Google Analytics Default Session Identification Changes Timeline

Social Media by  Mashum Mollah 17 September 2021 Last Updated Date: 30 November 2024

when will google analytics be unable to identify sessions from the same user by default?

When will google analytics be unable to identify sessions from the same user by default? Google Analytics is the most efficient analytical tool. But is it possible that google analytics can not identify sessions from the same user? And these query is leading towards the question

When you search for an accurate answer to the question, you are getting four possible answers to the same question.

  • When sessions share the same browser cookie
  • At the time when the sessions happen in different browsers on the same device
  • When the sessions happen in the same browser on the same device
  • When the sessions happen in the same browser on the same day

These four are the possible answers to the questions. Among these four options, you only get one correct answer to your questions.

Before getting into the right answer to the question, take a look at how google analytics defines a session.

How Is Google Analytics Defining Session?

How Is Google Analytics Defining Session

If you are searching the answer by default, when will google analytics not be able to identify it? Or when will google analytics be unable to identify sessions from the same user by default? First, take a look at how google analytics is defining the page session.

In simple words, a session is a group of hits records in a specific time period. The hit is nothing but a user interaction with your website. And this user interaction is counted as a hit by google analytics.

A single session can have multiple hit counts. All the google analytics pages have only a 4 hours lifeline. After four hours, the session got expired. The session lifeline entirely depends on the users. Because when the users are just landing on the website page. The session starts from that moment. And this session can last up to 30 minutes after users are landing on the page.

When Will Google Analytics Be Unable To Identify Sessions From The Same User By Default?

Now we think the definition of the session is clear to you. When you ask the right answer to the question, you will get four possible answers to the question. Among these four options, “At the time when the sessions happen in different browsers on the same device” is the only correct answer. 

This means if single users are using two different browsers from one single device. In this case, Google analytics can not differentiate the user. And count the session as separate. By default, when will google analytics not be able to identify sessions from the same user? Have one simple solution use the different browsers from your single devices.

By default, the google analytics sessions expire after 30 minutes. If the users remain inactive for the last 30 minutes. The analytics session is going to expire. But you can change the settings of the Google analytics view. You can change the session time-out setting and make it faster or longer.

How Can Session Affect By External Factors

Like, google analytics is unable to identify sessions from the same users. The session metrics have the possibility of getting affected by two factors.

1. Browsing Gap

This happens many times. Many users are taking a break while browsing the internet. And if the break time is less than 30 minutes, there is no impact on the session. But if the break time is longer than thirty minutes. The session is expired, and the users are accessing from the new session.

2. Time Zone Difference

This session expires just a drawback of google analytics. If some of the viewers are accessing the website just before midnight or at the time of midnight. This time is crucial because it does not support the session with two dates associated with it.

For these cases also google analytics can not identify the separate session. These two parameters are affecting the google analytics sessions.

Wrapping It Up:

When will google analytics be unable to identify sessions from the same user by default? We think the answer is clear to you with the proper explanation. If you want to share some information about Google analytics sessions. Do not forget to share your opinion in the comment section.

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Mashum Mollah

Mashum Mollah is an entrepreneur, founder and CEO at Viacon, a digital marketing agency that drive visibility, engagement, and proven results. He blogs at thedailynotes.com.

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