Intermediate
How to send data to Mixpanel on Mixpanel
Quick Answer
To send data to Mixpanel, install the Mixpanel SDK in your application, initialize it with your project token, and use the track() method to send events. You can also send data via HTTP API or import historical data through the web interface.
Prerequisites
- Active Mixpanel account
- Basic understanding of JavaScript or API calls
- Access to your application's codebase
- Valid project token from Mixpanel
1
Get your project token
Log into your Mixpanel account and navigate to Settings > Project Settings. Copy your Project Token from the overview section. This token is required to authenticate data sent to your project.
Tip
Keep your project token secure and never expose it in client-side code for server-side implementations.
2
Install the Mixpanel SDK
For JavaScript applications, install via npm:
npm install mixpanel-browser. For Node.js: npm install mixpanel. For mobile apps, add the appropriate SDK: iOS via CocoaPods pod 'Mixpanel' or Android via Gradle implementation 'com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:7.+'.Tip
Choose the SDK that matches your platform - browser SDK for client-side tracking, server SDK for backend events.
3
Initialize Mixpanel in your code
For JavaScript:
import mixpanel from 'mixpanel-browser';
mixpanel.init('YOUR_PROJECT_TOKEN');const Mixpanel = require('mixpanel');
const mixpanel = Mixpanel.init('YOUR_PROJECT_TOKEN');YOUR_PROJECT_TOKEN with the token from step 1.Tip
Initialize Mixpanel early in your application lifecycle to ensure all events are captured.
4
Track your first event
Send an event using the track method:
mixpanel.track('Button Clicked', {
'button_name': 'Sign Up',
'page': 'Homepage',
'user_type': 'Guest'
});Tip
Use descriptive event names and consistent property naming conventions across your application.
5
Set user properties
Identify users and set their properties:
mixpanel.identify('user123');
mixpanel.people.set({
'$email': 'user@example.com',
'$name': 'John Doe',
'plan': 'Premium'
});Tip
Call identify() before setting people properties to ensure they're associated with the correct user.
6
Verify data in Mixpanel dashboard
Go to your Mixpanel dashboard and click on Events in the left sidebar. You should see your tracked events appearing in real-time. Click on Users to view user profiles and properties you've set.
Tip
It may take a few minutes for data to appear in the dashboard, especially for the first events.
7
Send data via HTTP API (alternative method)
You can also send events directly via HTTP POST to
https://api.mixpanel.com/track: curl -X POST 'https://api.mixpanel.com/track' \
-d 'data=eyJldmVudCI6ICJCdXR0b24gQ2xpY2tlZCIsICJwcm9wZXJ0aWVzIjogeyJ0b2tlbiI6ICJZT1VSX1RPS0VOIn19'Tip
Use the HTTP API for server-side tracking or when SDKs aren't available for your platform.
Troubleshooting
Events not appearing in dashboard
Check that your project token is correct and that you're looking at the right project. Verify your internet connection and ensure the Mixpanel SDK is properly initialized before tracking events.
CORS errors in browser
Ensure you're using the
mixpanel-browser SDK for client-side tracking, not the Node.js version. Check that your domain is whitelisted in Project Settings > CORS if you have restrictions enabled.User properties not updating
Make sure you call
mixpanel.identify() before setting people properties. Verify that you're using the correct method: mixpanel.people.set() for setting properties.High data volume causing delays
Implement batching for high-frequency events using
mixpanel.track_batch() or consider sampling non-critical events. Monitor your event volume in Project Settings > Usage.Ready to get started with Mixpanel?
Put this tutorial into practice. Visit Mixpanel and follow the steps above.
Visit Mixpanel →