How to fix duplicate tracking in GA4

During install, disable the Google Sales Channel in Shopify. If our audit finds more Google Analytics tracking still active, follow this guide to remove it.

Littledata's Shopify to GA4 connection tracks pageviews, shopping events and purchases for you. You don't need any other GA4 tags or scripts on your store. This page shows you how to check for duplicate tracking and remove the old setup.

During installation, the Littledata app asks you to disable other Google Analytics tracking apps, including Shopify's Google & YouTube sales channel. You confirm this by ticking I have disabled other tracking apps. If you still see duplicates after installing, use this guide.

Why duplicate pageviews are a problem

If you had GA4 tracking before you added Littledata, GA4 may now get two pageviews for every page load. This doubles your pageview count. It also skews other metrics, like engagement rate, views per session and key event rates.

Check for duplicate pageviews

1

Install a debugger extension

Install a GA4 debugger extension in your browser, such as Google Analytics Debugger for Chrome.

2

Open DebugView in GA4

In Google Analytics, click Admin (the gear icon in the bottom left). Under Data display, click DebugView. It will be empty until it gets debug data.

3

Open your store with the debugger on

In a new tab in the same browser, open your Shopify store. Click the extension icon to turn the debugger on, then reload the page.

4

Look for two pageviews

Go back to DebugView. If you see two page_view events at the same moment for one page load, GA4 is getting duplicate pageviews.

duplicate pageviews in ga4 debugger

You can also check with Google Tag Assistant. Connect it to your store and look for more than one pageview for a single page load.

tag-assistant-debugging

A sudden rise in views per session or a very high engagement rate can also point to duplicate pageviews. Always confirm with a debugger before you change anything.

Where duplicate tracking comes from

To fix duplicates, remove every other way GA4 is installed on your store. The most common sources are:

1. Shopify's Google & YouTube sales channel

2. A GA4 tag in Google Tag Manager (GTM)

3. gtag code added directly to your store theme

4. A custom web pixel

5. Third-party apps

Disconnect Google Analytics in the Google & YouTube channel

1

Open the Google & YouTube channel

In your Shopify admin, go to Sales channels > Google & YouTube.

Shopify sales channel

2

Disconnect the Google Analytics property

Find the Google Analytics property section and click Disconnect.

Disconnect duplicate tracking

If the GA4 property stays connected in the Google & YouTube channel, GA4 will get duplicate pageviews and ecommerce events.

Pause GA4 tags in Google Tag Manager

If you use GTM, check for an active Google tag (GA4 configuration tag) or GA4 event tags, and pause them.

Check these tags even if their Measurement ID is different from the one Littledata uses. It could be a different data stream sending data to the same property.

For detailed steps, see How to disable pageviews in Google Tag Manager.

Remove gtag code from your theme

Google's gtag script may have been added directly to your Shopify theme, usually in the theme.liquid file. Ask your developer to find and remove it.

Remove custom web pixels

Shopify lets you add custom web pixels to your store, and some of these load gtag. In your Shopify admin, check Settings > Customer events for any pixel that sends data to Google Analytics. See Shopify's guide on how to disconnect a custom pixel.

Check third-party apps

Some Shopify apps send data to GA4 on their own. Look for apps with words like "tracking", "GA4", "Google Analytics" or "revenue" in the name. Uninstall them, or turn off their Google Analytics tracking feature (see the app's documentation).

Related articles

• How it works: Shopify to Google Analytics

• How to disable pageviews in Google Tag Manager

• Google Tag Manager FAQ

• FAQ: Shopify to Google Analytics