Why don’t some clicks have a referring URL?

by Ralitsa Petkova

Last updated: 02-Jun-2026

The referring URL identifies the address of the webpage that contains the tracking link.

This value is provided voluntarily by the visitor’s web browser. However, browsers are not required to send the referring URL, and it cannot be enforced by the system.

A browser may not provide a referring URL in the following cases:

• The tracking link is accessed from an HTTP page to an HTTPS page, where browsers may restrict referrer data between different security contexts.
• The referring page has explicitly instructed the browser not to send referrer information.
• The link is accessed via a URL shortening service, which may replace the original referring URL with its own domain.
• The link is opened from an email client, which typically does not pass referrer data.
• The user has enabled strict privacy settings in their browser that block referrer information.
• The referring page is an intranet site.
• The referring source is a local file or local machine environment.

Note: Opening links in a new tab or window, whether triggered by the visitor or by the webmaster, will not prevent the referring URL from being provided.