How To Add Google Analytics 4 (GA4) In Shopify

How To Add Google Analytics 4 (GA4) In Shopify

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is currently not a replacement for Google Analytics Universal (GA3). GA4 is data driven and creates a different set of reports. While GA3 collects data based on sessions and pageviews, GA4 collects data based on events and parameters.

GA4 allows you to automatically track events based on enhanced measurements.

However as of writing, for eCommerce tracking, GA3 provides more data compared to GA4.

Shopify currently does not have a solution for adding Google Analytics 4 by default. We will install it manually for all pages, including the checkout. This installation is possible for all Shopify subscription plans.

Requirements

  • Access to Google Analytics (admin)
  • Access to Shopify > Online Store > Preferences
  • Access to Shopify > Online Store > Themes > checkout.liquid
  • Access to Shopify > Settings > Checkout
  • Access to Google Tag Manager (admin)

Step 1 Get Your GA4 Code

Log in to your Google Analytics account and select your default property.

Google Analytics Default Property

Click on Admin in the bottom left corner and select GA4 Setup Assistant under property.

Google Analytics Default Property

Click on Get Started

Google Analytics 4 Property Setup Assistant

Create your new GA4 Property by clicking create.

Create GA4 Property

Click on See Your GA4 Property and a new tab will open.

See Your GA4 Property

Click on Tag Installation.

Google Analytics 4 GA4 Tag Installation

Click on your property underneath all data streams.

Google Analytics Data Streams

Copy your Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID in the top right corner paste in a file for later use or keep this tab open.

Copy Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID

Step 2 Install & Setup Google Tag Manager

Log in to Google Tag Manager. If you don’t have an account, create one using the steps below. If you already have an account skip these steps.

Create Google Tag Manager Account

Create your account and enter all the details with the target platform Web selected. When you click on create, accept the terms and conditions.

Create Account in Google Tag Manager

Now a popup will appear with the tag installation codes. If you have already closed this or have not yet installed it, you can find the code by going to Admin > click on Install Google Tag Manager. (Keep this tab open for use later)

Google Tag Manager Code

Before installing Google Tag Manager, we need to install Google Analytics Universal code if you have not done this yet.

Step 3 Install Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager

You can skip this step if you have already done so.

Go to Google Analytics (Select your normal Universal Analytics account) > Admin > Tracking Info > Tracking Code

Google Analytics Tracking Info

Copy your GTAG, go to Shopify > Online Store > Preferences, paste your code in the Google Analytics section, and click on save.

Install Google Analytics In Shopify

Once saved, reload the page and click on add custom javascript, and if not yet enabled, also enable enhanced eCommerce.

Add Additional Script Shopify

Now open your Google Tag Manager tab again and copy the code in the head section between opening script and closing script tag, as highlighted in the image below.

You can ignore the body tag. The iframe tag is only for users that have javascript disabled. This is because the percentage of users with javascript disabled is so low, and when disabled, in most cases, users can not navigate your website as it uses javascript to function.

Google Tag Manager Code for Shopify

Paste your code in Shopify and Save.

Install Google Tag Manager In Shopify

Go back to Google Tag Manager and copy the head code.

In Shopify, navigate to Online Store > Themes > checkout.liquid and paste your code in the head section.

Add GTM to Shopify Checkout.Liquid

In Shopify, navigate to Settings > Checkout > Order Status Page and paste your code.

Step 4 Install Google Analytics 4 In Shopify Using Tag Manager

In Google Tag Manager, click on Workspace > Overview > Add New Tag

Google Tag Manager Add New Tag

Click on Tag Configuration

Google Tag Manager Tag Configuration

Select Google Analytics GA4 Configuration

Google Analytics GA4 Configuration

Now copy your Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID and paste it in Google Tag Manager.

Google Tag Manager Add GA4 Measurement ID

Now click on Trigger and choose all pages.

Google Tag Manager Add Trigger

Click on Save and keep the renamed tag.

Before the code is live, we need to submit it by clicking on submit in the top right corner.

Submit Google Tag Manager

Give it a name and description and click on Publish.

Publish Google Tag Manager

Within 24 hours your data will start flowing in Google Analytics.

Ecommerce Event Tracking

If you want to track events when users enter your websites, such as tracking product landing page info and purchase data, then you can use Google & Youtube app, and only enable the GA4 setup. (If you don’t want to use the data feed features)

Change Log

  • V3 – 26 April 2022 – Added steps to install GTM tag in the checkout thank you page.
  • V2 – 15 August 2021 – Improved The Setup For All Pages, Suggested By Adam Gorecki

Need Help?
Do you have a question or need specialist support? Get in touch!

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Shawn512
9 months ago

Hey,
Can Shopify Basic use GTM?
Why the official document said only Shopify Plus can use GTM?

Szandra
Szandra
1 year ago

Hi.
I have followed this https://feedarmy.com/kb/adding-adwords-conversion-tracking-to-shopify/ articles of yours.
The conversions are google ads are visible.
The conversions are visible in UA.

But GA4 is not working… I even talked to a google sepcialist and he check that UA and GA4 is connected…but its not working.. so

if i follow this article about gtm conversions.. and do it.. will this mess us my convesrions to google ads.. I mead i have that long code in the shopify check out

If i use gtm based on this article.. i should delete everything else about ga4? from the theme.liquid and the checkout script?

Thank you

Szandra

Stephen
Stephen
1 year ago

Hi, it says “This installation is possible for all Shopify subscription plans.”

However Checkout.liquid is only available to Shopify Plus accounts?

Do non Shopify Plus users just skip this step?

Stephen
Stephen
Reply to  Emmanuel Flossie
1 year ago

Thanks!

Last edited 1 year ago by Stephen
Leo Lee
Leo Lee
1 year ago

There is no checkout liquid in my shopify store, what should I do?

Josin
1 year ago

Hello, I have pasted the global site tag in the theme of shopify, but there is no conversion tracking event (checkout) in GA4, and I also set up ads enhanced conversion, what should I do? thank you very much

Baljinder Singh Brar
2 years ago

By Doing this will conversions record in google ads or i have to do something else?

Lotus Seed
2 years ago

Thank You! – So detailed & easy to follow. For someone non technical it is Impossible! to figure this out on mu own – Much Appreciated đŸ™‚

Lotus Seed
Reply to  Emmanuel Flossie
2 years ago

How long does it usually take for Google ads to recognise the changes made? I changed as per your instructions yesterday, however it is still showing the ‘Make sure that you don’t miss any conversions by fixing your global site tag issues ‘ – Thanks!

Lotus Seed
Reply to  Emmanuel Flossie
2 years ago

Hi Emmanuel – the error I got was “Fix your global site tag issues” followed by “Over 10% of your pages do not have gtag.js or a Google Tag Manager tag” – I googled it and came across your article that I implemented – so it wasn’t the correct solution? thanks

Lotus Seed
Reply to  Emmanuel Flossie
2 years ago

Thank you! Appreciate it – my Google ads are still showing the fix your global tag issue it’s been 3 days – so does it take a few days for Google to update and recognise the steps taken . Thanks

Jhai
Jhai
2 years ago

Hi there! Just want to confirm if this method of installing the GA4 in Shopify allows you to track the conversions in Analytics. The other methods I see only requires installing the code in the themes, but this doesn’t allow you to track conversions.

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