--- title: Cookie Settings description: "## What's in This Guide This article covers the **Cookie** settings in the popup editor. You can add, edit (pencil icon), and delete (x icon) popup cookie settings under **Popup Settings** > **Triggers** in the popup editor. ### Chat with…" url: "https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/controlling-popups/cookie-settings/" updated: "2026-05-20" category: Using Popup Maker / Controlling Popups --- # Cookie Settings ## What's in This Guide This article covers the **Cookie** settings in the popup editor. You can add, edit (pencil icon), and delete (x icon) popup cookie settings under **Popup Settings** > **Triggers** in the popup editor. ### Chat with Claude Need a hand? You can chat with Claude about this guide. We already set up the instructions for you. Just click and go. ✨[Ask Claude about this topic](#). ## Should I Use a Cookie for My Popup? We recommend using a cookie for any popup that automatically opens. That's because the cookie will stop the popup from showing over and over to a visitor who's already seen it. ## Where Do I Set Up a Popup Cookie? Popup cookies are related to triggers because [cookies control the repeat display of a popup](https://wppopupmaker.com/conversion-optimization/what-is-a-cookie/). And triggers are what make your popups display. So they go hand in hand. The first time you create a trigger, you'll see options to set up a cookie for the trigger. Read the [Add a Popup Trigger guide](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/add-a-popup-trigger/) for step-by-step instructions. Below is an example of a **Triggers** tab with no triggers or cookies yet. ![popup maker popup settings triggers closeup](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/popup-maker-popup-settings-triggers-closeup.png) Below is an example of a **Triggers** tab with an **Auto Open** trigger and an **On Popup Close** cookie setting (pum-15). Notice the edit (pencil) and delete (x) icons next to the trigger and cookie setting. ![popup maker trigger cookie 908w](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/popup-maker-trigger-cookie-908w.png) ### Read This First **Heads up**: If you are new to [browser cookies](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/popup-maker-glossary-of-terms/#cookies), read our [What Is a Cookie? blog post](https://wppopupmaker.com/conversion-optimization/what-is-a-cookie/) first. --- ## Definitions **Popup Trigger**: A [popup trigge](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/a-beginners-guide-to-popup-triggers/)r is an event (e.g., a click or length of time) that makes your popup appear. You must create a popup trigger for your popup to display. A popup can have more than 1 trigger. **Browser Cookie**: When you create a popup trigger, you can create [cookies](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/popup-maker-glossary-of-terms/#cookies) to remember when someone sees a popup. That means you can tell Popup Maker to display a popup to someone only once a month (1 month is the default setting). Popup Maker does this by checking for any relevant browser cookies before it tries to open a popup. --- ## When should your cookie be created? After clicking **Add New Cookie**, you need to choose **When should your cookie be created?** There are six (6) cookie setting options at the time of writing for Popup Maker Lite (free). ![pm when cookie created dropdown](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-when-cookie-created-dropdown-1024x742.png) Here are the six options you have for when you want your popup to set a cookie in the browser. 1. **On Popup Close**: Set a browser cookie when you close the popup (default). You must close the popup first before the cookie gets set. Otherwise, you can see the popup again until you click the popup's close button. 2. **On Popup Open**: Set a browser cookie when you open the popup. This will stop the popup from showing again once you see it. You don't need to close the popup to stop it from showing. 3. **For Submission**: Set a browser cookie when you submit a [Popup Maker integrated form](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/compatibility/frequently-asked-questions/#what-wordpress-form-builder-plugins) inside a popup. Use this with the [Form Submission trigger](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/a-beginners-guide-to-popup-triggers/#form-submission). Read the [Close/Open Popup and Create Cookie After Form Submission how-to guide](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/form-submit-actions/close-popup-and-create-cookie-after-forms-submission/). 4. ****S**ubscription Form: Successful**: Set a browser cookie when you "successfully" submit a [Popup Maker integrated form](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/compatibility/frequently-asked-questions/#what-wordpress-form-builder-plugins) inside a popup. Use this with the [Form Submission trigger](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/a-beginners-guide-to-popup-triggers/#form-submission). 5. ****S**ubscription Form: Already Subscribed**: Set a browser cookie when you submit a [Popup Maker integrated form](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/compatibility/frequently-asked-questions/#what-wordpress-form-builder-plugins) inside a popup even though you've already subscribed. Use this with the [Form Submission trigger](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/a-beginners-guide-to-popup-triggers/#form-submission). 6. **Manual**: For maximum cookie setting control, write your own custom JavaScript to set a browser cookie. Read our [A Beginner's Guide to Manually Creating Cookies](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/controlling-popups/a-beginners-guide-to-manually-creating-cookies/) to learn how. --- ### Cookie Settings > General You can get to these settings when adding a new cookie and when you click the edit (pencil) icon next to an existing cookie. Here, you can set the cookie name and how long you want the cookie to last in your visitor's web browser. **Cookie Name**: Popup Maker automatically assigns a **Cookie Name**, e.g., "pum-123". This name is how a trigger knows which cookie to set when the popup trigger fires. **Cookie Time**: By default, cookies last for 1 month. You can change this using the following valid units: - seconds - minute(s) - hour(s) - day(s) - month(s)  - year(s) ![Cookie Settings General tab](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-cookie-settings-general-862w.png) --- ### Cookie Settings > Advanced **Use Session Cookie?**: By default, this option is off. We recommend you set a custom **Cookie Time** duration instead of using session cookies. Modern browsers can keep web pages (and browser sessions) open indefinitely, even when browsers and devices are not in use. We maintain this option setting for plugin version backward compatibility. Generally, you won't need to turn this option on.  **Sitewide Cookie**: This option is on by default. That means, by default, Popup Maker checks for the cookie on every post and page on your WordPress site. ![Cookie Settings Advanced tab](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-cookie-settings-advanced-865w.png)