How do I install GA4 with Google Tag Manager?
Applies to: Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Last updated: May 2025
Problem
You want to set up Google Analytics 4 on your website using Google Tag Manager (GTM) instead of manually inserting tracking code. This allows for more flexible, scalable tracking.
Solution
Use Google Tag Manager to deploy a GA4 Configuration tag with your Measurement ID, then publish the changes. GTM lets you manage analytics, marketing, and event tags in one place—without editing your website code directly.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Set Up Google Tag Manager (if you haven’t already)
- Go to https://tagmanager.google.com
- Create an account and a container for your website
- Add the GTM code snippet to every page of your site (in the
<head>and just after<body>)- This only needs to be done once
2. Get Your GA4 Measurement ID
- Go to https://analytics.google.com
- Select your GA4 property
- Click Admin (⚙️) > Data Streams
- Click your Web stream
- Copy your Measurement ID (e.g.,
G-XXXXXXXXXX)
3. Create a GA4 Configuration Tag in GTM
- Open your GTM workspace
- Go to Tags > New
- Choose Tag Type: Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration
- Paste your Measurement ID
- Leave other options at default (you can enable enhanced measurement in GA4 separately)
4. Set the Trigger
- Click Triggering
- Choose All Pages – this ensures the tag fires on every page load
- Save the tag and name it something like “GA4 – Config – All Pages”
5. Publish the Container
- Click Submit in GTM
- Add a version name/description (optional)
- Click Publish
6. Verify Tracking Works
- Visit your site in a new tab
- In GA4, go to Reports > Realtime
- You should see yourself appear as an active user
Optional: Use Preview mode in GTM or the Google Tag Assistant Chrome extension to validate tag firing.
Notes
- You only need one GA4 Configuration tag per website
- You can add additional GA4 Event tags later to track clicks, form submissions, video plays, etc.
- GTM gives you full control over event tracking without touching code again
