How to Enable Cross Domain Tracking in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

By default, Google Analytics does not monitor website visitors and their activities across various domains. However, you can enable Cross Domain Tracking in Google Analytics 4 to track these website visitors and their actions across two or more domains, essentially tracking your user as the same individual on each site. As a prerequisite, you should use the same GA4 tracking code (Measurement ID) for all your websites where you want to enable cross-domain tracking. This quick and easy guide will show you how to enable cross-domain tracking in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)!

How to Enable Cross Domain Tracking in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

1. Login to Google Analytics 4

2. Navigate to Admin (bottom-left-hand-side corner)

3. Navigate to Data Streams and click on your Data Stream

4. Scroll down and click on "Configure tag settings"

5. Under Settings, click on "Configure your domains"

6. List your domains

💡Important Note: When it comes to cross-domain tracking, it is important to set up your domain under the same data streams. This means that all your websites which you want to enable the cross-domain tracking for should use the same GA4 tracking code / Measurement ID.

Frequently Asked Questions on Enabling Cross Domain Tracking in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

When do I need to enable cross-domain tracking in GA4?

1. You need cross-domain tracking when:

2. Users move between different domains (e.g., shop.example.com to pay.example.com)

3. You have multiple separate domains (e.g., example.com and example.net)

4. Your checkout process spans multiple domains

5. You want to track referrals between your domains accurately

How can I verify if cross-domain tracking is working?

Verify by:

1. Using GA4's DebugView

2. Testing user journeys across domains

3. Checking Real-Time reports

4. Monitoring session counts

5. Analyzing user paths across domains

   
   

Do subdomains need cross-domain tracking?

No, GA4 automatically tracks subdomains of the same root domain.

Can I use multiple data streams?

Yes, but using a single data stream is recommended for:

1. Better data consistency

2. Simplified reporting

3. Easier maintenance

4. More accurate user journey tracking

Is referral exclusion needed when I enable cross-domain tracking?

No, GA4 automatically handles domain referrals when configured properly.

Can I apply cross-domain tracking retroactively?

No, cross-domain tracking:

• Only affects data from the point of implementation

• Historical data remains unchanged