Cookie Policy
Every cookie and piece of browser storage we use, what it does and how long it lasts.
Last updated
In short
- Essential cookies and local storage keep you signed in, keep chat safe and remember your settings. They are always on.
- We use no analytics or tracking cookies of our own.
- Advertising cookies from Google load only after you accept them in the EU, EEA, UK and Switzerland, and you can change your choice at any time.
This summary is for convenience only. The full text below is what applies.
1. What cookies and local storage are
Cookies are small text files that a website saves in your browser. Local storage and session storage are similar browser features that keep small amounts of data on your device. This policy explains which of these TalkKiwi uses. It is part of our Privacy Policy.
2. Essential storage (always on)
These are strictly necessary to provide the Service you ask for, keep it secure and stop abuse, so they do not need consent. If you block them, sign-in, human checks and chat may not work.
| Name | Type | Purpose | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| authjs.session-token (or __Secure-authjs.session-token) | Cookie | Keeps you signed in (accounts only) | 30 days, renewed while you use the site |
| authjs.csrf-token, authjs.callback-url, authjs.state, authjs.pkce.code_verifier | Cookie | Protects sign-in against forgery and returns you to the right page | Session or up to 15 minutes |
| tk_gid | Cookie | Signed random guest ID, used to apply limits and bans to your browser | 1 year |
| tk_hv | Cookie | Proof that you passed the human check | 12 hours |
| tk_cc | Cookie | Your approximate country (from your IP address), used for consent rules and filters | 24 hours |
| Cloudflare Turnstile | Cookie / storage set by Cloudflare | Detects bots during the human check | Session |
| tk-settings | Local storage | Your chat preferences: interests, filters, devices, translation, rules acknowledgement | Until you clear it |
| tk-theme | Local storage | Light or dark theme | Until you clear it |
| tk-consent | Local storage | Your cookie choice, so we do not ask again | Until you clear it |
| tk-push-banner-dismissed | Local storage | Remembers that you closed the notifications banner | Until you clear it |
| tk-adblock-note | Session storage | Remembers that you closed the ad-blocker note | Until you close the tab |
| tk-chat | Broadcast channel (not stored) | Stops you from running chats in two tabs at once | Not stored |
| Service worker and cache | Browser cache | Makes the installable app and push notifications work | Until you clear it |
3. Advertising cookies (only with consent where required)
TalkKiwi is free because of ads. In the EU, EEA, UK and Switzerland, and when we cannot tell where you are, ads and their cookies do not load until you choose in the consent banner. If you reject, Google may still show non-personalised ads using limited cookies for fraud prevention and frequency capping, as described by Google. Elsewhere, personalised ads are shown by default, and you can opt out below. We honour the Global Privacy Control signal as an opt-out.
| Provider and examples | Purpose | Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Google AdSense (e.g. __gads, __gpi, IDE, NID) | Shows ads, limits how often you see them, measures them and, with consent, personalises them | Up to 13 months |
Google’s use of data is described at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. We use no analytics cookies.
4. Third-party content
When you open the GIF picker, GIFs are loaded from KLIPY. When you sign in with Google or Discord, their pages set their own cookies under their own policies.
5. Your choices
- You can change your ad choice at any time with the button above or the “Privacy choices” link in the footer.
- You can delete or block cookies and site data in your browser settings. Blocking essential storage will stop parts of the Service from working.
- You can turn off push notifications in your browser or device settings.
6. Changes and contact
We update this policy when we change the storage we use. Questions: [email protected].
Questions about this page?
Email [email protected] or see all contacts.