Understanding Device IDs as User Measurement Proxies in Mixpanel

event · 2025-06-18T12:16:36.410789+00:00

Please note! That device IDs is the only proxy to measure users in an unidentified state. When the user eventually login Mixpanel stitches their activities in an unidentified state with the Is this true, write it for me in a more accurate manner

Yes, your statement is essentially correct, but it can be made more precise: When a user is in an anonymous (unidentified) state, Mixpanel uses the device ID ($device_id) as the only proxy to track and measure their activity. Once the user logs in or is otherwise identified, Mixpanel merges the anonymous activity (tracked via $device_id) with the identified activity (tracked via $user_id). This process ensures that all events—both pre-login and post-login—are attributed to the same user, allowing for a complete view of the user journey across anonymous and identified states Identifying Users (Simplified) Understanding Simplified ID Merge.If you need a concise version: Mixpanel uses the device ID as the sole identifier for anonymous users. When a user logs in, Mixpanel automatically merges their anonymous and identified activities, stitching together their full user journey.

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