3. Local Storage (Not Cookies)
The browser’s localStorage is not a cookie. We use it for:
- cookie_consent — same Accept/Reject value as the consent cookie when the site banner is used
- ads_share_opt_out — remembers a footer Do Not Sell or Share choice for applicable US-state visitors (ads personalization off; analytics unchanged). Click the same control again to allow sharing. Accept does not clear it.
- google_privacy_ui_handled — remembers that Google already showed its US/privacy message, so our site banner does not auto-open again. Footer Cookie settings can still open our banner
- Tool settings — each generator saves its form state under that tool’s id (grid size, colors, paper size, and similar fields). This stays on your device and is not sent to our servers
Clearing site data for printablegrid.com removes these values. The tools still work; they just return to defaults.
4. First-Party Usage Stats (No Cookie)
Opening a tool or exporting a file sends an anonymous event (tool id, view or export, optional format, timestamp) to /api/analytics/track. That path does not set a tracking cookie and does not require Accept. It is separate from Google Analytics.
5. Why We Use Cookies
Remember Your Choice
cookie_consent stops the site banner from asking again on every page until you change it or it expires. It is not set where Google's consent message is used.
Contact Form Security
__csrf_token helps block cross-site request forgery on the contact form.
Optional Analytics
If you allow analytics, Google Analytics cookies help us see which pages are used. The generators do not depend on those cookies.
Optional Advertising
Outside the EEA, UK and Switzerland, personalized ads are the default until you opt out. Reject, Do Not Sell or Share, or GPC turns off ad personalization; non-personalized ads (NPA) may still show and may still use cookies. Analytics cookies still need Accept. In the EEA, UK and Switzerland Google's TCF message controls advertising cookies; refusing Purpose 1 (device storage) leads to limited ads, not NPA.
6. Third-Party Cookies & Services
Google Analytics
We use Advanced Consent Mode v2: Google tags may load while storage stays denied and may send cookieless pings (page URL, browser, and the IP address on the request). Google says it does not store that IP for Analytics. In the EEA, UK and Switzerland, from August 2026 Google may use IP addresses from its tags for ads measurement and ads personalization when the consent message allows it. Analytics cookies are written only after you Allow analytics in the consent message for your region. After you allow them, Google Analytics may record pages viewed, device/browser type, coarse location, and referrer. Google processes that data under its own policy.
View Google's Privacy Policy and Google's Business Data Responsibility.
Advertising Cookies
Google AdSense ads may appear with or without personalization. Outside the EEA, UK and Switzerland, advertising cookies for personalized ads are used unless you opt out. If you opt out, ads may still show as non-personalized ads (NPA). If Google's consent message is shown in the EEA, UK or Switzerland, that message controls advertising cookies; refusing Purpose 1 leads to limited ads rather than NPA.
No Social Media Pixels
We do not use Facebook Pixel, X/Twitter, or TikTok cookies.
8. Do Not Track (DNT)
Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” (DNT) header. PrintableGrid does not read that signal and does not automatically disable Google Analytics when DNT is on.
We do honor Global Privacy Control when the browser exposes navigator.globalPrivacyControl. That signal opts out of ad personalization and “sale or share” of personal information. It does not change analytics. We do not read the HTTP Sec-GPC header on the server. Use the consent message for your region, footer Cookie settings, or — in applicable US states — Do Not Sell or Share to change your choice.
9. Cookies & GDPR (EEA, UK and Switzerland)
Cookies that are not strictly necessary need a clear choice. PrintableGrid does this by:
Google's consent message (EEA, UK, Switzerland)
Google's Privacy & messaging tool shows an IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) message. We do not show a second Accept/Reject banner beside it. Footer Cookie settings reopens Google's message.
Site banner (other regions)
Our Accept/Reject box does not treat scrolling or “continuing to browse” as consent. Open Cookie settings in the footer to choose again, or clear site data.
Analytics vs ads
Google Consent Mode uses regional defaults. In the EEA, UK and Switzerland all four signals start denied until Google's certified CMP updates them; a wait timeout does not grant ads. Elsewhere analytics start denied and ads start granted (opt-out) unless you Reject, use Do Not Sell or Share, or send GPC. We use Advanced Consent Mode: Google tags may load while storage is denied; analytics cookies are written only after you Allow them. If Purpose 1 is refused in the EEA, UK or Switzerland, Google may serve limited ads rather than NPA.
Anonymous first-party tool counts do not use a tracking cookie. See our Privacy Policy and Google's Business Data Responsibility.
10. California Consumer Privacy (CCPA)
California residents can ask what personal information we collect via cookies and request deletion through our contact form.
We do not sell personal information for money. Advertising use can count as “sharing” under some US state laws. If you are in a supported US state, opt out with footer Do Not Sell or Share (Google decides whether that law applies from your location). You can also Reject on our banner, use Global Privacy Control, the consent message for your region, or Google Ads Settings. Click the same footer control again to allow sale or sharing for ads. Accept on the cookie banner does not undo that opt-out. In some US states Google may also show a separate privacy message about selling or sharing personal information.
11. Cookies & Children
PrintableGrid is not directed to children under 13 years of age. The generators — including handwriting and classroom-style paper — are tools for educators, parents, and adult learners. We do not treat the site as a children’s product and we do not label AdSense as child-directed.
We do not knowingly collect cookies from children under 13. If a parent believes we have collected cookies from their child under 13, please contact us immediately.
12. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when our cookies or legal requirements change. Material updates are shown by changing the "Last Updated" date on this page.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about our Cookie Policy, use our contact form and include "Cookie Policy" in the message. We aim to respond within 5 business days.
See also the Privacy Policy.