Where is Tracking Info in Google Analytics?

Putting the Google Analytics tracking code on your website is the first, most essential step to understanding how people find and use your site. Without it, you’re flying blind. This article will show you exactly where to find your tracking information in Google Analytics 4 and what to do with it once you have it.

What Is Google Analytics Tracking Info Anyway?

Your Google Analytics tracking info is a unique identifier and a snippet of JavaScript code that connects a specific website to your Google Analytics account. When a user visits a page on your site, this code runs in their browser and sends information about their visit - like which page they're on, what device they're using, and how they got to your site - back to your Google Analytics reports.

You’ll hear a few different terms used for this tracking information:

Measurement ID: This is the new identifier for Google Analytics 4. It's a string of characters that looks like G-XXXXXXXXXX. This ID is used to tell Google Analytics which specific property and data stream to send the collected data to.
Global Site Tag (gtag.js): This is the full JavaScript snippet that contains your Measurement ID. This is the code you will actually add to your website's HTML to enable tracking. It handles all the heavy lifting of data collection.

UA Tracking ID vs. GA4 Measurement ID: A Quick Clarification

If you've used Google Analytics before, you might be looking for a "Tracking ID" that starts with "UA-" (like UA-12345678-1). This was the format for the old Universal Analytics (UA), which Google has now phased out.

Google Analytics 4 uses a different system. Instead of talking about "Tracking IDs," GA4 talks about "Data Streams" and their corresponding "Measurement IDs." A data stream is essentially a source of data flowing into your GA4 property - like your website or a mobile app.

So, if you're looking for your "Tracking ID" in a new GA4 account, what you're actually searching for is your "Measurement ID" and the associated gtag.js code snippet. They serve the same purpose: connecting your site to Google Analytics.

How to Find Your Google Analytics Tracking Info

Finding your G-ID and the full tracking code is straightforward once you know where to click. It’s tucked away in the Admin section inside your "Data Stream" settings. Let’s walk through it step-by-step.

Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Measurement ID and Tracking Code

Follow these quick steps to locate your GA4 tracking information:

Log in to Google Analytics: Head over to your Google Analytics account.
Go to the Admin Section: In the bottom-left corner of the screen, click on the gear icon labeled Admin. This takes you to the settings area for your account.
Select Your Account and Property: On the Admin page, you'll see columns for "Account" and "Property." Make sure you have the correct account and the specific GA4 property you're working with selected.
Navigate to Data Streams: In the "Property" column, find and click on Data Streams. This is where you manage the data sources connected to your property, such as your website.
Select Your Web Stream: You will see a list of your data streams. Click on the one that corresponds to your website. Usually, it will be named after your site's URL.
Find Your Measurement ID: At the top right of the next screen, you’ll see your Measurement ID, starting with "G-". You can easily copy this by clicking the icon next to it. This ID is what you'll use in many website platform integrations or plugins.
Access the Full Tracking Code: To get the full JavaScript snippet, look for the section called "Google tag" and click on View tag instructions. A new tab will open with Google's tag instructions. Under the "Install manually" tab, you'll find the full Global Site Tag (gtag.js) code snippet. This is the code you need to copy if you're adding it directly to your site’s HTML.

That's it! You now have both your Measurement ID and the complete tracking code ready to go.

How to Install the Google Analytics Tracking Code on Your Website

Now that you've got your hands on the tracking code, it's time to put it on your website. Where it goes depends on your website platform and technical comfort level. Here are the three most common methods.

Method 1: Direct Installation (Adding the Snippet to Your HTML)

This is the classic, manual method. It involves editing your website’s theme or template files to add the code snippet directly into your site’s HTML.

Copy the full gtag.js snippet you found in the "View tag instructions" section.
Paste the code snippet immediately after the <head> tag on every page of your website. If you use a templating system or a "header" file, you can often add it in one place, and it will appear on every page automatically.

This method works for any website but requires comfort with editing code. Make a backup before you make any changes!

Method 2: Using Google Tag Manager (GTM)

Google Tag Manager is a flexible and powerful way to manage your tracking codes. Instead of adding a bunch of scripts to your site's code, you just add the GTM container snippet. Then, you can manage all your other tags (including GA4, Facebook Pixel, etc.) from within the GTM interface.

To set it up:

Inside your GTM account, create a new "Google Analytics" tag.
Choose "Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration".
Enter your Measurement ID, you don’t need the whole snippet, just that G-XXXXXXXXXX ID you found.
Set the tag to trigger on "All Pages".
Save, preview, and then publish your container.

This is often the preferred method for anyone planning to use more than just one tracking script on their site.

Method 3: Platform & CMS Plugins (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)

Most modern website builders and content management systems (CMS) make this process incredibly easy. You usually don't have to touch any code at all. Instead, there's a dedicated field where you can just paste your Measurement ID.

For WordPress Users: You can use a plugin like Google Site Kit, MonsterInsights, or Rank Math. During setup, these plugins will simply ask you to authorize your Google account or paste in your Measurement ID.
For Shopify Users: Shopify has a built-in Google Analytics integration. Navigate to Online Store > Preferences, and you’ll find a section for Google Analytics where you simply paste your code snippet. Shopify's direct GA4 integration handles everything for you.
For Wix/Squarespace Users: These platforms also have straightforward marketing integrations. Look for the "Marketing Integrations" or a similar section in your site's settings, choose Google Analytics, and paste your Measurement ID.

Using a plugin or built-in integration is the safest and easiest route for most people, as it removes the risk of accidentally breaking your site’s code.

How to Verify Your Google Analytics Tracking is Working

After installing the code, you need to make sure it's actually working. There's no point in setting it up if it isn't collecting data properly. Luckily, this is easy to check.

Check the Realtime Report

The simplest way to see if your tracking is live is with Google's Realtime report.

Go to your Google Analytics property.
From the navigation panel on the left side, go to Reports > Realtime.
Open a new browser tab or use your phone to browse your website.
Within a few seconds, a "Users in Last 30 Minutes" chart should show at least one user (which would be you!). You can click around on different pages to see the page titles updated in the report.

If you see your own activity, you're all set! It can sometimes take 24-48 hours for regular report data to fully process, but Realtime is instant confirmation that data is being recorded.

Use the Google Tag Assistant Extension

A more technical but very useful method is using Google's Tag Assistant Chrome extension. Simply navigate on your website and click the extension icon to see which Google tags are active and firing correctly. If you see your GA4 tag, then you're all good.

Final Thoughts

Finding your Google Analytics Measurement ID and installation code is the first small mountain to climb on your path to data-driven decisions. You simply navigate to Admin, go to Data Stream to find your Measurement ID, find your tracking snippet, and add it to your sites as you desire.

Once you get data flowing into the right places, Graphed takes all the difficulty and hassle out of analyzing all of the information from a broad perspective. Instead of getting stuck at finding where your tags are or where to even put them, you link your GA4 property directly, and you can simply chat to ask specific questions like "show me which campaigns had the lowest cost per conversion in March." That gives marketers and business leaders the freedom to focus directly on strategies that boost results no matter what hassle-free data they must organize for any particular report they are looking for. Graphed allows you to create these full dashboard experiences using only English, which saves hours of work. It’s like getting insight directly, instead of having to learn how all connections need to be made prior to a single request.