Troubleshooting Mixpanel Event Update Issue with $insert_id

kapa.ai I'm trying to update an existing event as explained here: https://community.mixpanel.com/x/ask-ai/cr6bowvujzmo/updating-old-purchase-events-in-mixpanel-adding-ne the issue is that it creates a new event instead of updating the existing one. $insert_id is correct. this is a spike with the code:

client = Mixpanel::Tracker.new(ENV['MIXPANEL_PROJECT_TOKEN'])
api_key = ENV['MIXPANEL_API_KEY']

distinct_id = '8ca79d94-06bf-4946-972f-dc64297b056d'
event = 'document_open'
properties = {
  '$ignore_time': true,
  '$insert_id': 'kzs2xfd8t1gkppal',
  'slug': 'new_slug'
}


response = client.import(
  api_key,
  distinct_id,
  event,
  properties
)

puts response

5 comments

kapa.ai
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Please stand by Borja M. as I search the knowledge base. I normally take about 15 seconds or so. 👋
Feel free to ask a follow-up question once I've answered by mentioning me with @kapa.ai
kapa.ai
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Mixpanel does not support updating or overwriting existing events by re-importing an event with the same $insert_id. The deduplication mechanism in Mixpanel ensures that if you send an event with the same combination of event, distinct_id, time, and $insert_id, only the most recently ingested event will appear in queries and reports. However, this does not update the original event's properties—instead, it will either ignore the new event (if it matches an existing one exactly) or treat it as a duplicate, depending on the deduplication phase and timing. The original event is not modified in place; Mixpanel is an append-only system for events, and event updates are not supported via the import or track APIs How Deduplication Works.Key points from the documentation: - Deduplication: If you send an event with the same event, distinct_id, time, and $insert_id, Mixpanel will deduplicate and only show the most recent version in reports, but it does not update the original event's properties Deduplication Mechanisms. - No Event Updates: There is no supported way to update or patch an existing event's properties after it has been ingested. Sending a new event with the same $insert_id will not update the old event; it may be ignored or deduplicated, but not modified How Deduplication Works. - Append-Only: Mixpanel's event store is append-only. If you need to "fix" data, the recommended approach is to delete the problematic data and re-import the corrected events with new, unique $insert_id values Reminders with ETL approach.What you are seeing is expected behavior: Your import call is creating a new event (or being ignored as a duplicate), not updating the existing one. If you want to correct historical data, you must delete the old event and re-import the corrected event with a new $insert_id.Summary: Mixpanel does not support updating existing events. The $insert_id is used for deduplication, not for updating event data. To "update" an event, delete the old one and import a new event with the correct data and a new $insert_id How Deduplication Works, Reminders with ETL approach.
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Borja M.
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kapa.ai but here https://community.mixpanel.com/x/ask-ai/cr6bowvujzmo/updating-old-purchase-events-in-mixpanel-adding-ne you answered it could be done
kapa.ai
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Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! 📚
kapa.ai
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I'm sorry for any confusion. Based on the official Mixpanel documentation in the knowledge sources provided, Mixpanel does not support updating or overwriting existing events by re-importing them with the same $insert_id. The $insert_id is used strictly for deduplication purposes: if you send an event with the same event, distinct_id, time, and $insert_id, Mixpanel will deduplicate and only show the most recent version in reports, but it will not update the properties of an already ingested event. The system is append-only for events, and there is no supported API or method to update event properties after ingestion How Deduplication Works, Reminders with ETL approach.If you need to correct or "update" an event, the recommended approach is: 1. Delete the old event (which may require contacting Mixpanel support for hard deletion). 2. Re-import the corrected event with a new, unique $insert_id to avoid deduplication issues.The knowledge sources do not mention any supported way to update an event in place by re-importing it with the same $insert_id. If you saw a different answer in the Mixpanel Community, it may not reflect the current or official product capabilities as described in the documentation.If you need to ensure your data is correct, follow the ETL approach: delete and re-import with new $insert_ids Reminders with ETL approach.
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Troubleshooting Mixpanel Event Update Issue with $insert_id | Mixpanel Community