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Understanding and Fixing Complianz Cookie Banner Display Issues

21 threads Sep 17, 2025 Plugin → Complianz – gdpr/ccpa cookie consent

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Many WordPress users implementing the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin encounter a common challenge: the cookie banner doesn't display the way they expect, particularly regarding regional targeting and functionality. This guide explains why this happens and provides practical solutions based on community experiences.

Why Banner Display Issues Occur

The most frequent cause of banner display confusion stems from how the plugin handles regional compliance requirements. Unlike premium versions that offer geolocation capabilities, the free version of Complianz applies a single compliance standard globally to all visitors.

As seen in multiple support threads, users often expect the free plugin to automatically detect visitor locations and show region-specific banners. However, the free version requires selecting one primary compliance region (such as GDPR for EU visitors) that applies to all website visitors worldwide.

Common Solutions for Banner Configuration

1. Selecting the Right Compliance Region

When using the free version, choose the strictest compliance standard that applies to your audience. For example, if you have European visitors, selecting GDPR/UK-GDPR will ensure maximum compliance for all users, though visitors from other regions will see the same strict banner.

2. Manual Region Selection Setup

In the Complianz Wizard under General > Visitors section, you can manually select all countries you need to support. While this won't enable automatic geolocation, it ensures your banner contains the appropriate legal language for those regions.

3. Understanding Percentage Completion

Many users report seeing only 60% completion in their dashboard. This often occurs because the remaining 40% represents premium suggestions (shown in blue) that don't affect actual compliance. Your site can be fully compliant even with these premium suggestions present.

4. Custom CSS for Banner Appearance

If you need to match your banner's appearance to specific designs (like OneTrust examples), the plugin supports custom CSS modifications. Many users have successfully adapted their banner layouts using CSS code snippets available through community resources.

When to Consider Alternative Approaches

If your website requires true geolocation-based banner display, multiple region support, or cross-domain consent management, these features are only available in the premium version. The free plugin operates effectively for single-region compliance scenarios.

For most users, carefully configuring the free plugin with the strictest applicable privacy standard provides adequate compliance coverage. Regular scans through the Complianz dashboard will help maintain compliance as new cookies or tracking technologies are added to your site.

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