posthog init failed session recording consent

Fix PostHog init failing on session recording consent

TL;DR

PostHog refuses to start session recording without consent when your config requires it. Either collect consent before enabling recordings, or disable the consent gate in the PostHog config if your legal basis allows it. The SDK is waiting on a signal you never sent.

The error

PostHog init failed
Session recording requires consent. Opt-in not detected.

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Fix it

Step 1: Check your PostHog config for the consent gate

Look at your posthog.init options for session recording consent settings.

Expected: You see whether consent is required and what opt-in call it expects.

Step 2: Fire the opt-in after the user consents

Call the PostHog opt-in method inside your consent banner's accept handler.

Expected: The opt-in signal is sent before recording starts.

Step 3: Or disable the gate if appropriate

If your legal basis does not need opt-in, turn off the consent requirement in the config.

Expected: Init no longer waits for consent.

Step 4: Reload and verify

Clear state, reload, accept consent, and check for recording.

Expected: Session recording starts after consent.

Step 5: Test the decline path too

Decline consent and confirm the app still works without recording.

Expected: No errors on decline; recording stays off.

When this applies

• PostHog init fails waiting on session recording consent
• Recordings never start even though the snippet loads
• You just enabled the consent requirement

When it doesn't

• Recordings start but are blank (check the recording config)
• The error is about the API key (different failure)
• You do not want recordings at all (disable the feature)

Compatibility

PostHog JavaScript SDK. Consent APIs as of 2026.

Variant phrasings

posthog session recording consent required

Same gate. The opt-in call is the key that unlocks recording.

posthog opt-in not detected recording

Not detected means the opt-in never fired or fired after init. Order matters.

posthog recording blocked consent

Blocked on consent is by design. Collect it or disable the requirement.

Why it happens

PostHog gates session recording behind an explicit opt-in when configured to, for privacy compliance. If your code enables recordings but never sends the opt-in signal, init stalls on the gate. The SDK is enforcing your own config.

Edge cases

• Consent state persists; test with cleared storage or you will chase a stale opt-out
• Some regions need consent by law; disabling the gate there is a legal decision, not a code fix
• The banner and the SDK must agree on what counts as consent; keep one source of truth

If it still fails

• Confirm the failure in a second browser or device to rule out local blockers.
• Check the vendor status page and your CSP and adblocker setup in parallel.
• Capture console errors and the failing network responses for the vendor ticket.
• Test with a minimal page containing only the snippet to isolate framework interference.
• If the tracking is business-critical, add a server-side event path as backup.

Prevention

• Pin snippet versions and test upgrades in staging first.
• Run CSP in report mode before enforcing, so new vendors surface early.
• Monitor event volume per source; sudden drops are the early warning.
• Keep a server-side backup path for business-critical events.
• Document which env vars each snippet needs so deploys never miss one.

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_5dmJ7Ik7DcQ0YCL1KIYkvw

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_5dmJ7Ik7DcQ0YCL1KIYkvw

Thread query: posthog init failed session recording consent

TL;DR: PostHog refuses to start session recording without consent when your config requires it. Either collect consent before enabling recordings, or disable the consent gate in the PostHog config if your legal basis allows it. The SDK is waiting on a signal you never sent.