Cookie Policy
A cookie is a small file a website asks your browser to keep. This page lists what we use, what each item does, and how to get rid of any of it.
Last updated: August 21, 2026
How we approach cookies
We keep this deliberately small. The timers themselves need no cookies at all — they use local storage on your own device to remember your history and preferences, and that data never reaches our servers. The only cookies that involve third parties are the ones behind analytics and advertising, and none of those are set until you press Accept.
We use Google Consent Mode v2, which means advertising storage, ad personalisation, ad user data and analytics storage all start in a denied state. Choosing Decline keeps them denied, and every feature on the site continues to work.
What we store
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| cookie_consent | Local storage — essential | Remembers whether you accepted or declined non-essential cookies so the banner is not shown on every visit. | Until you clear site data |
| timerHistory-countdown, timerHistory-stopwatch | Local storage — essential | Stores your recent timers and stopwatch sessions on your device so the history panel can show them. Never sent to us. | Until you clear it or clear site data |
| timer-audio-settings, timerNumber | Local storage — essential | Remembers your chosen alert sound, volume, and the number used when naming a new timer. | Until you clear site data |
| _ga, _ga_* | Cookie — analytics (Google Analytics) | Distinguishes visitors and sessions so we can see which tools are used. Set only after you accept. | Up to 2 years |
| __gads, __gpi, IDE, test_cookie and similar | Cookie — advertising (Google AdSense) | Used by Google and its partners to serve and measure advertising, and to limit how often you see the same ad. Personalisation is disabled unless you accept. | From a few minutes up to 24 months, depending on the cookie |
Google may set additional cookies not listed individually here, and the exact names change over time. The authoritative list is maintained by Google in its advertising cookies overview.
Categories explained
Essential
These make the site work: remembering your consent choice, your alert sound and your timer history. They live in local storage on your device, are never transmitted to us, and cannot be switched off without breaking the features that depend on them — but you can clear them yourself at any time.
Analytics
Google Analytics tells us which pages are visited and which tools are used, in aggregate. It helps us decide what to build and what to fix. It is only active after you accept.
Advertising
Google AdSense pays for the hosting that keeps these tools free. Its cookies are used to select ads, cap how often you see the same one, and measure performance. If you have not consented, Google is instructed to serve non-personalised ads.
How to control cookies
- Decline on the consent banner — analytics and advertising storage stay denied and the site works exactly the same.
- Clear this site’s data in your browser settings to remove everything we store, including your consent choice. The banner will reappear on your next visit.
- Adjust personalised advertising directly at Google Ads Settings.
- Use your browser’s cookie controls to block or delete cookies site by site — every major browser offers this under Privacy or Site settings.
Useful links: Google Ads Settings, aboutads.info/choices, Network Advertising Initiative.
Questions
If something here is unclear, or you want to know exactly what is stored for you, email support@onlinecounters.app. Our privacy policy covers the wider picture of how data is handled.
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