Hotjar Shows Dead Clicks: How to Identify Broken or Misleading Page Elements
When Hotjar shows dead clicks, visitors clicked an element that did nothing. That usually means the element looks clickable but is not, or a link or button is broken. Dead clicks reveal misleading visual affordance or broken functionality. Identify which one it is before changing the page.
Table of Contents
- 01.What a dead click means
- 02.What to check first
- 03.Non-clickable elements that look clickable
- 04.Broken links and buttons
- 05.Images and visual affordance
- 06.Mobile behavior
- 07.How to test the fix
- 08.How to validate the final result
What a dead click means
A dead click is a click on an element that produces no action. The visitor expected something to happen and nothing did. The cause is either visual, the element looks clickable but is not, or technical, the element should work but is broken. The two causes need different fixes, so identify which one applies.
| Cause | What happens | How to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Non-clickable element | Looks interactive but is not | Review the element in the recording |
| Broken link | Link href is wrong or missing | Test the link destination |
| Broken button | Click handler missing | Test the button action |
| Image affordance | Image looks like a link | Check if the image is wrapped in a link |
| Mobile behavior | Touch target inactive | Test on a mobile device |
What to check first
- Open the session recording and review the clicked element.
- Test the element yourself in a live session.
- Confirm whether the element is actually interactive.
- Check the link or button destination if applicable.
- Test on mobile if the dead clicks come from mobile sessions.
Non-clickable elements that look clickable
The most common cause is an element that looks interactive but is not. A styled heading, a card with a hover effect or an image that resembles a button invites clicks that do nothing. Review the element in the recording. If visitors click it expecting an action, the fix is either to make it interactive or to remove the visual affordance that suggests it is.
Broken links and buttons
A dead click can also mean a link or button is broken. A link with a wrong or missing href, or a button without a click handler, produces no action. Test the element. If it should work but does not, the fix is technical. Confirm the link destination and the button handler. This is a functionality problem, not a design problem.
Images and visual affordance
Images often cause dead clicks when they look like links but are not wrapped in a link. A product image, a banner or an icon can invite clicks that go nowhere. Check whether the image is wrapped in a link. If visitors expect it to lead somewhere, either wrap it in a link or remove the visual cue that suggests it should.
Mobile behavior
Mobile dead clicks can come from touch targets that are inactive or too small to register reliably. Test the element on a mobile device. If the tap does not register, the fix is the touch target size and the element interactivity. Mobile behavior often differs from desktop, so test both.
How to test the fix
- 1.Confirm whether the element should be interactive.
- 2.If it should, fix the link or button and test the action.
- 3.If it should not, remove the visual affordance that suggests it is clickable.
- 4.Monitor dead clicks on that element to confirm they reduce.
How to validate the final result
The fix is validated when dead clicks on that element reduce over the following period and the element either works as expected or no longer invites clicks. Watch the trend over a representative period, because dead clicks fluctuate. Rage clicks are a related but distinct signal, covered in the guide on Hotjar rage clicks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dead click in Hotjar?
A click on an element that produced no action. The cause is usually an element that looks clickable but is not, or a broken link or button. Review the element in the recording and test it to determine whether the fix is visual or technical.
How is a dead click different from a rage click?
A dead click is a single click on a non-functional element. A rage click is repeated clicking on the same element out of frustration. Dead clicks point to misleading design or broken functionality, while rage clicks point to something that did not work as expected.
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