How do I set up a Google Analytics 4 property?
Applies to: Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Last updated: May 2025
Problem
You want to start using Google Analytics 4 to track website or app traffic, but you’re not sure how to create a new GA4 property and get it collecting data.
Solution
To start using GA4, you’ll create a new property in your Google Analytics account, then set up a data stream (e.g., website), and finally install the tracking code on your site.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Go to Google Analytics
- Visit https://analytics.google.com
- Sign in with your Google account
2. Create a New GA4 Property
- Click the Admin (⚙️) gear icon in the lower-left corner
- Under the Account column, select an existing account or create a new one
- Under the Property column, click “+ Create Property”
- Enter:
- Property name (e.g., “My Website GA4”)
- Time zone and currency
- Click Next, then select your business category and size
- Click Create
3. Set Up a Data Stream
- Choose the platform: Web, iOS app, or Android app
(Most users select Web for websites) - Enter:
- Website URL
- Stream name (e.g., “Main Site”)
- Click Create Stream
4. Get Your Measurement ID
- After creating the data stream, you’ll see a Measurement ID (e.g.,
G-XXXXXXXXXX) - This is the unique identifier you’ll use to send data to GA4
5. Add GA4 to Your Website
Option A: Using gtag.js
- Copy the provided global site tag from the setup instructions
- Paste it into your site’s
<head>section on every page:<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XXXXXXXXXX"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-XXXXXXXXXX'); </script>
Option B: Using Google Tag Manager
- If you use GTM, you can add GA4 via a GA4 Configuration Tag using your Measurement ID
6. Verify Installation
- Go back to Admin > Data Streams
- Open your stream and click “Realtime” in the left-hand menu
- Visit your website in another tab — you should appear as an active user in real time
Notes
- GA4 is now the default property type — Universal Analytics has been sunset as of July 2023
- You can create multiple streams under a single GA4 property (e.g., one for website, one for app)
- Use Google Tag Assistant or the GA DebugView to test if tags are firing correctly
