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ConsentMagic Pro / Consent Types / Ask before tracking

Ask before tracking

Last updated: February 12, 2026

Ask before tracking is the strictest consent model. It’s the typical GDPR setup for EU visitors, where non-essential tracking is not allowed until the user explicitly agrees.

How it works

Default state (before consent)

  • Marketing / Analytics scripts are blocked (Meta Pixel, Google Ads, GA4, etc.).
  • Non-essential cookies are not set because the generator scripts are blocked.
  • Only Necessary / Essential cookies can function (things required for checkout, security, sessions, language, etc.).

Important: the plugin will not delete existing cookies from the client’s browser; instead will block the scripts using them.

What the visitor sees

  • A consent banner that requires a decision.
  • The banner usually offers:
    • Allow / Accept (consent)
    • Reject / Disable (no consent)
    • Customize / Preferences (choose categories)

What each choice means

  • Allow All
    • Enables all consent categories (ex: Marketing + Analytics).
    • ConsentMagic unblocks the scripts for those categories.
  • Customize
    • Opens the preference panel so the visitor can allow only specific categories.
    • Only the approved categories are unblocked.
  • Reject / Disable
    • Keeps Marketing/Analytics blocked.
    • The site still works normally using Necessary cookies only.

Why it matters

This model ensures you don’t run tracking before consent, which is the core GDPR requirement for most marketing and analytics technologies in the EU.

How to enable it in ConsentMagic

  1. Go to the rule you want to apply to EU traffic (usually GDPR Rule) and click Edit.
  2. Set Consent type to Ask before tracking.
  3. Make sure Enable Script Blocking is ON in Main settings (otherwise the banner can show, but scripts won’t be blocked).
  4. Save the rule.

Result: ConsentMagic will block third-party tags by default and only allow them after the user grants consent for the relevant categories.