Overview
A Failed Status Code (0, 400, or 500 level) occurs when an Adobe Analytics request is blocked, interrupted, or rejected by a server.
The Impact:
Data Integrity: Failed hits result in permanent data loss. Because Adobe Analytics is a client-side collection tool, if the request fails to reach the collection server, that interaction is gone forever.
Business Impact: Under-reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs) leads to skewed conversion rates, inaccurate marketing attribution, and flawed executive decision-making.
Common Failure Codes for Adobe Analytics
When auditing your site with ObservePoint, you may see the following HTTP status codes in the network logs:
Status Code | Label | Meaning in Adobe Analytics Context |
(Canceled) | Request Canceled | The browser terminated the request before it reached Adobe. This usually happens when a user clicks a link and the browser navigates away before the request completes. |
403 | Forbidden | The server understood the request but refuses to authorize it. Often caused by IP filtering, geo-blocking, or a domain-level allowlist issue. |
404 | Not Found | The request URL is incorrect. This happens if the |
429 | Too Many Requests | The client has sent too many requests in a given amount of time. Rare for standard tracking, but can occur during aggressive automated testing. |
500 / 503 | Server Error | Adobe’s Data Collection Server is experiencing a temporary outage or is under maintenance. |
NS_BINDING_ABORTED | Connection Aborted | A browser-specific error (common in Firefox) indicating the request was stopped, often by an ad-blocker or a page redirect. |
How to Remediate
To resolve these errors and restore data flow, follow these technical steps:
1. Resolve "(Canceled)" Hits
Implement or increase the Link Track Delay. By default, Adobe Analytics tries to send hits instantly. Adding a small delay (usually 500ms) gives the beacon enough time to exit the browser's "outbox" before the next page loads.
In AEP Tags (Launch): Navigate to the Adobe Analytics extension settings and adjust the "Link Track Delay."
If not using Adobe Tags, look for equivalent functionally in other Tag Management Systems
2. Validate Tracking Server Configuration
Ensure your s.trackingServer and s.trackingServerSecure variables match your Adobe-assigned data collection domain.
Tip: If using a First-Party Cookie (CNAME) setup, ensure the SSL certificate for your tracking domain (e.g.,
metrics.yourdomain.com) is valid and has not expired.
3. Update Content Security Policy (CSP)
If your site uses a CSP header, it may be blocking the connection to Adobe. You must whitelist your tracking domains:
*.sc.omtrdc.net*.adobetag.comYour custom CNAME tracking domain.
ObservePoint has report templates for CSP errors that you can use to identify if this is the root cause of failed requests.
4. Audit for Ad-Blockers
If failures only appear in specific geographic regions or segments, check if local privacy tools or ad-blockers are intercepting the requests.
Conclusion
Failed status codes are "silent killers" of data quality. While a single failed hit may seem negligible, systemic failures (like those caused by CSP or lack of link delay) can result in a 5–10% discrepancy between your analytics data and your actual backend sales. Regular automated Audits via ObservePoint ensure these failures are caught before they impact your quarterly reporting.