Connect Google Analytics 4

Two minutes, two steps, one trap. Here's the whole thing. (New to connecting data? Start with how it works and why it's safe.)

Step 1: add the viewer

1. Open your Connect your data page (in your account menu) and copy the reader email shown on the Google Analytics card.
2. In GA4, go to Admin, then Property Access Management (make sure you're in the property for your brand's website, not a different one).
3. Add the reader email with the Viewer role. Viewer is enough; don't grant more.

Step 2: paste your Property ID

1. In GA4's Admin, open Property settings.
2. Copy the Property ID: a 9-digit number at the top right.
3. Paste it into the GA4 card on your connections page and hit connect. We test the connection immediately and show a status pill.

Shortcut: you can also paste the whole GA4 admin URL from your browser's address bar, and we'll pull the property ID out of it for you.

The trap: Property ID, not Account ID

GA4 shows you two similar-looking numbers, and this is the mistake that causes almost every failed connection. The Account ID lives at the account level and won't work. The Property ID lives in Property settings, and it's the one we need. If you see an error saying we reached GA4 but can't read the property, check two things in this order:

1. You pasted the Property ID from Property settings, not the Account ID.
2. The viewer invite was added on that same property (it's easy to add the viewer on one property and paste the ID of another).

What we read once connected

Total users, your returning-visitor share, and direct and organic sessions, over the last 28 days, as aggregates only. The returning-visitor share feeds Return's repeat loyalty dimension with a real number instead of a public-signals guess. Everything we read and never touch.

Revoking access

Remove the reader email from Property Access Management. The connection stops working immediately, no cleanup needed on our side.

Next: Connect Google Search Console.