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When using Private mode does Google Analytics view me as a new user even if I am a repeat visitor to a site?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Does Private Mode or Do Not Track have any effect on the Google Analytic reports? Does Google record me as a new user or a repeat user each time I visit the same webpage?

Does Private Mode or Do Not Track have any effect on the Google Analytic reports? Does Google record me as a new user or a repeat user each time I visit the same webpage?

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In private browsing mode you get a separate cookie jar, so if the website would recognize you in normal mode via a special cookie then this cookie isn't send and you would have to login once again to Google Analytic.


Firefox uses two independent cookie jars, one for normal mode and a second one for Private Browsing mode that is shared amongst all PB mode tabs and windows. Cookies used in a PB mode window tabs are kept in memory in a separate cookie jar just like other session data is kept in memory in PB mode, so a website won't recognize you. Cookies saved in normal mode can't be accessed as they are stored in a different cookie jar. The PB mode cookie jar is cleared when all PB mode windows and tabs are closed.