What is an opt-out form?

Administration

Needed permissions: owner or manage

If you’re not using Consent Manager to collect and manage visitor consents, you can use our opt-out form, which lets visitors choose not to be tracked. Just keep in mind that this form doesn’t comply with GDPR regulations. So, if your site is used in GDPR-regulated countries, it’s better to switch to Consent Manager.

Here’s an example of our opt-out form on a privacy policy page.

An example of an opt-out form from Piwik PRO.

In this article, we’ll show you how to set up the opt-out form on your website and clarify its effect on tracking.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you start:

  • Visitors are opted-in by default. If they want to opt out, they can do so by checking the opt-out box on the form.
  • You can customize the form’s code to match your website’s look.
  • When using an opt-out form, make sure that Respect opt-out and DNT is on for each tag. This setting prevents tags from activating for visitors who have opted out. It’s usually turned on by default, but it’s a good idea to double-check.

Add an opt-out form to your page

To install the opt-out form on your website, follow these steps:

Available from version 16.0.0. For versions below 16.0.0, go to Menu > Administration > Platform > Opt-out generator.

  1. Go to Menu > Administration.
  2. Navigate to Account.
  3. On the left, click Opt-out form.
  4. Type the message you want to show to your visitors. 
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  5. Click Preview to see how the message will appear on your website after installation. The message will adopt your website’s CSS styles, so it will look different from this preview.
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  6. When you’re happy with how the form looks, copy the code and paste it into your website. 
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  7. The opt-out form is now on your page. In the next steps, you need to make sure that Respect opt-out and DNT is turned on for the tracking tag.
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  8. Go to Menu > Tag Manager.
  9. Navigate to Tags.
  10. On the left, click Piwik PRO.
  11. In Privacy, turn on Respect opt-out and DNT.
    Respect opt-out and DNT in Piwik PRO

    Note: If turned on, this tag won’t fire for visitors who opt out of tracking using our consent form. Make sure that all tags that you use to collect data have this option turned on.

  12. Click Save.
  13. Check the other tags.
  14. You can also use debug mode to see how tags behave for opted-out visitors. Click Debug in the upper right corner.
  15. Your website will open in a new tab in debug mode.
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  16. Turn on Simulate opt-out.
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  17. If the tag has Respect opt-out and DNT on, you’ll see Opted out next to it.
    Opt-out form in Piwik PRO
  18. When you’re happy with how the tags work, click Publish.
  19. All done!

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