How do I use Explorations in GA4 for custom reporting?
Applies to: Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Last updated: May 2025
Problem
You want to create custom, detailed reports in GA4 to analyze user behavior beyond what’s available in the standard reports.
Solution
Use the Explorations tool in GA4 to build interactive, flexible reports using your own dimensions, metrics, filters, and segments. Explorations offer powerful ways to visualize trends, drill into user paths, and segment your audience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Create an Exploration
1. Open the Explorations Tool
- Go to https://analytics.google.com
- Select your GA4 property
- In the left-hand menu, click Explore
2. Choose a Template or Start Blank
GA4 provides templates such as:
- Free-form
- Funnel exploration
- Path exploration
- Segment overlap
- User explorer
Or you can choose Blank to build from scratch.
3. Set Up Your Exploration
Each Exploration has three panels:
- Variables (left): Choose the dimensions and metrics you want to use
- Tab Settings (middle): Define what you want to analyze and how to display it
- Output Table/Chart (right): The results of your exploration
4. Add Dimensions and Metrics
Click the + buttons in the Variables panel to add relevant fields.
Examples:
- Dimensions:
Page title,Event name,Device category,City,Landing page - Metrics:
Sessions,Conversions,Engaged sessions,Revenue,Event count
Drag dimensions and metrics into rows, columns, and values in the Tab Settings panel.
5. Apply Segments or Filters
- Use segments to compare groups of users (e.g., mobile vs. desktop, purchasers vs. non-purchasers)
- Use filters to narrow down the data (e.g., only include users from a specific country or those who triggered a specific event)
6. Choose Visualization Type
Select how the data is displayed:
- Table (default)
- Line chart
- Bar chart
- Scatter plot
- Geo map
- Funnel or path analysis (if using those templates)
7. Save and Export
- Click Save in the upper-right to retain your custom report
- Use Export to download results as CSV, PDF, or share with other users in your organization
Common Use Cases
- Analyze drop-off points in a conversion funnel
- Compare user behavior across traffic sources
- Identify popular user journeys through your site
- Examine event frequency or conversion rates by segment
Notes
- Explorations are not visible to other users unless shared explicitly
- You can create up to 200 explorations per property and 500 per user
- Real-time data is not available in Explorations—use Realtime reports separately
