How to Check Google Analytics Version

Knowing whether your website is running Universal Analytics or Google Analytics 4 isn't just a technical detail - it's essential for tracking your site's performance correctly. With Google’s recent shift, confirming your setup is the first step to ensuring your data is accurate and available. This guide will walk you through a few simple methods to quickly check which version of Google Analytics you have installed.

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Why Knowing Your GA Version Is So Important

For years, Universal Analytics (UA) was the standard. You could easily spot its Tracking ID, which always started with "UA-". However, Google has officially retired Universal Analytics for standard users as of July 1, 2023. This means that if your site is only running a UA tag, it is no longer collecting new traffic and user data.

The new standard is Google Analytics 4, which operates very differently. GA4 uses an event-based data model instead of the session-based model found in UA. It's designed for a multi-platform world and gives you a more complete picture of the customer journey.

If you're still relying on an old UA setup, you have a blind spot in your data from the moment it stopped processing. Identifying your version is the critical first step to getting back on track with GA4.

Method 1: Check the Google Analytics Interface

The most reliable way to identify your version is by logging into your Google Analytics account directly. The difference between a UA and a GA4 property is immediately obvious once you know where to look.

Step 1: Log in and Look at Your Properties

First, log in to your Google Analytics account. In the top-left corner, you'll see a dropdown menu that lists all the accounts and properties you have access to. Click on it to expand the list.

• Universal Analytics (UA) properties are just a number. They do not have a "UA-" prefix in this view. Confusingly, GA4 properties are also just a number here. You need to look closer.
• GA4 properties are designated by "GA4" written next to the property name for clarity in some older setups, but the best way to tell is by the property ID itself, which we'll cover next.

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Step 2: Check the Property ID Number

The property ID format is the guaranteed way to tell them apart. From your Analytics dashboard:

1. Click on Admin (the gear icon) in the bottom-left corner.
2. This will open a new screen with up to three columns: Account, Property, and (sometimes) View.

This is where the key difference lies:

For a Google Analytics 4 Property:

You will only see two columns: Account and Property. Under the Property column, click on Property Settings.

You will see a "MEASUREMENT ID" that starts with "G-" (e.g., G-XYZ123ABC). This "G-" format confirms you are looking at a GA4 property.

For a Universal Analytics Property:

You will see three columns: Account, Property, and View. The "View" column is exclusive to Universal Analytics. If you see it, you're in a UA property.

To confirm, click on Property Settings under the Property column. Here, you will find a "TRACKING ID" that starts with "UA-" (e.g., UA-12345678-1). This is the classic Universal Analytics ID.

Method 2: Inspect Your Website’s Source Code

If you don't have access to the Google Analytics account but can access your website's code, you can easily check which version is installed.

How to View the Page Source

Go to your website's homepage, right-click anywhere on the page, and select "View Page Source." This will open a new tab containing the HTML code for your site.

Next, use the find feature (press Ctrl+F on Windows or Cmd+F on Mac) to search for snippets of tracking code.

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What to Search For (Code Snippets)

Universal Analytics Snippets

Search for either "UA-" or "analytics.js".

You are looking for a piece of code that looks something like this (known as analytics.js):

<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r,i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date(),a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0],a.async=1,a.src=g,m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'),

ga('create', 'UA-12345678-1', 'auto'),
ga('send', 'pageview'),
</script>

Alternatively, Universal Analytics can also be installed using the Global Site Tag (gtag.js). In that case, the code will contain a "UA-" ID but will look like this:

<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-12345678-1"></script>
<script>
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [],
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments),}
  gtag('js', new Date()),

  gtag('config', 'UA-12345678-1'),
</script>

Finding any code referencing a "UA-" ID means you have Universal Analytics installed.

Google Analytics 4 Snippet

To check for GA4, search for "G-" or "gtag/js".

The tracking snippet for GA4 uses the Global Site Tag and looks similar to the UA version, but with a crucial difference - the Measurement ID format.

<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-ABCDEF1234"></script>
<script>
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [],
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments),}
  gtag('js', new Date()),

  gtag('config', 'G-ABCDEF1234'),
</script>

The ID starts with "G-", which is the definitive sign of a GA4 installation.

Method 3: Use a Free Browser Extension

Perhaps the easiest way for anyone to check a site's GA version - without needing login credentials or coding knowledge - is to use a browser extension.

The go-to tool for this is Google's Tag Assistant Companion.

1. Install the Tag Assistant Companion from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Navigate to the website you want to check.
3. Click the Tag Assistant Companion icon in your browser's toolbar.
4. A popup will appear listing all the Google tags found on the current page.

The report is very straightforward:

• If it finds a Universal Analytics tag, it will say so and display the "UA-" Tracking ID.
• If it finds a Google Analytics 4 tag, it will show the "G-" Measurement ID.

Another popular extension is Wappalyzer, which not only detects analytics tools but also identifies the CMS, web frameworks, payment processors, and other technologies used by a website.

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What If You Find Both UA and GA4 Tags?

It's quite common to find both a "UA-" and a "G-" tag on the same website. This is known as "dual tagging."

Businesses used this strategy during the transition period to send data to both their old Universal Analytics property and their new Google Analytics 4 property simultaneously. The idea was to keep their existing UA reports running while building up historical data in GA4.

If you see both, remember this: your UA tag is no longer collecting new hit data (for standard properties). The GA4 tag is the only one moving forward. You're fine, and your site is ready for the future, but it's important to start using the GA4 property as your primary source of truth.

What Should You Do If You Only Find Universal Analytics?

If you've gone through these checks and discovered that your site is only running a UA tag, it means you stopped tracking new website activity on July 1, 2023. Don't worry, but you should take action quickly.

1. Create a Google Analytics 4 Property: Your first and most important step is to create a new GA4 property in your Google Analytics account. Google provides a setup assistant to guide you through this process.
2. Add the Tracking Tag to Your Website: Once the property is created, you'll get a new "G-" Measurement ID and a tracking code. You need to add this code to your website to start collecting data again.
3. Start Learning GA4: GA4 is a completely different tool from what you’re used to. Its interface, reporting, and metrics (like "Engaged sessions" instead of "Bounce Rate") will take some getting used to.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your Google Analytics version is a quick but fundamental check for any website owner. Whether you check inside the GA admin panel, peek at the source code, or use a browser extension, identifying which tag you're running will tell you if you're set for the future or need to take steps to upgrade from the sunsetted Universal Analytics.

Once you’ve confirmed you’re on GA4, the next challenge is getting comfortable with its new reports and data model. Instead of wrestling with custom reports and a steep learning curve, you can go straight to the answers you need. We built Graphed to make that possible. By connecting your Google Analytics account, you can use plain English to build real-time dashboards and ask questions about your campaign performance, user engagement, or traffic sources instantly, bypassing the complexities of the GA4 interface.