why the when I look at the Flows report conversion rates from one step to another and then I look at the top funnels for that same flow clicking on the option of Top funnel I see a different conversion rate from the top steps?
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Flows and Funnels use different counting logic and calculations, so their step‑to‑step “conversion rates” will often not match even when they’re based on the same events.From the docs we know: - Counting methods differ and matter: both Flows and Funnels can be based on uniques, totals, or sessions, and each method changes how many times a user can “enter” and be counted. [Flows conversion; Funnels counting] - Funnels apply funnel‑specific rules: conversion requires entering at Step 1 and then reaching later steps within the conversion window, with rules about re‑entry, exclusion, ordering, etc. This means the number of users at each step is not just “how many did that event,” but “how many did that event in a valid funnel attempt.” [Funnels FAQ; Conversion window; Ordering] - Top Funnels in Flows is a separate funnel calculation: when you click “Top funnel” from a Flow, Mixpanel is now running a Funnels report with its own conversion window, counting method, ordering, filters, and re‑entry logic. That funnel’s step‑to‑step conversion rate is therefore not the same metric as the path percentages shown in the Flow. [Flows conversion; Funnels vs other reports]Because of this, differences usually come from: - Different counting method (uniques vs totals vs sessions) between the Flow and the derived Funnel. - Different conversion window (Flows default 30 days; Funnels default 7 days). [Flows conversion; Funnels conversion window] - Funnel‑specific rules (must start at Step 1, timeouts, re‑entry rules, exclusion steps, ordering) that don’t apply in the same way in Flows. [Funnels advanced; Optimized re-entry]To debug a specific discrepancy, align: 1. Same counting method in both reports. 2. Same date range and timezone. 3. Same filters/breakdowns. 4. Same conversion window (if possible).If, after aligning those, the numbers still differ, it’s likely due to the funnel‑specific rules above rather than an error.
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When you add more steps to the “Top funnel” view that you opened from Flows, Mixpanel is no longer showing just one funnel pattern – it is recomputing a full Funnels report with your new step sequence and then surfacing the most common distinct funnels that match that definition.A few key mechanics from Funnels explain why “more funnels” appear: 1. Funnels are defined by the full step sequence
A Funnel is a specific ordered (or any‑order) sequence of events with its own conversion window and counting method. [Funnels quickstart; Ordering]
When you add or change steps, you’re effectively defining a different funnel behavior, so Mixpanel can now find additional valid paths/entries that match this new, longer sequence.2. Re‑entry and counting rules create multiple attempts
With Totals or Sessions counting methods, users can re‑enter a funnel after they exit (convert, time out, or hit an exclusion step). [Counting methods]
Adding more steps can:
- Create new valid attempts that weren’t counted before (e.g., a later sequence of the same user now qualifies as a separate funnel).
- Change where users exit and thus when they’re allowed to re‑enter.3. Conversion window & ordering can newly qualify paths
Changing the step list can change which event is considered Step 1 and how the conversion window is applied from that entry point. [Conversion window; Ordering]
Some paths that didn’t fit the shorter funnel (e.g., timed out or skipped a step) may now fit the longer or differently ordered funnel, so they appear as additional funnels/attempts.Because the “Top funnel” view is just a Funnels report seeded from your Flow, any change to the step definition (adding steps, reordering, filters, etc.) changes the underlying funnel behavior and therefore the set and count of funnels Mixpanel finds.
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