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 WooCommerce 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 (Automattic / WooCommerce), and expiry (Session).
- Sign a DPA — ensure you have a Data Processing Agreement with Automattic / WooCommerce covering their use of data collected via this cookie.
- Verify it works — in an incognito browser, reject cookies and confirm
woocommerce_recently_viewedis not set.
Other WooCommerce Cookies
| Cookie | Category | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| woocommerce_cart_hash | Strictly Necessary | Session |
| woocommerce_items_in_cart | Strictly Necessary | Session |
| wp_woocommerce_session_* | Strictly Necessary | 2 days |
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