You can use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) data filters to exclude specific from being collected by your Google Analytics 4 account. You can also use GA4 data filters to collect data that fit specific criteria. For example, you can use GA4 data filters to only collect data from a specific country such as Canada. Using a data filter this way assure that you gather data that’s relevant to your business.

Here are three things you should know about GA4 data filters:

1. You can have up to 10 filters per property

   You can set up to 10 filters for your Google Analytics 4 property. Create your data filters wisely.

2. There are two types of data filters

   The two types of filters are:

   • Internal traffic

     This type of traffic is typically referred to as website traffic from your internal team. For example, website traffic from staff in your office. You can use data filters to exclude internal traffic from your GA4 report so that you can prevent collecting website traffic from your internal team. To set up such a data filter, add the IP address of your office in your GA4 data filter and GA4 will exclude website traffic coming from the IP address.

     To set up an internal traffic data filter, first go to Data Streams > Configure Tag Settings.

     

     Then, click on Show All.

     

     Click on Define Internal Traffic

     

     Click on Internal IP and enter the IP address(es) that you want to exclude from your GA4 report.

     

     

     Once you have entered an IP address, go to Data Streams and click on Data Filters and then Internal Traffic.

     

     Then, set the GA4 data filter as active.

     

   • Developer Traffic

     Developer traffic originates from your app on development devices, and is identified with the event parameter debug_mode=1 or debug_event=1. If you exclude developer traffic via a filter, you can still see it in DebugView, so your developers can always validate their Analytics instrumentation.

3. You can’t delete Google Analytics 4 data filters once they’re created

   You can’t delete filters once they are created. You can set the filter as inactive to disable the filter.

If you have any additional questions about Google Analytics 4 data filters or GA4 in general, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help!