Google Analytics Problems And Solutions
If GA4 looks wrong, do not start by changing reports. Start by proving whether events are reaching Google. Open Realtime, trigger a test visit, then use DebugView or Tag Assistant to confirm the exact event name, parameters, consent state, and source page.
What To Check First
- Realtime data: open your site in a clean browser and confirm the visit appears within 30 seconds.
- Measurement ID: make sure every template uses the same GA4 ID, especially checkout, landing pages, and subdomains.
- GTM trigger scope: a published container can still miss pages if the GA4 config tag only fires on selected routes.
- Consent mode: if analytics_storage is denied, GA4 may receive modeled or partial data instead of full events.
- Key events: GA4 does not treat events as conversions until you mark them as key events.
Common Failure Patterns
- Zero users: wrong measurement ID, tag not installed, CSP or ad blockers blocking requests, or the data stream pointed at another domain.
- Conversions missing: the event fires, but the event name differs from the key event name by capitalization, spaces, or parameters.
- Referral/source chaos: checkout, booking, or payment domains are not configured for cross-domain measurement.
- Duplicate events: both gtag and GTM fire the same purchase, form_submit, or generate_lead event.
Fast Fix Order
- Verify one page in Realtime.
- Verify all templates with Tag Assistant.
- Check consent and CSP/network blocking.
- Confirm key events and ecommerce event names.
- Only then touch reports, attribution settings, or dashboards.
GA4 still lying to you?
Text PJ the page URL and what number looks wrong. Most tracking gaps show up in one Tag Assistant pass.
Related Problems
Best Next Pages
Why is Google Analytics not tracking my traffic? +
The most common causes: (1) GA4 measurement ID is installed on some pages but not all — check with the GA4 Debugger Chrome extension on each page. (2) GTM container published but GA4 tag not triggered for all pages — verify trigger configuration. (3) Ad blocker or browser privacy settings blocking ga4 requests — test in incognito without extensions. (4) Referral exclusions misconfigured — check Admin → Data Streams → Configure Tag Settings.
What's the difference between GA4 sessions and Universal Analytics sessions? +
GA4 uses event-based tracking; UA used session-based tracking. In GA4, a 'session' starts on the first event and ends after 30 minutes of inactivity (adjustable). Direct implications: GA4 session counts are often lower than UA (multiple pageviews within 30 minutes = 1 session), GA4 counts more conversions per session, and bounce rate is replaced by engagement rate. Don't compare GA4 numbers to old UA numbers directly.
How do I fix Google Analytics showing 0 users or no data? +
Check in this order: (1) GA4 Realtime report — open your site and see if your visit appears. If yes, data is flowing, you may just be looking at the wrong date range. (2) Chrome DevTools → Network tab → filter 'google-analytics' or 'gtag' — confirm requests are firing. (3) Check if site is on a different domain than your GA4 data stream — cross-domain tracking requires explicit configuration. (4) If no realtime data: your measurement ID is wrong or not installed on that page.
How do I set up Google Analytics 4 correctly in 2026? +
Standard GA4 setup: (1) Create a GA4 property in analytics.google.com, (2) add a Web Data Stream for your domain, (3) install the gtag.js snippet on every page OR use Google Tag Manager, (4) verify with the DebugView in GA4 Admin, (5) configure key events (what used to be goals) under Admin → Events → Mark as Key Event. For e-commerce, enable Enhanced Measurement and add the dataLayer purchase event on your confirmation page.
Can SideGuy help fix Google Analytics tracking issues? +
Yes. Text 858-461-8054 — most GA4 tracking gaps get diagnosed with a 2-minute screen share or by pasting your gtag snippet. Common fixes take under an hour: wrong measurement ID, GTM trigger scope too narrow, cross-domain configuration missing, or events not marked as key events. No retainer, hourly work only.
