How to Find UA Code for Google Analytics

Your Google Analytics Tracking ID, often called a UA code, is the critical piece of information that connects your website to your analytics account. It's what tells Google where to send the visitor data it collects from your site. We'll show you exactly how to locate your Universal Analytics code and also explain how its equivalent works in the newer Google Analytics 4.

What Exactly is a Google Analytics Tracking ID (UA Code)?

Think of the Tracking ID as a specific mailing address for your website's data. When a user visits your site, a small piece of JavaScript code (the Global Site Tag) is triggered. This code bundles up anonymous information about the visit and sends it to Google's servers. The Tracking ID within that code tells Google, "This data belongs to Property X in Account Y."

The Anatomy of a Universal Analytics (UA) Code

The code itself has a very specific format, which helps identify its purpose and origin:

Example: UA-12345678-1

• UA: This prefix tells you it's for a "Universal Analytics" property, which was the standard version of Google Analytics for many years.
• 12345678: This is your unique personal account number. All properties within the same account will share this number.
• 1: This is the property index number. Your first property under an account would be -1, the second would be -2, and so on.

Without this unique ID, Google Analytics would have no way of associating your website traffic with your specific analytics property, and you wouldn't get any data in your reports.

An Important Note: Universal Analytics vs. Google Analytics 4

Before you go hunting for a UA code, it's vital to understand a major shift that has happened with Google Analytics. As of July 1, 2023, standard Universal Analytics properties stopped processing new traffic data. Google has fully transitioned to a new platform called Google Analytics 4, or GA4.

What does this mean for you?

• If you created your Google Analytics property after October 14, 2020, you likely have a GA4 property by default, which does not use a "UA-" code. Instead, GA4 uses a Measurement ID that starts with "G-".
• Older Universal Analytics properties still exist so you can view your historical data, but they are no longer collecting new information.

You might still need your old UA code to check old connections to third-party tools or for historical auditing. However, for any new website tracking or new integrations, you should be using your GA4 Measurement ID.

How to Find Your Tracking ID for Universal Analytics

If you have an older Universal Analytics property and need to find its UA code, the process is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to Google Analytics: Go to the Google Analytics homepage and sign in with your Google account.
2. Go to the Admin Panel: Find and click the ‘Admin’ button, represented by a gear icon ⚙️ at the bottom left of your screen.
3. Select the Right Account and Property: The Admin page has three columns: Account, Property, and View.
4. Navigate to Tracking Info: Still in the Property column, find the section labeled Tracking Info and click on it.
5. Click on ‘Tracking Code’: A dropdown menu will appear under 'Tracking Info'. Click on ‘Tracking Code’ from this menu.
6. Locate Your ID and Tag: The very first thing you'll see on the next screen is your Tracking ID displayed in a large font (e.g., UA-XXXXXX-Y). You will also see your full Global Site Tag (gtag.js) in a box below. This script is what you would typically copy and paste into your website's code.

That's it! You've successfully found the tracking ID for your Universal Analytics property.

Can't Seem to Find It? Common Scenarios

Running into trouble? Don't worry. Here are a few common reasons why you might not be seeing your UA code where you expect it.

You're Looking at a GA4 Property

This is the most frequent issue. If you're in the Admin section and don't see an option for Tracking Info in the Property column, you're almost certainly logged into a GA4 property. GA4 structures things differently. Instead of Tracking Info and View, you'll see options like Data Streams and Setup Assistant.

You Don’t Have the Right Permissions

Google Analytics has different user permission levels (Administrator, Editor, Analyst, Viewer). To see sensitive information like the Tracking Code, you need at least Editor-level permissions for the property. If you only have Viewer or Analyst access, the Tracking Info section might not be visible to you. You'll need to contact a property administrator to upgrade your access.

You Created Your Account After GA4 Was Introduced

If you signed up for Google Analytics for the first time in the last couple of years, you may have never created a Universal Analytics property at all. If you don't see any properties in your account with a "UA-" prefix, it means your setup is GA4-native, and you should be looking for your "G-" Measurement ID instead.

How to Find Your GA4 Measurement ID (The New Standard)

For all modern tracking, the Measurement ID is what you need. Finding it is just as easy as finding the old UA code.

1. Go to Admin: Log in to your Google Analytics account and navigate to the Admin section by clicking the gear icon ⚙️.
2. Select Property: In the 'Property' column, ensure your GA4 property (the one without a "UA-" prefix) is selected.
3. Go to Data Streams: Within the 'Property' column, click on Data Streams.
4. Choose your Web Stream: You will see a list of data streams you've set up (e.g., for your website, iOS app, or Android app). Click on your web stream, which is usually named after your website URL.
5. Find Your Measurement ID: A new panel will open with stream details. In the top right corner, you will see your Measurement ID, which always starts with "G-".

You can copy this ID to paste into tools like Google Tag Manager, your WordPress plugin's configuration (like MonsterInsights or GA Google Analytics), or any other integration that supports GA4.

Where Do You Use Your Tracking ID?

Once you've found your tracking identifier (whether it's the old UA code or new G- ID), what do you do with it? Here are the most common places it's used.

1. Website Code (Manual Installation)

The code is embedded within a JavaScript snippet called the Global Site Tag (gtag.js). This full snippet needs to be placed within the <head> section of every single page on your website. Manually editing your site’s code can be risky if you're not comfortable with HTML, so many people choose an easier method.

2. Content Management System (CMS) Plugins

If your website is built on a platform like WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace, they often have built-in sections or recommended plugins to add Google Analytics. Instead of asking you to paste the entire code snippet, these integrations will often just ask for your Tracking ID or Measurement ID. You simply paste the ID into the designated field, and the platform handles the rest. This is a much safer and easier approach for most users.

3. Google Tag Manager (GTM)

This is the most flexible and recommended method for managing tags on your site. With GTM, you install the tag manager script on your site just once. Then, within the GTM interface, you create a new tag for Google Analytics. GTM will have a predefined tag template where you just need to paste your Measurement ID (for GA4) or Tracking ID (for the older UA). It keeps your site's code cleaner and makes it easier to manage all your marketing and analytics tags from one place.

Final Thoughts

Finding your legacy Universal Analytics UA code is a simple task accomplished through the Admin panel, though it's important to remember this type of property no longer collects data. For all modern tracking needs, you should locate and use the 'G-' Measurement ID found in your GA4 property's Data Streams settings.

Dealing with tracking IDs is just the first step. The real work is turning all that data into useful insights. Logging into different platforms like Google Analytics, Shopify, Facebook Ads, and your CRM to build reports is time-consuming. At Graphed, we fixed that. Just connect your data sources once, and we allow you to build dashboards or ask for specific numbers simply by using natural language. It's like having an analyst on your team who works in seconds, giving you back hours to focus on strategy instead of report-building.