Source: https://mindstamp.com/help/viewer-identity-and-anonymous-viewers Generated from the Help Center records: 2026-10-05 # How does Mindstamp recognize viewers, and why are some anonymous? Topic: [Reporting and integrations](https://mindstamp.com/help/reporting) · Updated: 2026-09-25 ## Short answer Mindstamp remembers a viewer in the browser they watched in. A viewer with no name, email, phone or custom ID shows as Anonymous. A new device, a new browser or a private window starts a new viewer record, unless you identify the viewer with lead capture, a personalized link or URL parameters. ## Steps 1. To identify viewers, turn on **Lead Capture** for the video and choose the fields, or send a personalized link, or add parameters such as `?email=` or `?custom_id=` to the link. 2. In **Lead Capture**, keep **Remember viewers** on if a returning viewer should skip the form in the same browser. 3. To let viewers continue where they stopped, open the video **Settings**, go to **Playback** and turn on **Allow resumed views**. 4. For resume across devices, use a personalized link, or set **Lead Capture** to **At start** and collect an email or custom ID. ![Lead Capture Behavior and Alerts cards in Mindstamp with Allow skipping, Remember viewers (Capture once, skip next time) and the email alert switches highlighted](https://cdn.mindstamp.com/website2026/help/lead-capture-behavior-alerts.webp) _Behavior sets whether viewers can skip the form and whether Mindstamp remembers them. Alerts email you about new leads._ ![Playback section of Mindstamp video Settings with Allow resumed views and Prevent pausing highlighted](https://cdn.mindstamp.com/website2026/help/settings-playback.webp) _Settings > Playback: Allow resumed views lets returning viewers pick up where they left off. Prevent pausing removes the pause option._ ## Why a viewer shows as Anonymous A viewer is anonymous until the video collects or receives a name, email, phone or custom ID. Reports show anonymous viewers with a short code, such as Anonymous-3f9a, so you can tell sessions apart. You still see everything an anonymous viewer watched, answered and clicked. ## What is remembered, and where The player stores the viewer ID, name, email, phone, custom ID and some variable values in the browser’s local storage. The next time the viewer opens any of your videos in the same browser, Mindstamp uses the same viewer record and fills in the known details. Mindstamp does not use this to follow a viewer to another device. A different device, a different browser, a private window or cleared browser data starts a new viewer record, even when the viewer later enters the same email. The **Viewers** list can then show two records for one person. ## QR codes and shared devices A QR code opens the video in the phone’s browser. The first scan on a phone is a new viewer on that phone. A second scan on the same phone is recognized. To connect phone and desktop sessions, put a personalized link or `?custom_id=` in the QR code, or ask for an email at the start. On a shared computer, the next person inherits the stored identity. For kiosks and shared devices, turn **Remember viewers** off. Each visit then starts as a new viewer and the form shows every time. ## Resume **Allow resumed views** is on Core and higher plans. When it is on, a returning viewer sees **Resume View** or **Start Over**. Resume continues the same view record. Start Over creates a new one. In the same browser, resume works from local storage. On another device, resume works only with a personalized link, or with an email or custom ID entered in a lead capture form set to **At start**. An email passed only as a URL parameter does not look up progress from another device. Saved resume points are kept for 90 days after the last activity. ## Completion records and later training cycles Each session is its own view record, with its own watched percentage and scores. A viewer who watches again, or starts over, adds a new view. Earlier views stay in reports. For a later training cycle, filter reports and exports by date range. In the completion report, group participants by **Email** or **Custom ID** to join records from different devices, and choose **Latest completed view** to use the newest attempt. See [one report across several videos](https://mindstamp.com/help/report-across-multiple-videos). ## Go further - [Lead capture tutorial](https://mindstamp.com/tutorials/lead-capture) - [Settings tutorial](https://mindstamp.com/tutorials/settings) - [Personalization](https://mindstamp.com/features/personalization) ## Related answers - [How do I capture a viewer’s name, email, or phone number?](https://mindstamp.com/help/how-do-i-capture-name-email-or-phone-number-in-my-mindstamp-video) - [How do I personalize video links from my CRM or website?](https://mindstamp.com/help/personalize-video-links-from-crm) - [Can I get one report with completion and answers across several videos?](https://mindstamp.com/help/report-across-multiple-videos) - [How do I track a training course from the first video to the final report?](https://mindstamp.com/help/track-a-training-course) --- Need more help? 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