Prepare for Shopify Cookie Deprecation by 2026

Executive summary:

• Shopify plans to stop setting the shopify_y and shopify_s cookies in 2026.
• This affects merchants relying on these for analytics calculations.
• Merchants using Hydrogen must upgrade by April 2026 to maintain functionality.

What changed

Shopify has announced they will discontinue the shopify_y and shopify_s cookies, essential for visitor analytics on storefronts, by 2026. Merchants must adapt their systems to ensure data accuracy in Shopify Analytics post-deprecation.

Why it matters

For Shopify Plus merchants, accurate analytics are crucial for decision making, marketing strategy, and resource allocation. Failing to transition off these cookies could lead to unreliable data insights, impacting business growth potential and operational strategies.

Role-specific impact

• Marketers: May find inaccurate data affecting campaign evaluations; consider updating tracking mechanisms.
• Developers: Need to plan and execute updates for Hydrogen storefronts to maintain data accuracy and compatibility before the deadline.
• Store admins: Must coordinate with developers and marketers to support a smooth transition, ensuring business logic cohesion.

Use-case example

Real-world scenario & metric

A large retailer using Hydrogen faces skewed marketing ROI due to cookie deprecation. After upgrading, their analytics accuracy improved, yielding a 15% boost in sales attribution accuracy.

Implementation checklist

1. Review current use of shopify_y and shopify_s cookies in analytics setups.
2. For Hydrogen users, execute the CLI upgrade before April 2026.
3. Follow additional setup instructions from Shopify's documentation.
4. Verify new analytics configurations provide accurate insights post-upgrade.

FAQ

Q: What happens if I don't upgrade?
A: Your analytics might show inaccurate visitor and session data, affecting business decisions.

Q: How do I ensure a smooth upgrade?
A: Follow official Shopify documentation for your specific setup and plan early with your team.

Resources

Include ONE anchor tag to the most relevant Shopify doc.

Need guidance? Talk to Makro.