What is the NewsBreak Pixel Detector?
The NewsBreak Pixel Detector is a Chrome extension that shows you if the NewsBreak Pixel on your website is installed and sending events. It also shows if those events carry the NewsBreak click ID (nb_cid). NewsBreak needs the nb_cid to connect a conversion to the ad that brought the customer.
Use it when you:
- Install the NewsBreak Pixel for the first time
- Get ready to launch a conversion campaign
- See fewer conversions in Ad Manager than you expect
You don't need to log in, and the extension never changes your website or your pixel.
Before you start
You need three things:
- Google Chrome on a computer
- The NewsBreak Pixel added to your website (with custom code, Google Tag Manager, the Shopify App, or a Shopify custom pixel)
- Your pixel ID. This is the same as your NewsBreak ad account ID. Find it in Ad Manager under Tools → Event Management.
Step 1: Install the extension
- In Chrome, open the NewsBreak Pixel Detector page in the Chrome Web Store.
- Click Add to Chrome.
- In the pop-up, click Add extension.
- Pin the extension so it is easy to find. Click the puzzle icon (Extensions) in the Chrome toolbar, then click the pin next to NewsBreak Pixel Detector.
Step 2: Check your website
- Open your website in Chrome.
- Click the NewsBreak Pixel Detector icon. A side panel opens. It follows the tab you are on.
- Use your site the way a customer would. For example, view a product, add it to the cart, and go to checkout. The panel updates each time an event fires.
Test attribution without clicking an ad
To check that your events carry the nb_cid, start your visit from a test link instead of a real ad.
- In Ad Manager, go to Tools → Event Management → Test events.
- Copy the test link.
- Open the link in the same tab where the side panel is open.
- Repeat step 3 above: view a product, add to cart, and check out.
Keep the whole test in one tab. The extension clears its results when you close the tab.
Step 3: Read your results
Your pixel is working when the panel finds it, shows your correct pixel ID, and lists your events with an nb_cid.
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pixel detected | A NewsBreak Pixel is on this page. The panel also shows how it was installed: custom code, Google Tag Manager, the Shopify App, or a Shopify custom pixel. |
| Pixel ID | Every pixel ID found on your site. It should match your ad account ID in Ad Manager under Tools → Event Management. |
| Events | The events your pixel sent, on this page and across your whole visit. Each event shows its name, the time it fired, and its nb_cid. |
| nb_cid | The NewsBreak click ID. It links a conversion to the ad click. Events without it can't be attributed to your ads. |
| Warnings | A short message when events are missing the nb_cid, when the nb_cid was lost between pages, or when a request was rejected or could not be sent. |
If you opened your website directly (not from an ad or the test link), your events will not have an nb_cid. To check attribution, start from the test link.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| No pixel detected | Make sure the pixel code is on this page, including cart and checkout pages. If you use Google Tag Manager, check that your latest container version is published. If you use Shopify, check that the NewsBreak app or custom pixel is connected. Then reload the page. |
| Wrong or extra pixel ID | Compare each ID with your ad account ID in Ad Manager under Tools → Event Management. Remove or update any pixel code that uses a different ID. |
| An event is missing | Do the action on your site again (for example, add a product to the cart). If the event still does not appear, check how that event is set up on your site or in Google Tag Manager. |
| Events are missing the nb_cid | Start your visit from the test link in Ad Manager (Tools → Event Management → Test events). Stay in the same tab for the whole test. |
| nb_cid lost between pages | Something on your site drops the click ID as the customer moves through your funnel. Common causes are redirects that remove link parameters, or a checkout on a different domain. Ask your web developer to keep the nb_cid from page to page. |
| Request rejected or could not be sent | Check that the pixel ID is correct. Turn off ad blockers or privacy extensions for your site, then try again. |
Still stuck? Take a screenshot of the side panel and send it to your NewsBreak account manager or our support team.
Frequently asked questions
Does the extension send my data to NewsBreak? No. It does not send anything to NewsBreak or anyone else. Everything it shows stays in your own browser and is cleared when you close the tab.
Will it change my website or my pixel? No. It only reads what your pixel sends. It does not change anything.
Does it track my browsing? No. It only looks for the NewsBreak Pixel on the pages you open.
Do I need a NewsBreak login? No. Anyone can use it, including the developer or agency who set up your tracking.
Which pixel ID should I see? Your NewsBreak ad account ID, exactly as it appears in Ad Manager under Tools → Event Management.