What is PLS by U-turns
PLS by U-turns shows how Perceived Load Speed (PLS) differs for users who make a U-turn compared to those who stay and interact with the page.
A U-turn occurs when a user lands on a page, stays for five seconds or less, doesn’t interact (no clicks, scrolls, or inputs), and then navigates back to the previous page. It’s a strong signal that something didn’t meet expectations — often tied to how quickly the page looked ready.
This breakdown helps you see whether a slow-perceived load experience (poor PLS) is contributing to early abandonment. Since PLS measures how fast users feel the page is loading, higher values can make a site seem sluggish even if technical metrics look fine.
PLS by U-turns sample
Should you worry
In a healthy view, PLS values for U-turn sessions look similar to non-U-turn sessions. U-turns may still occur, but they’re not because the page appeared slow or incomplete.
A healthy setup typically shows:
PLS consistently fast across both groups.
Above-the-fold content visible quickly, creating a sense of speed.
U-turns driven by intent or relevance, not perceived slowness.
If PLS feels fast to users, abandonment is less likely tied to loading perception.
Unhealthy PLS by U-turns
If U-turn sessions consistently show slower PLS values, users may be leaving because the page doesn’t look ready soon enough.
Common causes include:
Empty or blank above-the-fold sections during initial load.
Large hero images delaying visual completion.
Animations or placeholders extending the perceived load.
Late-loading ads, fonts, or scripts blocking visual stability.
Here, poor PLS means users don’t feel the site is usable fast enough, leading to U-turns.
Resolving unhealthy PLS by U-turns
Go-to action plan to resolve an unhealthy PLS by U-turns:
Ask Uxi to analyze your PLS by U-turns and suggest improvements.
Use Filters to compare PLS gaps between U-turn and non-U-turn sessions by device or geography.
Simulate LCP of the suspected breakdown to see if fixing it will resolve the PLS by U-turns. If yes, this is where the resolution focus should be.
Use an automated optimization tool like Navigation AI to improve your PLS by U-turns.
Once you’ve improved PLS, set an alert to be the first to know if it starts worsening again.
Try it yourself
Discover how your website performs with real user data.