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Why Your Cookie Banner Changes Aren't Visible (And How to Fix It)

31 threads Sep 10, 2025

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One of the most common issues users encounter with the 'GDPR Cookie Compliance' plugin is that changes made in the settings don't appear on the live website. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you've double-checked your configuration. Based on community reports, this problem almost always stems from one of a few specific causes.

Why This Happens

The core issue is that your browser or server is serving a cached (saved) version of your website instead of the new version with your plugin updates. Caching is used to speed up website loading times, but it can often prevent recent changes from being visible to you or your visitors immediately.

Common Solutions

1. Clear All Caches

This is the first and most crucial step. You must clear cache at multiple levels:

  • Browser Cache: Clear your browser's cache and cookies. For the most accurate test, always review your site in a new incognito or private browsing window.
  • Server / Plugin Cache: If you use a caching plugin (like Cachify, W3 Total Cache, or WP Rocket) or your host provides server-level caching, you must clear that cache as well. Simply clearing your browser cache is often not enough. Check your caching plugin's settings for a "Purge Cache" or "Clear All Cache" button.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN): If you use a CDN like Cloudflare, clear its cache too.

2. Check for a Translation Plugin Conflict

If you use a multilingual plugin like Polylang, your cookie banner text might be tied to a specific language. Ensure you are editing the correct language version within the GDPR plugin's settings and that you have switched to that language in your CMS before translating the strings.

3. Verify the Plugin is Active

It may seem obvious, but sometimes the plugin can be accidentally deactivated. Double-check in your WordPress admin that the plugin is active.

4. Test in an Incognito Window

Your logged-in WordPress session can sometimes show a different view of the site. To see what a regular visitor sees, always test your cookie banner in a private or incognito browser window.

5. Check File Permissions (Advanced)

In rare cases, if your WordPress user does not have correct write permissions to the database, settings may not save properly. This is a more advanced server configuration issue, but it has been known to cause problems where changes are not stored.

When to Look Elsewhere

If you've tried all the steps above and your changes are still not visible, the issue might be a conflict with your theme or another plugin. A common sign of this is the banner working on mobile but not desktop (or vice versa), which can often be fixed with custom CSS to adjust the banner's z-index.

For complex conflicts or JavaScript errors visible in the browser console, consulting with an experienced developer may be the most efficient path to a solution, as they can diagnose the specific code conflict.

By methodically working through these common causes, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your cookie banner displaying correctly for all your visitors.

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