How to Exclude Unwanted Referrals in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

GA4 will then treat these excluded referrals as direct traffic. This process helps maintain clean data by removing unwanted traffic sources and ensures accurate reporting of genuine website visitors and their referral sources.

Why Exclude Unwanted Referrals in GA4?

Unwanted referrals, such as payment gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal), spam traffic, partners, or internal redirects, can skew your data by inflating your referral traffic. This can lead to inaccurate insights about your website’s performance and traffic sources. By excluding these domains, you can improve the accuracy of your reports and focus on your primary traffic sources.

7 Easy Steps to Exclude Unwanted Referrals in GA4

GA4 gives you the tools to cut out those irrelevant referrals. You just need to tweak your settings. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Navigate to the Admin Section

To get started, log into your Google Analytics 4 account. Then, click on the gear icon in the bottom-left corner to open the Admin section.

Step 2: Access Data Streams

Once you’re in the Admin section:

Step 3: Configure Tag Settings

To modify the tag settings, scroll down and click on Configure tag settings to access data processing options.

Step 4: Expanding the ‘Show More’ Section

Under Settings, click on Show More to reveal additional configuration options.

Step 5: List Unwanted Referrals

Click on List unwanted referrals to access the exclusion settings. Here, you’ll exclude the domains that shouldn’t be counted as referral traffic.

Step 6: Add Domains to Exclude

Step 7: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve added all the unwanted referral domains, Click Save to apply the changes.

From this point onward, the specified domains will no longer be counted as referral traffic. This ensures that your analytics data remains accurate and focused on meaningful sources.

Final Words

By following these steps, you’re well on your way to accurate reporting in GA4. And hey, if you encounter any challenges or difficulties along the way, Trusted Web Eservices is readily available to assist you with any issues related to Google Analytics 4. Our GA4 setup services are designed to ensure you get the most out of your analytics experience, helping you navigate the complexities of GA4 with ease.

FAQs about Excluding Referrals in GA4

1. What is referral spam in Google Analytics 4?

Referral spam consists of fake website visits that appear in GA4 reports. These visits come from spammers who send artificial traffic to tracking IDs without visiting your website. This false data affects your analytics accuracy.

2. How do I set up referral exclusions in GA4?

Open your GA4 property. Click Admin > Data Streams > Select your stream > More Tagging Settings > Configure your domains. Add the domains you want to exclude in the referral exclusion list. Save your changes.

3. Which referral domains should I exclude in GA4?

Exclude payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe. Add your own domain names. Block known spam domains. Remove internal traffic sources. Add subdomains that process your payments or checkouts.

4. Can I bulk upload referral exclusions in GA4?

GA4 does not support bulk uploads for referral exclusions. Users must add each domain individually through the Data Stream settings. This process requires a manual entry for each excluded domain.

5. How long does it take for referral exclusions to work in GA4?

GA4 referral exclusions take effect immediately for new data. The changes do not affect historical data. Users will see the results in their reports within 24-48 hours after implementation.