_gcl_au

This page describes common technical behavior for one cookie or vendor family. It is not legal advice, and it is not a compliance verdict.

What this is

_gcl_au is a cookie commonly associated with Google Ads. Google Ads commonly sends ad-conversion or retargeting signals (page views, events, or hashed identifiers) to its advertising endpoints. What leaves the browser depends on the pixel setup.

Related service or category

Google Ads

When it may load

Google Ads may load when the page opens, before a visitor makes a consent choice. Your consent setup determines whether it waits.

Plugins active when we detected this service

We have no published plugin test showing this service.

Vendor directory

Open the Google Ads vendor page

Domains we look for

googleadservices.com
googlesyndication.com
doubleclick.net
adservice.google.com

Practical next step

Find where Google Ads is added, such as your theme, plugin, tag manager, or hosting provider. Keep it, delay it until after a consent choice, or remove it. Then scan the same URL again.

Check your own site

Run a free Leak Finder scan. If this cookie or vendor appears on the scanned page, it can show up in your report.

Scan your site for _gcl_au