> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.littledata.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/google-ads-install-guide.md).

# Shopify to Google Ads installation guide

This is a guide that shows you how to install Littledata's Google Ads connection.

## Shopify to Google Ads installation guide

This guide shows you how to connect your Shopify store to the Google Ads destination in the Littledata app. You sign in with Google, choose your Google Ads account and turn on one setting in Google Ads.

### Before you start

* The Littledata app is installed on your Shopify store.
* You can sign in with a Google account that has access to the Google Ads account you want to send conversions to, with permission to change its conversion settings.
* You know the customer ID of that Google Ads account (a 10-digit number shown like `123-456-7890` in Google Ads). If you use a manager account (MCC), you need the ID of the individual account, not the manager account.

### Connect Google Ads

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Open the Littledata app

In your Shopify admin, go to **Apps** and open **Littledata**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add the destination

In the **Destinations** section, click **Add destination**. A list of destinations opens.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose Google Ads

Find **Google Ads** in the list and click **Connect** next to it. The setup opens on the **Connect your store to Google Ads** screen. Click **Continue**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose your tracking preferences

On the **Set up your tracking** screen, pick one option and click **Continue**:

* **Use best practices** (recommended): uses the **Shopify order name** as the order identifier and creates all conversion actions. You can change this later.
* **Customize your tracking**: on the next two screens, choose your order identifier, then choose which conversion actions to create. We recommend keeping all of them selected. Click **Continue** on each screen.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Sign in with Google

On **Connect your Google account**, click **Connect**. Google opens in a new tab. Choose the Google account that has access to your Google Ads account and allow the access Littledata asks for. Then go back to the Littledata app tab.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Choose your Google Ads account

You'll see **Choose your account**. Open the account list and select the Google Ads account you want to send conversions to. If it's missing, click **Refresh accounts**. Then click **Continue**.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Don't use an MCC ID**\
\
Select the individual Google Ads account ID. Don't select a manager account (MCC) ID, or conversion data will be misrouted.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Turn on Enhanced Conversions for Leads

Littledata sends hashed customer data with each conversion, so Google Ads needs **Enhanced Conversions for Leads** turned on and its customer data terms accepted. After you choose your account, you'll see the **Enhanced Conversions** screen in the Littledata app.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open your Google Ads conversion settings**

On the **Enhanced Conversions** screen, click the **Google Ads account** link (or **Enable settings** in the red banner). Your Google Ads conversion settings open in a new tab. You can also get there in Google Ads from **Goals** > **Conversions** > **Settings**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Turn on Enhanced Conversions for Leads**

Find **Enhanced conversions for leads** and turn it on. If Google asks you to pick a method (Google tag or Google Tag Manager), pick either one. It's only a placeholder to turn the setting on.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Accept the customer data terms**

Find **Customer data terms**. If they're not accepted yet, open them, read them and accept them.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Save**

Click **Save**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Return to the Littledata app**

Go back to the Littledata app tab. Littledata checks your settings again when you come back. When it finds them, you'll see that Enhanced Conversions is on. Click **Continue**.

If you still see **We detected that the required settings are not enabled for some accounts**, check both settings in Google Ads, save again and return to the tab.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Wait while tracking is added**

You'll see **Adding tracking** while Littledata sets up tracking on your store and creates the conversion actions in Google Ads. When it's done, you'll see **You're connected! Here's where to go next.** The Google Ads connection is now live.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

For more about why these settings are needed, see [how the Google Ads connection works](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/google-ads-how-it-works).

### Check your purchase conversions in Google Ads

Littledata creates **Purchase - Littledata** as a primary action, so you don't need to change it. If you kept them selected, **New Customer Purchase - Littledata** and **Returning Customer Purchase - Littledata** are created as secondary actions.

To avoid counting purchases twice, switch your other purchase conversions to secondary.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open your conversion goals**

In Google Ads, go to **Goals** > **Conversions** > **Summary**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Edit the purchase goal**

Find your **Purchase** goal and click **Edit goal**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Check the Littledata action**

Check that **Purchase - Littledata** is set to **Primary action**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Set other purchase actions to secondary**

For every other purchase conversion action in the goal, change it to **Secondary action (observe only)**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Save**

Click **Save changes**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Primary actions are used for bidding and optimization. Secondary actions are tracked for reporting only.
{% endhint %}

### Check that it works

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Check the destination card

In the Littledata app, find the Google Ads card in **Destinations**. It shows a green **Connected** badge.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Check the conversion actions in Google Ads

In Google Ads, go to **Goals** > **Conversions** > **Summary**. You'll see **Purchase - Littledata** in the list (and the New and Returning Customer actions, if you kept them). Conversions start to show after your next orders. Google Ads can take a few hours to report them.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
New conversion actions often show fewer conversions in the first days or weeks. See [Google Ads troubleshooting guide](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/google-ads-troubleshooting-guide#fewer-conversions-in-the-first-days-or-weeks).
{% endhint %}

### Related articles

* [How the Google Ads connection works](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/google-ads-how-it-works)
* [Google Ads FAQ](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/frequently-asked-questions)
* [Google Ads troubleshooting guide](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/google-ads-troubleshooting-guide)
* [New and Returning Customer Purchase event in Google Ads](https://help.littledata.io/integrations/google-ads/new-and-returning-customer-purchase-in-google-ads)