Introduction

This quick start guide will help you set up PureDevs GDPR Compliance and get your website GDPR-ready in just 5 minutes. We’ll cover the essential configurations needed to display a functional cookie consent banner and handle basic GDPR requirements.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a working cookie consent system that protects both your visitors’ privacy and your legal compliance.

Prerequisites

This guide assumes you’ve already installed and activated the PureDevs GDPR Compliance plugin. If not, please complete the Installation Guide first.

5-Minute GDPR Setup

Follow these steps to get your GDPR compliance system up and running quickly:

Step 1: Access Plugin Settings (30 seconds)

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings → PureDevs GDPR compliance
  3. You’ll see the General Settings tab by default
  1. On the General Settings tab:
    • Check “Enable Cookie Consent”
    • Select banner position: Bottom (recommended for first-time users)
    • Set cookie expiration to 365 days (default)
  2. Click Save Changes
Quick Win

Your cookie banner is now active! Open your site in a private browser window to see it in action.

Step 3: Customize Banner Text (1 minute)

  1. Click on the Banner Settings tab
  2. Update the banner message (or use the default):
    "We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies."
  3. Customize button text if desired:
    • Accept Button: “Accept All”
    • Decline Button: “Decline”
    • Settings Button: “Cookie Settings”
  4. Click Save Changes
  1. Go to the Privacy Overview tab
  2. In the “Privacy Policy URL” field, enter your privacy policy page URL
  3. If you don’t have a privacy policy yet:
    • Go to Settings → Privacy in WordPress
    • Use WordPress’s built-in privacy policy template
    • Or create a custom page
    • Copy the page URL back to GDPR Compliance settings
  4. Click Save Changes
  1. Click on the Cookie Settings tab
  2. You’ll see four default categories:
    • Strictly Necessary – Always enabled (required for site functionality)
    • Additional Cookies – Optional analytics and performance cookies
    • Third-Party Cookies – External service cookies
    • Required Cookies – Essential cookies
  3. For each category, add a brief description (optional but recommended):
    • Example for Additional: “These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website.”
  4. Click Save Changes

Step 6: Test Your Setup (30 seconds)

  1. Open your website in a private/incognito browser window
  2. Verify the cookie banner appears
  3. Test the Accept button – banner should disappear
  4. Open site again in new private window – banner shouldn’t appear (consent saved)
Congratulations!

Your basic GDPR compliance system is now active. Visitors will see the cookie consent banner and can make informed choices about their data.

What You’ve Accomplished

With this quick setup, you now have:

  • ✅ Working cookie consent banner displayed to all visitors
  • ✅ Accept and Decline functionality for user choice
  • ✅ Cookie consent preferences saved for returning visitors
  • ✅ Privacy policy link accessible to users
  • ✅ Basic cookie categories configured
  • ✅ GDPR compliance foundation established

Important Next Steps

While your basic GDPR compliance is active, consider these important enhancements:

1. Customize Banner Appearance

2. Configure Geo-Location Targeting

  • Show banner only to EU visitors if desired
  • Target specific countries
  • Reduce banner display for non-EU traffic
  • See: Geo-Location Settings

3. Set Up User Data Requests

  • Enable data export functionality
  • Configure data deletion requests
  • Set up email notifications
  • See: User Data Management

5. Review Your Privacy Policy

  • Ensure it mentions cookie usage
  • List data collection practices
  • Explain user rights under GDPR
  • Include contact information for data requests

Testing Checklist

Use this checklist to verify your GDPR compliance setup is working correctly:

Visual Tests

  • ☐ Cookie banner appears on first visit
  • ☐ Banner displays in correct position (top/bottom/popup)
  • ☐ Banner text is readable and properly formatted
  • ☐ All buttons are visible and properly labeled
  • ☐ Privacy policy link works correctly

Functionality Tests

  • ☐ Accept button hides banner and saves consent
  • ☐ Decline button works as expected
  • ☐ Settings button opens cookie preferences (if configured)
  • ☐ Banner doesn’t appear on return visit after accepting
  • ☐ Consent preference persists across browser sessions

Mobile Tests

  • ☐ Banner displays correctly on mobile devices
  • ☐ Buttons are tappable and properly sized
  • ☐ Text is readable on small screens
  • ☐ Banner doesn’t break mobile layout

Browser Tests

  • ☐ Test in Chrome
  • ☐ Test in Firefox
  • ☐ Test in Safari
  • ☐ Test in Edge

Common Quick Fixes

Banner not appearing?

  • Clear browser cookies and cache
  • Test in private/incognito mode
  • Verify “Enable Cookie Consent” is checked in General Settings
  • Clear site cache if using caching plugin

Banner appears every time?

  • Check browser allows cookies
  • Verify cookie expiration is set correctly
  • Check for cookie-blocking browser extensions

Banner looks broken?

  • Check for theme CSS conflicts
  • Adjust z-index in banner settings
  • Try different banner position
  • Disable conflicting plugins temporarily

Privacy policy link not working?

  • Verify URL is complete (including https://)
  • Check privacy policy page is published
  • Test link in browser

GDPR Compliance Best Practices

Essential Requirements

  • Clear Language: Use simple, understandable language in your cookie notice
  • Informed Consent: Explain what cookies do before asking for consent
  • Easy to Decline: Make declining as easy as accepting
  • Pre-consent Blocking: Don’t load tracking cookies until consent is given
  • Granular Control: Let users choose which cookie types they accept
Legal Disclaimer

This plugin helps implement GDPR compliance features but does not guarantee legal compliance. Website owners are responsible for ensuring their sites meet all applicable regulations. Consider consulting legal professionals for complete GDPR compliance guidance.

Continue Learning

Now that you have basic GDPR compliance set up, explore these topics: