: "Not Provided" keywords from Google search: If your site uses https, does Google always send the keywords in the referrer? Over the last two years the number of "keyword not provided" referrals

@BetL925

Based on conflicting reports in other answers, I decided to test it myself. I started up Firefox with the Live HTTP Headers.

Then I went to Google (logged in, over https) and did a search for: https only website example

The first result in the search results is httpsnow.org/. Which is secure only. I clicked on it in the search results and used live http headers to record what happened:
www.google.com/search?q=https+only+website+example https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhttpsnow.org%2F&ei=6pJiUfLiMc_D4AOk_IGIBA&usg=AFQjCNF6xzmxiw4ko_9pC0KHSDU7qpcjmQ&sig2=RDWH8xFkPO2S1g_O1f7K7w ocsp.startssl.com/sub/class2/server/ca httpsnow.org/ Referer: www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhttpsnow.org%2F&ei=6pJiUfLiMc_D4AOk_IGIBA&usg=AFQjCNF6xzmxiw4ko_9pC0KHSDU7qpcjmQ&sig2=RDWH8xFkPO2S1g_O1f7K7w

By the time the referrer reaches the web site that I clicked on, it no longer contains the query. The q= parameter is blank. Google does not provide the keyword, even to https only sites.



This article outlines an easier way to test whether keywords are sent by search engine referrals:


Search on Google for "what is my referrer" or "what is my secure referrer"
Click on one the results that will tell you what referrer is passed
See if the keywords are in the referrer URL


Using this methodology, I have once again confirmed that Google is not passing keywords to either insecure or secure sites.

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@Gloria169

Anyone not familiar with the whole (not provided) issue in Google Analytics would be well advised to check out NotProvidedCount.com which nicely explains the whole thing and is tracking the state of the (not provided) situation across a number of sites.

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@Mendez628

No, this is not the case. I manage several sites that are 100% https and others that are not. I still see a lot of "Not Provided" from Google in both cases. If someone is getting full referral data from Google they are doing something beyond making their site https.

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@Bryan171

Yes. I've had to test this for a client website and the keyword data is passed with the referrer.

You can check it out your self by using the Google Chrome GA Debug Plugin here:
chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-analytics-debugger/jnkmfdileelhofjcijamephohjechhna?hl=en
Or you could use Fiddler to see what is passed along with the header:
www.fiddler2.com/fiddler2/
Good luck =)

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