Why did GA4 direct traffic spike after I added or changed a consent banner?

Probably because the banner changed what GA4 can store or read, not because everyone suddenly started typing your URL. GA4 uses `(direct) / (none)` when it has no clear referral source, and consent settings can change tracking behavior: if analytics storage is denied, Analytics cookies and activity tracking may not work as before. Check that your consent default runs before the Google tag, that the banner sends the expected `analytics_storage` signal after a choice, and that your tag still fires once consent is granted. Then compare the spike by country, browser, device, and consent choice. Also rule out broken UTMs or redirects, since either can make legitimate campaign/referral visits look direct.