Opt Out of GA4 Auto Migration Immediately

Discover why you don’t want Google to automatically switch you from the Universal Analytics you’re currently using to the new Google Analytics 4.

NOTE: You need to do this asap, as Google has already started auto migrating properties as of March 2023.

Google’s Auto Migration Offer

Universal Analytics (UA) will cease to collect data on July 1, 2023.

In early February, Google became concerned that not enough UA users have switched to Google Analytics 4 (GA4).

So, they started emailing UA users about automatically setting up a new GA4 property for them.

FYI, they are also sending that same email out to site owners who have set up a new GA4 property, but who have not linked it to their existing UA property, which is not necessary, or even a good idea to do either.

Even Google’s own documentation warns you not to use the automated migration.

Don’t Use the GA4 Setup Assistant

You need to opt out of this auto migration – more on why in a moment.

But to do so, you must first create your new GA4 Property.

Google Analytics provides you with a GA4 Setup Assistant.

It’s a 12-step tool that doesn’t even begin to set your new property up correctly. I strongly suggest that you don’t use it.

Set Up GA4 the Right Way, the First Time

GA4 is NOT a UA upgrade.

It’s a whole other animal!

And you’ll want to set it up correctly, including the GDPR settings, the right way from the get go.

See the Ultimate Google Analytics 4 Course for Bloggers for the fast, easy way to create your GA4 property.

You’ll also learn about the Standard reports that Google gives you and why they are so radically different from GA4.

And, you’ll see how to create your own custom Explore reports so you can see the same data that you’re used to in UA.

Opt Out of Auto Setup

Once you have your new GA4 Property created and connected to your site, you’ll find a setting in it to opt out of the Auto Setup.

Doing your own setup and opting out of the auto “migration” allows to have clean data in GA4.

That “migration” doesn’t work nearly as well as Google makes you think it does, and it will actually bork some of your GA4 settings.

Do You Need to Migrate UA?

No.

There is absolutely nothing migrated that is worthwhile – nothing.

You want to set up GA4 from scratch.

What If My UA Was Already Migrated?

The only thing that has happened is a new GA4 Property has been set up.

It is not connected to your site.

It is not tracking hits to your site.

Delete it and start over with a new GA4 Property that is set up correctly, and then connect that one to your site.

Get it Done

The switch to GA4 has a deadline.

You can’t wait until the last minute to get this done.

And the longer you put it off, the higher the chance Google will do it for you – and bork it for you too.