How to Tell if Google Analytics Is Installed

Wondering if Google Analytics is correctly tracking your website's visitors? It’s a common question, and thankfully, you don’t need to be a developer to find the answer. This guide will walk you through several easy ways to confirm that your Google Analytics tag is installed and working, whether you have access to your website’s backend or not.

What Is a Google Analytics Tracking Code?

Before we check for the code, it helps to know what you’re looking for. The Google Analytics tracking code is a small snippet of JavaScript that you add to your website's HTML. Its job is to collect information about your visitors - like which pages they visit, how long they stay, and where they came from - and send it all back to your Google Analytics account.

There are two main versions of Google Analytics you might encounter:

Universal Analytics (UA): This is the older version. Its tracking IDs look like this: UA-XXXXXXXXX-X. While Google is phasing it out, many sites still have this code installed.
Google Analytics 4: This is the current version. Its Measurement IDs look like this: G-XXXXXXXXXX.

The code itself is typically placed within the <head> section of your website’s HTML. Now, let’s find out if it’s there.

Method 1: Check the Website’s Page Source

One of the most straightforward ways to find the tracking code is by looking directly at your website's source code. You don’t need any special tools for this - just your web browser. This method is incredibly reliable because you're looking at the exact code your browser uses to render the page.

How to View Page Source and Search for the Code:

Open your website in a browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
Right-click anywhere on the page (but not on an image).
From the context menu, select "View Page Source". This will open a new tab showing all the HTML code for that page.
Don't be intimidated by the wall of code! Simply use your browser's find feature by pressing Ctrl + F (on Windows) or Cmd + F (on Mac).

Now, type one of the following into the search box:

For GA4: Search for gtag.js. If you find it, you should see a code snippet that includes your Measurement ID, like this:
For Universal Analytics: You can also search for gtag.js (the newer way to install UA) or analytics.js (the older legacy method). The key is to look for your Tracking ID (UA-XXXXXXX-X). For example:
Using Google Tag Manager: Many sites install Google Analytics via Google Tag Manager (GTM). In this case, you won’t see the GA snippet directly. Instead, search for gtm.js. If you find a GTM snippet, it means that's how your tags are being managed. You’ll need to check inside your GTM account to confirm GA is installed there (more on that later). The GTM code looks like this:

If you find any of these snippets, you can be confident that Google Analytics (or at least Google Tag Manager) is installed on your site.

Method 2: Use Browser Developer Tools

This method is a bit more advanced but incredibly powerful, as it lets you see the actual data being sent to Google Analytics in real-time. It's the best way to confirm that the code isn't just installed, but actively working.

Step-by-Step Guide for the Network Tab:

Navigate to your website.
Open the Developer Tools. You can do this by right-clicking the page and choosing "Inspect," or by pressing F12 (on Windows) or Cmd + Option + I (on Mac).
Click on the "Network" tab within the Developer Tools panel. This tab shows all the resources your browser loads for a webpage.
With the Network tab open, refresh your website. You’ll see a list of files and requests filling up.
In the filter or search box at the top of the Network panel, type collect. This will filter the requests down to just the ones being sent to Google's measurement servers.

If Google Analytics is working, you should see at least one request to a URL that starts with www.google-analytics.com/collect or similar. Clicking on this request will show you all the details being sent, including the page you viewed, your screen resolution, and, most importantly, your GA4 Measurement ID (labeled as tid with a G- value) or UA Tracking ID (tid with a UA- value).

If you see these requests, you’ve not only confirmed that GA is installed, but you’ve also verified that it's successfully communicating with Google's servers.

Method 3: Lean on a Browser Extension

If sifting through code feels daunting, several browser extensions can do the work for you. They scan the page and give you a simple report on what tracking tags are present and whether they are firing correctly.

Using Google Tag Assistant Legacy

Google's own Tag Assistant Legacy is a popular and reliable choice for Chrome.

Install the Tag Assistant Legacy extension from the Chrome Web Store.
Once installed, navigate to your website.
Click the blue Tag Assistant icon in your browser's toolbar.
Click the "Enable" button for the current site and then reload the page.
Click the extension icon again. It will now show you a list of all detected Google tags (Analytics, Tag Manager, Ads, etc.).

The extension uses color codes to tell you the status of your tag:

Green: Success! The tag is firing correctly with no issues.
Blue: Good. The tag fired successfully, but there are minor implementation suggestions. This typically isn't a critical issue.
Yellow: Warning. The tag fired, but with some issues that might lead to inaccurate data. For example, the code might be placed incorrectly in the HTML.
Red: Error. The tag is found but is not firing. This indicates a serious implementation problem that needs to be fixed.

Method 4: Check the Real-Time Report in Google Analytics

The most absolute, undeniable proof that your tracking is working is to see your own visit appear in your Google Analytics reports. The Real-Time report is perfect for this.

How to use the Real-Time Report:

Open two different browser windows. In the first window, log in to your Google Analytics account at https://analytics.google.com.
Navigate to Reports > Real-time.
In the second browser window, open your website. For best results, use an incognito or private window to ensure you appear as a new user.
Click around on a few different pages of your website.
Now, look back at the Real-Time report in your Google Analytics window.

If everything is working, you should see the user count blip up to "1" (or more, if others are on your site). The report cards will update, showing your geographic location and the pages you are currently viewing. If you see yourself in this report, you're all set. Your data is being tracked correctly.

If you don't see your visit, double-check that you're in the right GA account and property. It's a common mistake, especially if you manage multiple websites.

Method 5: For Sites Using Google Tag Manager

As mentioned earlier, many websites use Google Tag Manager to deploy their Analytics code. If you verified that GTM is installed via Method 1 but still want to confirm GA is firing, GTM’s Preview mode is your go-to tool.

How to use GTM Preview Mode:

Log into your Google Tag Manager account and select your website's container.
In the top right corner, click the "Preview" button.
A new window will open. Enter your website’s URL and click "Connect." Your website will open in another new browser tab with a "Tag Assistant Connected" badge in the corner.
Look back at the first Preview Mode tab. On the left-hand menu, you'll see a timeline of events (like "Container Loaded"). Click on an event.
In the main window, you will now see a section called "Tags Fired." If your Google Analytics tag is set up correctly, you’ll see it listed here. If it’s in the "Tags Not Fired" section, there’s an issue with its trigger configuration.

This process provides a definitive, step-by-step look at exactly what tags are firing on your site and what triggers are causing them to fire, making it an invaluable tool for troubleshooting.

Final Thoughts

Confirming your Google Analytics installation is the foundational first step in understanding user behavior on your site. Using methods like checking the source code, leveraging developer tools, using extensions like Tag Assistant, or checking the Real-Time report gives you several pathways to verify that your setup is collecting the data you need to make informed decisions.

Once you've confirmed that data is flowing, the real work begins: turning that raw data into clear, actionable insights. In standard analytics tools, this often means hours wrestling with report builders and piecing together views. At https://www.graphed.com/register, we connect directly to your Google Analytics account, allowing you to create dashboards and reports by simply asking in plain English. No complex configurations - just simple questions that get you instant answers about your marketing performance.