Troubleshooting Common Shopify Server-Side Tracking Issues
Setting up server-side tracking (SST) in Shopify can streamline data collection and improve accuracy for events like purchases and checkouts. However, it can also introduce challenges. Below are common issues and practical solutions.
1. Purchase or Begin_Checkout Event Not Firing
Issue:
The purchase
or begin_checkout
events are not triggering as expected.
Solution:
Check the settings for the Customer Events Pixel:
Navigate to the Shopify Admin panel.
Go to Settings > Customer Privacy.
Ensure the privacy setting is set to Not Required instead of Required.
When set to "Required," the code required to fire the events will not load properly.
2. Server Container Preview Stops for Begin_Checkout and Purchase
Issue:
When testing, the server preview does not capture begin_checkout
or purchase
events.
Solution:
Ensure that the Client-Side Preview is fully closed.
Having the client-side preview open can interfere with the server-side preview.
Open only the Server-Side Preview in one tab.
In another tab, open your Shopify store.
Refresh the store page.
You should see a
page_view
event in the server-side preview after refreshing.
Confirm both the client-side and server-side containers are published before testing.
3. Shopping Feed in Meta or Pinterest Breaks After Pixel Removal
Issue:
Your shopping feed for Meta (Facebook) or Pinterest stops working after disconnecting their respective pixels in Shopify.
Solution:
To restore functionality:
Create a dummy pixel in Facebook or Pinterest.
Connect this dummy pixel to the Shopify app.
This allows the Shopping Feed to continue linking to the correct account.
Link your main pixel to the Server-Side Container for accurate event tracking.
4. No Events in Server Preview Mode with Shopify
Issue:
No events appear in the server preview mode despite proper setup.
Solution:
The Google & YouTube
app in Shopify may be causing interference:
Go to your Shopify Admin panel.
Navigate to Apps > Google & YouTube.
Disconnect Google Analytics 4 (GA4) from this app.
This app often overrides server-side event tracking, preventing events from being sent to your server.
5. Shopify Analytics Decrease After Consent Mode and Server-Side Tracking
Issue:
Analytics reports in Shopify drop after enabling Consent Mode and SST.
Solution:
To restore accurate analytics:
Integrate Consent Mode v2 with Shopify Cookies.
Currently, Cookiebot offers the best support for this integration.
If using other plugins or apps, reach out to their support team for guidance.
Follow the steps outlined in Cookiebot's Shopify Installation Guide.
Complete all steps under "Enabling the Customer Privacy API," except for Step 6.
By addressing these common issues, you can ensure seamless server-side tracking in Shopify and maximize the value of your data. If problems persist, consider reaching out to our support via [email protected], or using our Live Chat.