What is My Google Analytics ID?

Finding your Google Analytics ID is the first critical step to understanding how visitors interact with your website. This guide will show you exactly how to locate your ID and explain which version you need, without any unnecessary detours. We will cover how to find your Measurement ID for Google Analytics 4 and, for historical context, the old Tracking ID from Universal Analytics (UA).

UA vs. GA4: A Tale of Two Analytics IDs

Before you start digging through settings, it's important to know which ID you're looking for. In mid-2023, Google officially retired Universal Analytics (UA) and made Google Analytics 4 the standard. While most people will only interact with GA4 now, you might still encounter UA IDs in older setups or plugins.

The two IDs have distinct formats, making them easy to tell apart:

• Universal Analytics (UA) ID: This format always starts with "UA," followed by a series of numbers. It looks like this: UA-12345678-1
• Google Analytics 4 ID: Officially called the "Measurement ID," this format begins with "G," followed by letters and numbers. It looks like this: G-ABCDE12345

For any new website or integration, you will almost certainly need your GA4 Measurement ID (the "G-" one). Older plugins or themes that haven't been updated might still ask for a "UA-" code, but these are becoming increasingly rare.

How to Find Your Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID

If you set up Google Analytics any time after 2020, you're using GA4. Finding your Measurement ID is a straightforward process that takes less than a minute. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Log in and Navigate to the Admin Section

First, log into your Google Analytics account. Once you're on the main dashboard, look for the gear icon labeled "Admin" in the bottom-left corner of your screen and click on it.

Step 2: Check Your Account and Property

The Admin screen is divided into two columns: Account and Property. Make sure you have the correct account and property selected in the dropdown menus at the top of these columns. If you only have one website connected to Analytics, it should be selected by default. If you manage multiple sites, double-check that you've chosen the right one to avoid tracking the wrong data.

<em>(It’s a common mistake! Always confirm you're working in the correct property before copying any codes.)</em>

Step 3: Open Your Data Streams

In the "Property" column (the one on the right), find and click on the "Data Streams" option. A data stream is simply a source of data flowing into your Analytics property – in this case, your website.

Step 4: Select the Correct Web Stream

You will see a list of installed data streams (likely just one for your website). Click on it to open its details. The stream will probably be named after your website's URL.

Step 5: Copy Your Measurement ID

That's it! In the top-right corner of the data stream details panel, you will see your "Measurement ID" clearly displayed, starting with "G-". Click the copy icon next to it to add it to your clipboard. This is the ID you'll paste into Google Tag Manager, your website's theme settings, or your analytics plugin.

Finding Your Universal Analytics (UA) Tracking ID (For Legacy Setups)

Since Universal Analytics no longer processes new data, you'll rarely need to find this ID for new projects. However, you might need it for historical reference or to manage an older integration. If your account was created before 2020, you might still find a UA property lingering.

Here’s how to find that classic "UA-" tracking code:

Step 1: Navigate to Admin

Just like with GA4, log into Google Analytics and click the "Admin" gear icon in the bottom-left.

Step 2: Select Your Universal Analytics Property

Using the dropdown menu in the "Property" column, select the Universal Analytics property you wish to inspect. GA usually makes it clear which properties are UA properties, they have "UA-" right in front of their property number, unlike GA4 properties which just have a number.

Step 3: Go to Property Settings

Once you've selected a UA Property, look for "Property Settings" in the "Property" column. It should be one of the top options. Click on it.

Step 4: Locate Your Tracking ID

Your "Tracking ID," starting with "UA-", will be displayed at the very top of the Property Settings page under "Basic settings." You can copy it from there.

If you're in the right section but also need the full tracking code snippet, you can go back a screen and click on "Tracking Info" > "Tracking Code" under the Property column. This gives you the full JavaScript snippet with your ID embedded in it.

Measurement ID vs. Property ID vs. Data Stream ID: What’s the Difference?

When poking around in GA4, you might notice a few different IDs and feel confused. Here's a simple breakdown to clear things up:

• Measurement ID (G-XXXX): This is the one you care about. Think of it as your website's public address for sending data to Google Analytics. You use this ID to connect your site to GA4.
• Property ID: This is a simple number (e.g., 123456789) found under "Property Settings" in the admin panel. It's an internal identifier for the property itself and is not used for website tracking. You’ll rarely, if ever, need this for external tools.
• Data Stream ID: This is another internal, numbers-only ID found in your data stream settings, right below the Measurement ID. It's for Google's internal use to identify the stream itself. Ignore it for everyday tracking setup.

To put it simply: when a plugin or tool asks for your "Google Analytics ID," it means the Measurement ID that starts with "G-".

Where Do You Actually Use Your Google Analytics ID?

Finding your ID is just a means to an end. The real goal is to install it on your site to start collecting data. Here are the most common places you will paste your Measurement ID:

1. Google Tag Manager (GTM): This is the most flexible and recommended method. Instead of putting lots of scripts directly on your site, you put a single GTM script on it. Then, within the GTM interface, you add a "tag" for GA4 and paste your Measurement ID there.
2. Content Management System (CMS) Plugins: WordPress users will often use a plugin like Google Site Kit, MonsterInsights, or WPCode. These plugins provide a dedicated field where you just paste your ID, and they handle the rest.
3. Website Builder platforms: Platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix have built-in integrations for website analytics. You can navigate to the marketing or analytics section of your settings, find the Google Analytics field, and paste your G- ID there.
4. Theme or Template Settings: Some website themes, especially on platforms like WordPress or HubSpot, include a specific spot in the theme customization panel to add tracking ID codes.
5. Directly in Your Website's Code: For those comfortable with HTML, you can paste the full Google Tag (gtag.js) snippet directly into the <head> section of your site's code. You get this snippet from your data stream details in GA4 by clicking on "View Tag Instructions". This method is best for developers or custom-built websites.

Choose the method that you're most comfortable with. For most users, a dedicated plugin or platform setting is the easiest and safest way to go.

Final Thoughts

Finding your Google Analytics ID is a simple task that unlocks a treasure trove of data about your website’s performance. For modern setups, you'll need the GA4 Measurement ID (starting with "G-"), which lives inside the Admin panel under "Data Streams." Once you have it, you can plug it into your CMS or GTM to start tracking user behavior.

Once you've got your analytics tracking properly, the next challenge is turning all that raw data into actual insights. Instead of spending hours learning complex reports or trying to piece together a story from dozens of metrics, we built Graphed to do the heavy lifting for you. Simply connect your analytics and other data sources, then ask questions in plain English to build real-time dashboards and get instant answers about your business performance. This approach saves countless hours otherwise spent on manual reporting and helps you make better decisions, faster.