How do I use GA4 with Looker Studio for custom dashboards?

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Applies to: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio)
Last updated: May 2025

Problem

You want to create custom, shareable dashboards using your GA4 data—for stakeholders, clients, or team members—but the built-in GA4 interface is limited in layout and formatting.

Solution

You can connect your GA4 property to Looker Studio, a free reporting and visualization tool by Google. This allows you to build interactive dashboards using GA4 data, apply filters, and style reports for better readability.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Looker Studio

  1. Go to https://lookerstudio.google.com
  2. Click Blank Report or choose a template
  3. If prompted, click Authorize to allow access to your Google account

Step 2: Add a GA4 Data Source

  1. In your blank report, click Add data > Google Analytics
  2. Choose your GA4 property
  3. Select the web data stream (starts with G-)
  4. Click Add, then Add to Report

The data source will now appear in the sidebar and be available for charts, tables, and filters.

Step 3: Create Visualizations

You can now add various components to your dashboard:

  • Time series charts (e.g., sessions over time)
  • Scorecards (e.g., total users, conversions)
  • Tables (e.g., top landing pages)
  • Bar and pie charts (e.g., user by device or source)
  • Filters (e.g., by date, country, event name)

Click Add a chart, then drag it onto your report canvas.

Step 4: Customize Fields and Metrics

  • Use built-in GA4 dimensions and metrics like:
    • eventName, sessionSource, deviceCategory, engagementRate, etc.
  • Create custom fields for calculated metrics (e.g., conversion rate)
  • Rename fields for clarity

Step 5: Share or Schedule Reports

  • Click Share > Manage access to give view or edit rights
  • Use File > Schedule email delivery to send recurring reports
  • Download as PDF or embed into external websites or portals

Notes

  • Looker Studio’s GA4 connector has some sampling and data freshness delays
  • For large-scale or unsampled data, consider exporting GA4 to BigQuery and connecting Looker Studio to BigQuery instead
  • Reports are live and update automatically as new GA4 data is collected

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