How to track PDF and file downloads without cookies
Brochures, price lists, manuals and templates: files are often the most valuable thing a website offers. A page view tool does not count them, because a download is not a page. This guide shows how to measure downloads simply and privately.
Why downloads are missing from your page views
When a visitor clicks a PDF link, the browser fetches a file instead of loading a page. No page view is recorded, so the most useful downloads can stay invisible in your statistics.
Your server log does record the request, but it also contains bots and gives no clean report. A click event is easier to read and easier to filter.
What to measure
| Question | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Which file is downloaded most? | The content visitors actually want |
| Which pages bring the downloads? | Filter by the page that hosts the link |
| Do downloads grow after a campaign? | Whether the offer works |
| Which file is never downloaded? | Candidates to improve or remove |
How to track downloads with Noralytic
- Open the website settings
Find the tracking code of the website. - Tick "Downloads"
The option covers PDF, ZIP, RAR, 7z, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, TXT, EPUB, MP3, MP4, DMG, EXE and APK. - Copy the new code
Replace the tracking code on your website. - Read the events report
Each file appears as "download" followed by its file name, with the number of clicks.
Tips for cleaner download data
- Use clear file names. The name appears in your report, so "price-list-2026.pdf" is more useful than "download1.pdf".
- Keep names stable. A new file name creates a new line, so replace files under the same name where it makes sense.
- Turn important downloads into goals and see their conversion rate in your dashboard.
- Offer files on your own pages. Links in emails or other websites are not seen by the script on your site.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track PDF downloads?
Turn on download tracking in the settings of your website and copy the new tracking code. Every click on a link to a PDF is then counted as an event named "download" followed by the file name.
Does download tracking work without cookies?
Yes. The script records the file name and stores nothing on the visitor's device.
Can I track downloads of files hosted on another domain?
Yes, as long as the link is on a page with your tracking code. The click is counted as a download.
Are downloads counted as pageviews?
No. They are events and appear in the events report, not in the page reports.
Which file types are detected?
PDF, ZIP, RAR, 7z, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, TXT, EPUB, MP3, MP4, DMG, EXE and APK.
Keep reading
Try privacy-friendly analytics for free
Create a free account in seconds, add one line of code and see your first visitors live. No cookies, no credit card.