Cookie Policy

Almost every website you visit uses cookies, and WinAddons is no exception. They are a small but useful part of how the site works.

This Cookie Policy explains, in plain language, what cookies are, how we use them, and how you can stay in control of them. It sits alongside our Privacy Policy, which covers how we handle your information more broadly.

Last updated: 30th May 2026

What cookies are

A cookie is a tiny text file that a website places on your device when you visit. It is not a program, and it cannot harm your computer.

Cookies do simple jobs, like remembering your settings, keeping you logged in, or helping a site understand which pages people visit. Some are deleted the moment you close your browser, while others stick around for a while so the site remembers you next time.

You will also see us mention ‘similar technologies’ here and there. That just covers things like pixels and local storage, which do much the same job as cookies.

Why we use cookies

We use cookies for a handful of practical reasons, not to spy on you.

In short, they help the site run properly and securely, remember the choices you make, show us how WinAddons is being used so we can improve it, and support the advertising that keeps the site free to read.

Wherever possible, we keep this to what is useful, and we try not to clutter your browser with anything unnecessary.

The types of cookies we use

It helps to break cookies down into a few groups, based on what they do.

Essential cookies. These keep the basics working, like core features and security. The site may not function properly without them, so they cannot really be switched off from our side.

Performance and analytics cookies. These help us understand how visitors use the site, for example through a tool like Google Analytics. They tell us which articles are popular and where people run into trouble, usually in an aggregated form that does not single you out.

Advertising cookies. Set by our advertising partners, these help show ads and measure how they perform, including ads based on your visits to this and other sites. They are part of how WinAddons earns its keep.

Preference cookies. These remember choices you have made, such as settings or things you have dismissed, so you do not have to set them again every visit.

Cookies set by other companies

Some of the cookies on WinAddons are not set by us at all, but by trusted third parties we work with, such as our analytics and advertising providers.

We do not control these cookies, and the companies that set them have their own privacy and cookie policies. If you want the full detail on what they collect, those policies are the place to look.

We only work with partners we consider reputable, and we keep this kind of cookie to what supports the running of the site.

How long cookies last

Not all cookies stick around for the same amount of time.

Session cookies last only while you are browsing and disappear once you close your browser. Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set period, or until you delete them, so the site can remember things between visits.

The exact lifespan varies from one cookie to the next, depending on what job it is doing.

How to manage or turn off cookies

You are always in control of cookies, and you have a few easy ways to manage them.

Every major browser lets you view, delete, and block cookies through its settings. You can usually choose to refuse cookies altogether, clear the ones already stored, or have your browser warn you whenever a new one is set. A quick search for ‘manage cookies’ plus the name of your browser will point you to the exact steps.

If your main concern is personalized advertising, you can opt out through tools like Google’s Ads Settings, and through industry pages run by the Digital Advertising Alliance and the Network Advertising Initiative.

One thing worth knowing: if you block or delete certain cookies, some parts of the site may not work as smoothly as they should.

Changes to this policy

As the site grows and the tools we use evolve, we may update this Cookie Policy from time to time.

When we make a change, we will post the updated version here and refresh the date at the top, so this page always reflects what we are currently doing.

Questions about cookies

If anything here is unclear, or you would like to know more about how we use cookies, we are happy to help. Reach a real person any time at support@winaddons.com.