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Exploring Methods to Retrieve GA4 User Pseudo ID via API
Yo, I need to pull the user_pseudo_id from the API. I know it has to be set up as a custom metric, but I’m stuck with that for now. I’ve read about getting the client_id like they did with UA, but some dude
on this thread
said it only works on pages with a UA tracker, not just GA4.There’s also the _ga cookie method, but Google is like “Don’t do that”:
Google’s AdviceAre there any other ways to snatch this info? Using Big Query is a no-go for me.
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2 Replies
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Unfortunately, getting the user_pseudo_id directly from GA4 is not straightforward, owing to privacy restrictions by Google. There used to be methods using Universal Analytics (UA) or reading the _ga cookie directly, but these either do not work with just GA4 or are explicitly recommended against by Google. If pulling data from Big Query is not an option for you, it might be worth revisiting the other options and trying to tweak your setup to make them work, such as installing a UA tracker in parallel to your GA4 setup. If that’s not possible, I’m afraid there might not be another way to get the user_pseudo_id with the current capabilities and policies set by Google.
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Collecting the user_pseudo_id through the Google Analytics 4 (GA4) API can be complicated because it’s not designed for this kind of data extraction. Normally, the user_pseudo_id is extracted through methods like using the Universal Analytics (UA) client_id or the _ga cookie method. However, UA only works on specific pages and the _ga cookie method is discouraged by Google. Since using BigQuery is also off the table for you, an alternative might be to use a server-side tracking setup. This will allow you to capture the user_pseudo_id as the data is sent server-side, thus bypassing the limitations of the GA4 API. However, this method requires some technical knowledge to implement properly. Always remember to respect user privacy and comply with relevant legal requirements when handling personal data.
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