Troubleshoot broken funnel paths
Broken funnels usually mean a step, offer, accept route, decline route, or published checkout is misconfigured. Buyers may report that an upsell did not appear, a button went nowhere, or the wrong offer loaded.
Use this guide when funnel traffic fails after launch, after pricing changes, or after editing a live path.
Common symptoms
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Buyer reaches a dead end | Missing accept or decline path |
| Wrong offer appears | Step connected to wrong plan or offer |
| Upsell does not load on embed page | Missing script or trigger classes in funnel embed |
| Funnel worked before launch | Unpublished checkout or inactive product |
| Only one branch fails | Decline route or secondary step misconfigured |
| Attribution looks wrong | Buyer used a different campaign link than expected |
What funnel paths depend on
| Dependency | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Step offer mapping | Each step must point to a valid product and offer |
| Accept and decline routes | Both branches need destinations |
| Checkout publish state | Draft checkout breaks live funnel steps |
| Product activity | Inactive products can break purchase paths |
| Embed trigger setup | External pages need correct script and classes |
| Link and UTM setup | Reporting problems can look like funnel failure |
Investigation workflow
- Confirm the correct business workspace.
[Screenshot: App header — correct business workspace selected.]
- Identify the exact funnel and entry checkout link the buyer used.
[Screenshot: Funnel overview — entry link and funnel name identified.]
- Open the funnel and list every step in order.
[Screenshot: Funnel builder — all steps listed in sequence.]
- Confirm each step has a product, plan, and offer.
[Screenshot: Funnel step — product, plan, and offer assigned.]
- Trace accept and decline paths manually on paper or in a test doc.
[Screenshot: Funnel path map — accept and decline branches documented.]
- Preview each route as a buyer, including decline branches.
[Screenshot: Buyer preview — accept and decline paths tested.]
- Confirm checkout pages for each step are published.
[Screenshot: Checkout builder — published status on each funnel step.]
- For embed funnels, verify funnel embed script and trigger classes on the live page.
[Screenshot: Live embed page — script and trigger classes present.]
- Check whether the product became inactive or pricing changed recently.
[Screenshot: Product and pricing — active status and current offer confirmed.]
- Fix the broken step and retest all paths, not only the first upsell.
[Screenshot: Funnel step corrected — full path retested.]
- Review campaign attribution only after the path works.
[Screenshot: Campaign attribution — checked only after funnel path passes.]
Branch testing checklist
| Branch | Test goal |
|---|---|
| Main purchase | First step checkout loads and approves |
| Accept path | Upsell or next offer appears correctly |
| Decline path | Buyer still reaches the intended next page or thank-you flow |
| Embedded trigger | Upsell loads on the external page |
| Mobile path | Steps remain usable on phone. See mobile checkout preview. |
What to verify after fixing
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| All branches work | Decline-only testing catches hidden dead ends |
| Published checkout on every edited step | Draft state breaks buyer paths |
| Campaign links still point to the intended funnel | Especially after duplicate funnel tests |
| Affiliates and support have the correct links | Wrong link type creates attribution noise |
| Sales appear for test purchases in Sales | Confirms payment path is healthy |
Best practices
- Test every accept and decline branch, not only the happy path.
- Duplicate funnels for experiments instead of editing live paths blindly.
- Review links and UTMs after funnel changes.
- Publish checkout in the same change window as funnel routing edits.
- Document the live funnel entry link for support and launch teams.
Common mistakes
- Fixing only the upsell step while decline still dead-ends.
- Testing in builder preview but not the live link buyers use.
- Changing offer pricing without updating funnel step mapping.
- Editing the live funnel during an active promotion without a duplicate test copy.
- Assuming embed issues are checkout issues without checking trigger classes.
FAQ
Should I edit the live funnel or duplicate it first?
Use duplicate funnels for testing when live traffic or affiliates depend on the current path.
Why does the funnel work on desktop but not mobile?
Review checkout layout issues and mobile checkout preview for the affected step.
Can inactive products break funnels?
Yes. Review manage inactive products and link impact.