🧭 Overview
After installing the OTTO pixel on your website, the dashboard may display a NOT DETECTED status. In most cases, this is completely normal and does not mean your installation failed. This article explains why that status appears, how long to expect it, and what to check if the issue persists after the expected window.
✅ When NOT DETECTED Is Expected
The NOT DETECTED status appears immediately after pixel installation because Search Atlas checks for the pixel on a schedule rather than instantly. For a brand-new project (under 2 hours old), automatic checks run every 15 minutes, so a correctly installed pixel is normally detected within about 15 minutes. From 2 to 24 hours old, checks run every hour; from 1 to 7 days old, every 6 hours; after 7 days the automatic checks stop.
This is expected behaviour in the following situations:
- You have just installed the pixel for the first time.
- Your site audit has never completed a full crawl.
- You recently re-installed or updated the pixel script.
Do not re-install the pixel or make additional changes during this period, as doing so may reset the crawl process.
⏱️ First Crawl Timeline
The initial site audit crawl can take some time to complete, depending on the size of your website and current system load. Larger sites with hundreds or thousands of pages will naturally take longer than smaller sites.
During this window:
- The NOT DETECTED status will remain visible on your dashboard.
- No action is required on your part.
Once the crawl completes, return to the pixel status area in the OTTO dashboard. The status should update from Not Installed to Installed automatically. If it does not update after the crawl has finished, proceed to the troubleshooting steps below.
📊 How to Monitor Progress in the Dashboard
You can track your site audit crawl status directly inside the OTTO dashboard. Navigate to your connected website within the platform and open the OTTO dashboard, then look for the Site Audit section to check whether a crawl is in progress or has completed.
If the crawl shows no progress after an extended period, proceed to the troubleshooting steps below.
🛠️ Troubleshooting a Genuinely Failed Installation
If the crawl has completed and the status still shows NOT DETECTED, use the following checklist to identify the root cause:
- Verify script placement: Confirm that the OTTO pixel script has been placed correctly in your website's page template so it loads on every page. In Shopify, this typically means adding the script inside the theme.liquid file.
- Check for duplicate or conflicting scripts: Having multiple copies of the pixel script can cause detection failures. Review your theme files to ensure only one instance of the pixel script is present.
- Confirm the script is published on your live si
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.