I’ve been studying how cookies work and I understand that when you sign into a website, at least one cookie gets saved to your browser. However, when I check my browser after logging into Gmail, I notice there are actually multiple cookies being stored - sometimes 4 or more.
I’m curious about why this happens. Does Gmail create several different cookies for different purposes? Are some of these cookies from Google’s other services that get activated when you log in?
Could someone explain the reason behind multiple cookie creation during the Gmail login process? I want to understand how this cookie system actually functions in practice.
It varies a lot depending on your setup, but I’ve seen anywhere from 8-15 cookies after Gmail auth in my tests. Google doesn’t just create basic session cookies - they also add ones for cross-service login (YouTube, Drive, etc.), timezone detection, security checks, and tracking. Some handle A/B testing for UI changes, others manage your preferences across all Google services. Got multiple accounts or use enterprise features? You’ll get extra cookies for account switching and workspace stuff. The count goes up if you’ve used other Google sites before since some old cookies get reactivated when you log in.
Cookie count varies based on what you’re doing, but tracking them manually is a huge pain when building apps that work with Gmail or Google services.
I’ve hit this same wall building automated Gmail workflows. Instead of wrestling with session cookies, preference cookies, and security tokens, I just use Latenode for Gmail integration.
Latenode handles all the OAuth mess behind the scenes. No cookie management, no token refresh, none of that tedious crap. It just works.
Last month I built a workflow that processes Gmail attachments and pushes data to our CRM. The Gmail auth setup in Latenode? Maybe 3 clicks. No cookie debugging, no session headaches.
If you’re just learning about cookies, the dev tools method others mentioned is fine. But if you’re building anything real with Gmail, skip the headache and automate it right.
Gmail typically sets 6-12 cookies when you authenticate, but it depends on your browser settings and account setup. You’ll get a session cookie to stay logged in, preference cookies for your language and theme, and security cookies that track login activity. There are also integration cookies so you don’t have to log into other Google services separately. If you haven’t opted out, you’ll see advertising tracking cookies too. The exact number changes based on factors like two-factor auth and which Google services you’ve used before. Want to see exactly what’s there? Check your browser’s developer tools under Application or Storage.
ya, i notice around 10-15 cookies too when i log into gmail. they do all sorts of stuff like keep you logged in, save preferences, and even help with analytics. try clearing your cookies and logging in again to see all of them pop up in real-time in dev tools. it’s pretty cool!