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Discrepancy Between LinkedIn Ads Click Counts and Microsoft Clarity Session Recordings

Venkatesh Rajagopal 0 Reputation points
2026-01-14T07:38:45.5533333+00:00

Issue Summary

We are observing a significant discrepancy between LinkedIn Ads click counts and Microsoft Clarity session recordings on our WordPress landing page.

  • LinkedIn Ads: High click volume but very low Clarity recordings.
  • Google Ads: Clicks and recordings are nearly aligned.

Clarity Setup

  • Clarity script is installed in <head> and loads before cookie consent.
  • Users accepting analytics cookies still show missing recordings.

Traffic Source

Primarily LinkedIn mobile traffic (likely in-app browser).

Data Overview

Date RangeSourceClicksRecordingsDec 18–23, 2025LinkedIn214--------------------------------Dec 18–23, 2025LinkedIn214Oct 18–Nov 18, 2025LinkedIn600100Dec 01–30, 2025Google Ads339282Additional LinkedIn Data:

  • 22/12/2025: 5 clicks → 3 recordings
  • 23/12/2025: 6 clicks → 0 recordings
  • 24/12/2025: 3 clicks → 5 recordings
  • 25/12/2025: 5 clicks → 1 recording
  • 26/12/2025: 5 clicks → 1 recording
  • 27 & 29/12/2025: 22 clicks → 8 recordings
  • 30/12/2025: 12 clicks → 3 recordings
  • 31/12/2025: 6 clicks → 2 recordings
  • 01/01/2026: 11 clicks → 2 recordings
  • 02/01/2026: 15 clicks → 0 recordings
  • 03–04/01/2026: (clicks N/A) → 3 recordings

Reproduction Test

  • 8 team members tested.
  • 6 members recorded normally.
  • 2 members consistently did not record from LinkedIn or Google sources (mobile), despite cookie acceptance.

Questions

  1. Are there known limitations with LinkedIn in-app browsers that prevent Clarity recording?
  2. Could redirect chains or UTM parameters from LinkedIn affect initialization or beacon calls?
  3. Any sampling, throttling, or CSP requirements that could reduce recordings for certain referrers?

Relevant URLs

We are using WordPress for the BoldDesk website. Project ID can be provided if needed.

Contact: ven*********@*********n.com

Thank you for your assistance.

Issue Summary

We are observing a significant discrepancy between LinkedIn Ads click counts and Microsoft Clarity session recordings on our WordPress landing page.

  • LinkedIn Ads: High click volume but very low Clarity recordings.
  • Google Ads: Clicks and recordings are nearly aligned.

Clarity Setup

  • Clarity script is installed in <head> and loads before cookie consent.
  • Users accepting analytics cookies still show missing recordings.

Traffic Source

Primarily LinkedIn mobile traffic (likely in-app browser).

Data Overview

Date RangeSourceClicksRecordingsDec 18–23, 2025LinkedIn214Oct 18–Nov 18, 2025LinkedIn600100Dec 01–30, 2025Google Ads339282Additional LinkedIn Data:

  • 22/12/2025: 5 clicks → 3 recordings
  • 23/12/2025: 6 clicks → 0 recordings
  • 24/12/2025: 3 clicks → 5 recordings
  • 25/12/2025: 5 clicks → 1 recording
  • 26/12/2025: 5 clicks → 1 recording
  • 27 & 29/12/2025: 22 clicks → 8 recordings
  • 30/12/2025: 12 clicks → 3 recordings
  • 31/12/2025: 6 clicks → 2 recordings
  • 01/01/2026: 11 clicks → 2 recordings
  • 02/01/2026: 15 clicks → 0 recordings
  • 03–04/01/2026: (clicks N/A) → 3 recordings

Screenshots:

LinkedIn Ads Dashboard: Shows 21 clicks between Dec 18–23, 2025.

User's image

Clarity Dashboard: Shows only 4 sessions recorded for the same date range.
User's image

**
Reproduction Test**

  • 8 team members tested.
  • 6 members recorded normally.
  • 2 members consistently did not record from LinkedIn or Google sources (mobile), despite cookie acceptance.

Questions

  1. Are there known limitations with LinkedIn in-app browsers that prevent Clarity recording?
  2. Could redirect chains or UTM parameters from LinkedIn affect initialization or beacon calls?
  3. Any sampling, throttling, or CSP requirements that could reduce recordings for certain referrers?

Relevant URLs

We are using WordPress for the BoldDesk website.
Project ID can be provided if needed.

Additional Context

We previously submitted this query via email to clarityms@microsoft.com on January 12, 2026 but have not received a response yet. **Screenshot of email attached below for reference.
**

User's image

Request: Please provide a quick response or guidance on this issue as it impacts our ad performance tracking.

Contact: ven*********@*********n.com

Thank you for your assistance.

** PII Removed **

Microsoft Advertising | Other
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  1. MS Advertising - Marwa 0 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-15T10:51:54.1666667+00:00

    Hello Venkatesh,  

    Thank you for using our Microsoft Advertising Learn Q&A Platform!   

    I understand that you would like to know more about the discrepancy Between LinkedIn Ads Click Counts and Microsoft Clarity Session Recordings

     

    The Discrepancy you are seeing between LinkedIn Ad clicks and Microsoft Clarity recordings is a common challenge, often caused by the technical limitations of mobile in-app browsers. While a click is registered the moment a user hits your ad, a Clarity recording only begins once the JavaScript successfully initializes on your landing page. Here are the primary reasons for the gap: In-App Browser Restrictions: The LinkedIn in-app browser sometimes restricts or delays third-party scripts (like Clarity) to optimize for speed or privacy, which can prevent the session from being captured.  

    Bounces & Load Time: if a mobile user clicks the ad but closes the page before the Clarity script finishes loading, a "click" is counted in LinkedIn, but no "session" is recorded in Clarity. "Do not Track" (DNT) Settings: If the team members who weren't recorded have "Do not Track" enabled in their mobile device settings, Clarity will honor that privacy request and skip the recording. Content security Policy (CSP): If your WordPress site has a strict security policy, it might be blocking Clarity's "beacon" calls back to the server.

    Recommended Actions:
    1- Check CSP:     Ensure your site's security headers allow User's image

    2- Verify Consent: Double - check that your WordPress Cookie Banner isn't accidentally blocking Clarity until a specific " Accept" button is clicked

    3- Check Mobile Settings: Verify the users failing the reproduction test have "Global privacy Control" or "Do not track" enabled on their phones

    For more information, please check the below:  
    Troubleshooting Recordings | Microsoft Learn
    Microsoft Clarity Documentation | Microsoft Learn
    Clarity Content Security Policy | Microsoft Learn

    Our support teams are happy to discuss your account in more detail via phone, chat or email to provide review assistance, please see our support page to reach out!   

    I hope the information provided here will at least partly answer your question.  If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support. I have also sent you a private message asking for further details. You are more than welcome to respond to me if you want to discuss things further.

     

    Kind regards, 

    Marwa | Microsoft Advertising Support Specialist | 800-518-5689 Hello Venkatesh,  

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