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"Migrating to GA4: How to Import Your Universal Analytics Data"
Hey there! So here goes: I’ve been happily using universal analytics for yonks but recently, Google’s giving me nudges to switch to GA4. Alright, cool. Challenge accepted. I’m trying to hop on over to GA4, while bringing along my good ol’ historic universal analytics data. But it’s beginning to feel like climbing Everest.
Every piece of advice I unearth points me to a button that’s supposed to make it all happen. So, I clicked my way through Google Analytics 4 Admin, picked GA4 Property, found Setup Assistant, then Property Settings, and finally Set up conversions. But, surprise surprise, the proverbial “Import from Universal Analytics” button is nowhere to be seen. It’s like a magic trick gone wrong, the other two buttons are right there and I’ve definitely linked the ga4 property to the universal analytics property.
What do I do now? Check this out to see what I’m talking about: [link to picture](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9qfbU.png)
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2 Replies
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It seems like your trouble might be rooted in the connection between your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Universal Analytics (UA) properties. Double-check to ensure that your GA4 property is linked to your UA property.
Alternatively, it could be that your UA property lacks goals. If there aren’t any goals set up in your UA property, then there’s nothing to import into GA4 which could explain the missing button.
Here’s a link that will guide you in checking what properties you’re connected to: [Find your connections](https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/13342757).
And if you’re unsure about the connection process, this link gives you a step-by-step description of how to connect your properties: [Connecting UA to GA4](https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/12938611).
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Unfortunately, at this point in time, Google doesn’t provide a straightforward solution to import historic data from Universal Analytics to GA4. The “Import from Universal Analytics” button is actually for bringing in goal configuration and not historical data. Currently, even if you’ve linked GA4 with Universal Analytics, old data from Universal Analytics won’t get migrated to GA4 – they exist separately.
Google has pointed out that GA4 is designed with different architecture and data models in mind, hence, a direct import is not feasible. However, GA4 does offer Data Import feature where you can upload CSV files for data like products, refunds, user data and campaign data but not historical user behavior data.
Also, please be aware that despite setting up a new GA4 property, your Universal Analytics properties will continue to collect data independently, so you’re not losing any data during the transition, and you can still reference old data.
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