URGENT: Microsoft Clarity Users Must Comply with New Cookie Consent Requirements by October 31, 2025

URGENT: Microsoft Clarity Users Must Comply with New Cookie Consent Requirements by October 31, 2025

What's Happening?

If you're using Microsoft Clarity for analytics on your website, you need to take action before October 31, 2025. Microsoft is now requiring explicit cookie consent for visitors from the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

This applies to ALL websites using Clarity - regardless of your hosting provider (Wealthy Affiliate, Bluehost, SiteGround, etc.) or platform (WordPress, Shopify, Wix, custom sites, etc.).

Important Note: This guide provides step-by-step instructions specifically for WordPress websites. If you're using Clarity on Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, or another platform, you'll need a similar consent management solution appropriate for your platform. However, the core requirement and the critical step to disable automatic cookies in your Clarity project settings (Part 3 below) applies to everyone using Clarity, regardless of platform.

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

After October 31st, Microsoft Clarity will stop collecting data from European visitors if you haven't implemented proper cookie consent. You won't face fines, but you'll lose valuable analytics insights from that region.

The Solution: Install a Cookie Consent Plugin

The easiest way to comply is to install a cookie consent management plugin on your WordPress site. Here's a step-by-step guide using CookieYes, which is Microsoft's recommended solution.

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Step-by-Step Compliance Guide

Part 1: Install CookieYes Plugin

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard
2. • Go to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin
2. Install the plugin
3. • Navigate to Plugins → Add New
   • Search for "CookieYes"
   • Click "Install Now" then "Activate"
3. Create a CookieYes account
4. • After activation, sign up for a free account
   • Verify your email address

Part 2: Configure Cookie Consent

4. Complete the setup wizard
5. • CookieYes will guide you through initial setup
   • Enter your website URL
   • Select your target regions (include EEA, UK, and Switzerland)
   • Choose your banner style
5. Categorize Microsoft Clarity cookies
6. • CookieYes will scan your site and detect cookies
   • Find these Microsoft Clarity cookies and make sure they're ALL categorized as "Analytics":
   • • _clck
     • _clsk
     • CLID
     • ANONCHK
     • MR
     • MUID
     • SM
   • Important: If ANONCHK is in "Ads," move it to "Analytics"
   • Save your changes
6. Activate your cookie banner
7. • The banner should activate automatically after setup
   • Test it by opening your site in an incognito/private browser window
   • You should see a cookie consent banner appear

Part 3: Configure Microsoft Clarity Settings

This is the critical step that many people miss!

7. Disable automatic cookies in Clarity
8. • Go to https://clarity.microsoft.com
   • Log in with your Microsoft account
   • Click on your website project
   • Click the ⚙ Settings icon (top right)
   • Click "Setup" in the left sidebar
   • Scroll down to "Advanced settings"
   • Find the "Cookies" toggle switch
   • Turn it OFF (slide to the left until it's gray/disabled)
   • Click "Save" at the bottom

Why this matters: If you don't disable automatic cookies in Clarity, it will continue setting cookies before getting consent, which defeats the entire purpose and means you're NOT compliant.

Part 4: Test Your Setup

8. Verify everything works
9. • Open your website in an incognito/private browser window
   • You should see the cookie consent banner
   • Click "Accept" to test
   • Wait 5-10 minutes
   • Check your Clarity dashboard for new session recordings

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Important Notes

Free Plan Limitation

CookieYes free plan covers one website only. If you have multiple websites using Clarity, you'll need either:

• A paid CookieYes plan (covers multiple sites), OR
• Separate free accounts using different email addresses for each site

Multiple Websites?

If you run multiple websites with Clarity, you must:

1. Install a cookie consent plugin on EACH website
2. Disable automatic cookies in EACH Clarity project separately

Alternative Plugins

If you prefer not to use CookieYes, other compatible options include:

• Complianz - GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent
• WPConsent

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Timeline

Deadline: October 31, 2025

You have until the end of October to complete this setup. After that date, Clarity will enforce consent requirements for European traffic.

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Quick Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure you're fully compliant:

• Cookie consent plugin installed and activated
• Microsoft Clarity cookies categorized as "Analytics"
• Cookie banner appears on your website (test in incognito mode)
• Automatic cookies DISABLED in Clarity project settings
• Tested that Clarity still collects data after users accept cookies

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Need Help?

If you run into issues:

• Check CookieYes documentation: https://www.cookieyes.com/documentation/
• Review Microsoft Clarity's consent guide: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/clarity/setup-and-installation/consent-management
• Ask for help in the Wealthy Affiliate community

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Bottom Line

Don't wait until the last minute! Set aside 30-45 minutes to complete this setup. Once configured, your cookie consent banner will work automatically, and you'll maintain full Clarity functionality while staying compliant with privacy regulations.

The most important step: Remember to disable automatic cookies in your Clarity project settings - this is what actually makes your setup compliant!

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Have you completed your Clarity compliance setup? Share your experience or questions in the comments below!