[GA4] Add a Google Analytics 4 property (to a site that already has Analytics)

Set up a Google Analytics 4 (GA4) property alongside your existing Universal Analytics property

This article is for website owners who use Universal Analytics and want to create a GA4 property. Learn more about GA4 properties and the next generation of Analytics

The Google Analytics 4 Property Setup Assistant tool creates a new GA4 property that collects data alongside your existing UA property. Your UA property remains unchanged. You can access both properties using the property selector or Admin page.

In this article:

How it works

The Google Analytics 4 Property Setup Assistant tool:

  • Creates a new GA4 property.
  • Copies the property name, website URL, timezone, currency, and other settings from your UA property.
  • Activates enhanced measurement in your GA4 property.
  • Creates a connection between your UA and GA4 properties. This connection makes it possible for you to use Setup Assistant in your Google Analytics 4 property to migrate configurations from your UA property to your GA4 property.
  • Sets the GA4 property to receive data from your existing Google tag, if you choose to reuse an existing site tag.

The GA4 Setup Assistant wizard does not backfill your new GA4 property with historical data. Your GA4 property only collects data going forward. To see historical data, use the reports in your UA property.

Create a GA4 property

To use the GA4 Setup Assistant, you need the Editor or Administrator role for the account. You can use the tool regardless of whether your website pages have a Google Analytics tag (gtag.js or analytics.js), a Google Ads tag (gtag.js), or a Google Tag Manager container.

  1. In Google Analytics, click Settings Admin (lower left).
  2. In the Account column, make sure that your desired account is selected. (If you only have one Google Analytics account, it's already selected.)
  3. In the Property column, select the UA property that currently collects data for your website.
  4. In the Property column, click GA4 Setup Assistant. It's the first option in the Property column.
    Don't see GA4 Setup Assistant? If you only see a grayed out Property Settings in the Property column, you have permissions in the View but not in the property or account. You need the Editor or Administrator role for the account to use the tool.
  5. Choose how you want to migrate your Universal Analytics property. Note that the available options may vary:
    • I want to create a new Google Analytics 4 property:
      Migrate your basic settings, which includes migrating your tags, Google signals activation, and remarketing settings. This option does not migrate goals, audiences, links, and bidding in Google Ads.

      To use this option, click Get Started. (Skip to step 6.)
       
    • I want a new Google Analytics 4 property set up for me aligned as much as possible with this property's settings:
      Migrate your basic settings, plus additional configurations, which include goals, audiences, links, and bidding in Google Ads. This option follows the same process as automatically created GA4 properties. Learn how it works
      Note: If your Universal Analytics property doesn't have any views, this option is unavailable.
      To use this option, click Create and configure a new property. On the Create a new Google Analytics 4 property page, you have the option to check Enable data collection using existing tags to include your existing tags in the migration. Then, click Create property.
      Note: The full migration takes up to five business days to complete. We send email notifications to inform users of new GA4 property creation.
  6. (If you chose I want to create a new Google Analytics 4 property in step 5) On the Create a new Google Analytics 4 property page, you'll have one of the following options, depending on how your site is currently tagged:
  7. (If you chose Create and continue in step 6) On the Set up a Google tag page, install the Google tag manually (the first option below) or select the option that best describes your situation and follow the instructions to finish creating your new GA4 property.

    You will see some of the following options, depending on how the site is configured.
     

    Install manually

    Choose this option if one of the following is true:

    • Your website builder/CMS does not yet support the Google tag (gtag.js)
    • You or your web developer are manually tagging your website
    • Your website is tagged with analytics.js
    • You use Google Tag Manager

    How to manually install the Google tag

    When you select "Install manually," you will see the JavaScript snippet for the Google tag.

    To establish a connection between your website and Google Analytics, copy and paste the entire Google tag in the code of every page of your website, immediately after the <head> element. Don’t add more than one Google tag to each page.

    Your Google tag is the entire section of code that appears, beginning with:

    <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->

    and ending with

    </script>

    If you're using a website builder or Content Management System (CMS) that doesn't yet support the Google tag, copy the entire Google tag and paste it into the platform's custom HTML field.

    Then, click Done to finish creating your new GA4 property.

    When you've set up your tag, you need to configure your Google tag settings

    If your website is tagged with analytics.js, either manually or with a CMS

    If your website is manually tagged with analytics.js, don't remove the old analytics.js tag when you add the Google tag (above). The analytics.js tag will continue to collect data for your UA property. The Google tag (gtag.js) that you're adding will collect data for your new GA4 property.

    If you're using a website builder/CMS that tags your pages with analytics.js, you can use the custom HTML feature to add the Google tag to your pages. Leave the analytics.js tag in place so that Analytics still sends data to your UA property.

    The following table lists website builders and CMSs that use analytics.js and require that you add your Google tag as custom HTML in order to have both tags on your site.

    Copy and paste your Google tag to your website using your CMS's custom HTML feature.

    Use the Realtime report to verify that you're receiving data.

    Website builder / CMS Options to add custom HTML
    Blogger Instructions
    Cart.com Contact Cart.com support for instructions
    Salesforce (Demandware) Contact Salesforce support for instructions
    VTEX Contact VTEX support for instructions
    Weebly Instructions
    If you add your tag using Google Tag Manager

    For basic data collection, follow the Google Tag Manager help center instructions to add the Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration tag using your Google Tag Manager account.

    After you're finished, make sure to click Done in the GA4 Setup Assistant to finish creating your connected GA4 property.

    Install with a CMS or website builder

    If you manage your site using certain website builders or Content Management System (CMS) platforms, like Wix or Duda, you can finish setting up your Google tag without making changes to your code.

    If you manage your site using one of the platforms listed on the Installation instructions page, select your platform and follow the instructions to finish setting up your Google tag without making changes to your code.

    Then, click Done to finish creating your new GA4 property.

    If your platform doesn't yet support the Google tag, use the previous "Install manually" option.

    We're continually updating the CMS instructions to make it as easy as possible to set up your Google tag. If you don't see your platform on the Installation instructions page, you might still be able to paste your Google tag ID into your website builder or CMS. Before installing manually, check for your platform on this list.

    Learn more about installing your Google tag with a website builder.

    Install with {CMS}

    You are seeing this option because Google has identified an integration between your site and a specific Content Management System (CMS). This option lets you finish setting up your Google tag without making changes to your code using the existing CMS integration.

    Follow the instructions to finish setting up your Google tag without making changes to your code. Then, click Confirm to finish creating your new GA4 property.

    If your platform doesn't yet support the Google tag, use the previous "Install manually" option.

    We're continually updating the CMS instructions to make it as easy as possible to set up your Google tag. If you don't see your platform on the Installation instructions page, you might still be able to paste your Google tag ID into your website builder or CMS. Before installing manually, check for your platform on this list.

    Learn more about installing your Google tag with a website builder.

    Use a Google tag you already have

    Select this option to reuse an existing Google tag that you have admin access to.

    Click Choose a tag. You'll see:

    • A list of tags you have admin access to. (If you don't see the tag you are looking for, you might not have the appropriate user permissions to make changes to that Google tag.)
    • Tag IDs
    • Whether or not the tag was detected on your website. Choose a tag labeled "On site" to complete setup without making changes to your site's code. If you choose a tag labeled "Not detected", you might need to install it. (Note that if your site has low traffic volume, your tag may be shown as "Not detected".)
    • The destinations that are associated with the tag

    Select the Google tag you want to use, then click Confirm to finish creating your new GA4 property.

    Users on your property will be added as users on the tag. Learn more about managing your Google tag

    Use the Google tag found on your website

    Use the tag detected on your site to complete setup without making any additional changes to your site's code. Google will add the Google Analytics property to the tag found on your site.

    Use a different Google tag

    Choose this option if Google detected a tag on your website, but you want to use a different tag from the one Google detected.

    Create a new Google tag

    Choose this option if Google detected a tag on your website, but you want to install a new Google tag on your website manually instead.

    How to manually install the Google tag

    When you select this option, you will see the JavaScript snippet for the Google tag.

    To establish a connection between your website and Google Analytics, copy and paste the entire Google tag in the code of every page of your website, immediately after the <head> element. Don’t add more than one Google tag to each page.

    Your Google tag is the entire section of code that appears, beginning with:

    <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->

    and ending with

    </script>

    If you're using a website builder or Content Management System (CMS) that doesn't yet support the Google tag, copy the entire Google tag and paste it into the platform's custom HTML field.

    Then, click Done to finish creating your new GA4 property.

    When you've set up your tag, you need to configure your Google tag settings

Finish setting up your new GA4 property

When you're done, you'll see "You have successfully connected your properties" at the top of your Google Analytics 4 Property Setup Assistant page.

Make a note of your GA4 property's name so you can find it later. If your Universal Analytics property name is "Example property", your GA4 property name will be "Example property - GA4".

Click See your GA4 property to open Setup Assistant in your new GA4 property. Setup Assistant in Google Analytics 4 properties guides you through recommended features and settings to help you finish setting up your GA4 property.

It can take up to 30 minutes for data to begin appearing in your new GA4 property.

To verify that data is being collected, browse your website, then select Realtime from the report navigation. You should see activity in the Realtime report. You can also refer to [UA→GA4] Compare reports between Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics to compare the reports you're familiar with in Universal Analytics and their counterparts in your new Google Analytics 4 property.

If you have an existing Firebase project, you can link this GA4 property to it. However, you have to do this from Firebase. Learn how.

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