Key takeaways
- In GA4 the Google Analytics tracking ID is called the measurement ID and starts with G-. The old UA- tracking ID belonged to Universal Analytics, which stopped collecting data in 2023.
- Find it in Admin, then Data Streams, then click your web stream. It is at the top right of the stream details.
- You may also see a Google tag ID starting with GT-. It refers to the same tag and works in the same places.
- Paste the ID into your CMS, plugin, or Google Tag Manager, then confirm with Realtime or the Tag Assistant.
Every tool that wants to connect to your analytics asks for the Google Analytics tracking ID, and since the switch to GA4 that ID has a new name and a new home. People search for how to find Google Analytics tracking ID, the Google Analytics ID, or how to find GA4 measurement ID, and they all mean the same code. This guide shows where to find it in under a minute, explains the G-, GT-, and UA- prefixes, and covers how to check the tag is actually collecting data. It applies to GA4 as it looks on September 16, 2026.
We build Zutrix, an SEO platform that reports rankings alongside your Search Console and Analytics data, which is why this question reaches us so often. There is nothing to sell here. If you want to see what to do with Analytics once it is connected, our SEO KPIs guide covers the numbers worth tracking.
What the Google Analytics tracking ID is now
The tracking ID is the code that tells the Google Analytics script which property to send data to. In Universal Analytics it was the UA tracking ID and looked like UA-12345678-1. In Google Analytics 4 it is called the measurement ID and looks like G-ABC123XYZ. The Google Analytics tracking code is the script that carries that ID on every page. Universal Analytics stopped processing data in July 2023 and its properties were deleted in 2024, so any UA- ID you find is dead.
You may also come across a Google tag ID that starts with GT-. Google introduced it so one tag can serve Analytics and Ads together. For most purposes the G- measurement ID and the GT- tag ID are interchangeable. Plugins and platforms accept either.
| Prefix | Name | Belongs to | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| G- | Measurement ID | GA4 web data stream | Current, use this |
| GT- | Google tag ID | The Google tag, shared with Ads | Current, interchangeable with G- |
| UA- | Tracking ID | Universal Analytics | Dead since 2023, replace it |
| GTM- | Container ID | Google Tag Manager | Different product, not an Analytics ID |
G-
Prefix of a GA4 measurement ID
2023
Year Universal Analytics stopped collecting data
60 sec
Time to find the ID once you know where it is
How to find your Google Analytics tracking ID in GA4
- 1
Open Google Analytics and pick the property
Go to analytics.google.com. Use the property picker at the top left to choose the site. If you manage several, check the name and the URL under it.
- 2
Click Admin
The gear icon at the bottom left of the screen. Admin opens with Account settings on the left and Property settings on the right.
- 3
Open Data Streams
In the Property column, under Data collection and modification, click Data streams. You see one row per stream: web, iOS, or Android.
- 4
Click your web stream
The row with your website URL. The stream details panel opens.
- 5
Copy the measurement ID
At the top right of the panel, next to the stream name and URL, is the measurement ID starting with G-. Click the copy icon.
- 6
Check the Google tag ID if a platform asks for it
Scroll down to the Google tag section and click Configure tag settings. The tag ID starting with GT- appears there, along with the G- ID it maps to.
Where to put the tracking ID
The measurement ID goes wherever your site loads the Google tag. Most sites do it one of four ways. A CMS field, such as the Analytics box in Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix. A WordPress plugin like Site Kit or MonsterInsights. Google Tag Manager, where a GA4 configuration tag holds the ID. Or the raw Google tag snippet pasted into the site's head, which is the code GA4 shows under Installation instructions.
- CMS field: paste the G- ID into the Google Analytics box in your platform settings.
- WordPress plugin: connect the plugin to your Google account or paste the ID where it asks.
- Google Tag Manager: create a Google tag, paste the G- ID as the tag ID, trigger it on all pages, publish.
- Manual snippet: copy the code from Installation instructions in the stream panel and add it to the head of every page.
How to check the tracking ID is working
- 1
Open Realtime
In GA4, click Reports, then Realtime. Visit your own site in another tab. Within a minute you should see one user in the last 30 minutes.
- 2
Use Tag Assistant
Go to tagassistant.google.com, connect your site, and load a page. It lists every Google tag that fired and the ID each one used.
- 3
Check the Google tag section
Back in the stream details, the Google tag section shows whether the tag has been detected on your site in the last 48 hours.
- 4
Wait a day for reports
Standard reports fill in over 24 to 48 hours. Realtime is the only immediate check.
Finding the ID without logging in to Analytics
If you inherited a site and cannot get into the Analytics account, the ID is still on the site. Open any page, view the page source, and search for "G-". The Google tag script includes it in its URL and in the config line. If you find a UA- ID and no G- ID, the site is not sending data anywhere and needs a GA4 property. If you find a GTM- ID only, the tag lives inside Tag Manager and you need access to that container to see which measurement ID it sends to.
Connecting Analytics to your SEO tools
Once the tag works, connect Analytics to Search Console inside GA4 under Admin, Product links. That puts search queries and average positions next to sessions and conversions, which is the report that shows whether rankings turn into customers. Then connect Analytics to your SEO reporting tool so organic traffic appears next to rankings. Our how to check keyword ranking in Google guide explains the Search Console side.
Common problems with the tracking ID
- +Use the G- measurement ID for anything asking for a GA4 ID.
- +Replace any UA- ID still in your site with the G- ID.
- +Check Realtime after any change to the tag.
- xPaste a GTM- container ID where an Analytics ID is expected.
- xInstall the tag with two methods at once.
- xShare the ID publicly if you can avoid it. Anyone with it can send junk hits to your property.
FAQ
Common questions
Written by the Zutrix team
Last reviewed September 16, 2026
Zutrix has built rank tracking and SEO software for more than eight years. Our guides come from the same team that runs the product, and every how-to is checked against what we see in real ranking data across the keywords our customers track. We write them for people who are new to SEO and for agencies who want a clear answer fast.
Search volume and difficulty figures come from live Google results and third-party keyword data.