This Cookie Policy explains how Chatroulette uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our Platform, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.
Last updated: January 15, 2025
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give site owners useful information about how their platform is being used.
Cookies can be "persistent" (remaining on your device until they expire or you delete them) or "session-based" (deleted automatically when you close your browser). They can also be "first-party" (set by the website you are visiting) or "third-party" (set by a different domain).
In addition to cookies, we may use other similar technologies such as web beacons (also called "pixel tags" or "clear GIFs"), local storage, and session storage. This Cookie Policy covers all such technologies.
Chatroulette uses cookies for the following specific purposes:
These cookies are essential for the Platform to function correctly. They enable core features such as user authentication, session management, load balancing, and security. Without these cookies, services like logging in or starting a video chat would not be possible. These cookies cannot be disabled through our Platform, though you can block them via your browser settings (which may break functionality).
These cookies remember your settings and preferences to provide a more personalized experience. For example, they remember your preferred language, match filters (gender, location), and display settings so you don't have to re-enter them each time you visit Chatroulette.
We use privacy-respecting analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our Platform. This helps us identify popular features, detect bugs, and improve performance. The data collected is aggregated and anonymized — it cannot be used to identify you personally. We do not use analytics cookies to track you across other websites.
These cookies help us monitor the technical performance of Chatroulette, such as page load times, video streaming quality, and server response times. The information is used solely to optimize the Platform and ensure a smooth user experience.
To be transparent about our practices, Chatroulette does not use:
The following table lists the specific cookies we use, their purpose, and their typical duration:
| Cookie Name | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| cr_session | Strictly Necessary | Maintains your authenticated session | Session |
| cr_csrf | Strictly Necessary | Protects against cross-site request forgery | Session |
| cr_prefs | Preference | Stores language and match preferences | 12 months |
| cr_theme | Preference | Remembers dark/light mode selection | 12 months |
| cr_consent | Strictly Necessary | Records your cookie consent choices | 12 months |
| _ga_cr | Analytics | Anonymized usage statistics | 24 months |
| cr_perf | Performance | Monitors page load and video quality | 30 days |
| cr_ab | Analytics | A/B testing for feature improvements | 90 days |
In some cases, we may allow trusted third parties to set cookies on our Platform. These include:
These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to review. We do not control the cookies set by these providers.
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:
Here are links to cookie management instructions for popular browsers:
Please note that if you disable certain cookies, some features of Chatroulette may not function properly. For example, blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent you from logging in or starting a video chat.
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. Because there is no industry consensus on how to interpret DNT signals, Chatroulette does not currently respond to them. However, we do not engage in cross-site tracking, so your privacy is protected regardless.
On mobile devices, you can control cookies through your device settings. For iOS, go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security. For Android, open Chrome > Settings > Site Settings > Cookies. You can also reset your advertising identifier in your device's privacy settings.
In addition to cookies, Chatroulette may use HTML5 local storage and session storage to store data on your device. Unlike cookies, this data is not automatically transmitted to our servers with every request. We use local storage for:
You can clear local storage through your browser's developer tools or privacy settings.
Chatroulette may use web beacons (also known as pixel tags or clear GIFs) in our emails and on certain pages. These are tiny, invisible images that allow us to:
Web beacons do not store personal information, and you can disable them by blocking images in your email client or using browser extensions.
When you first visit Chatroulette, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept or customize your cookie preferences. Strictly necessary cookies are set by default because they are essential for the Platform to function. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer.
Your consent choices are stored in a cookie called cr_consent for 12 months. After this period, you will be asked to renew your consent.
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our practices. When we make material changes, we will notify you via a prominent notice on our Platform and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
If you have questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us:
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
Thank you for using Chatroulette. We are committed to transparency and protecting your privacy while you enjoy our free random video chat platform.