How to Integrate Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4 | Step-by-Step Guide

When wondering how to connect Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4, first you should understand the reasons behind doing it. Merely knowing that linking those two SEO tools together is easy isn’t enough, right? So, let’s see the benefits.

Firstly, integrating GSC with GA4 allows you to control access to Search Console for other users, avoiding potential risks associated with certain GSC features that could remove your website from search engines. By sharing only the necessary data with your team members, you can safeguard your site’s performance and analytics. This can be done through data export or direct connection to GA4.

Furthermore, connecting Google Search Console to Google Analytics 4 makes managing data and analytics way more convenient. If you’re tired of juggling numerous browser tabs and various analytical tools, then – trust me – this tool integration will considerably simplify your workflow. It reduces the pages you need to monitor, providing you with just one platform to analyze different types of data sets within a single GA4 interface.

It’s high time we focus on the main point of this guide and see how to connect Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4. Luckily, the entire process is a walk in the park.

STEP 1 To start, log in to your GA4. Once you’re in, locate the settings icon on the dashboard’s lower left corner. When you hover over the symbol, you’ll see the word Admin appear. Click on it to proceed with the integration.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 2 Find the Property column and scroll down to the Product Links section.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 3 In the Product Links section, you find the Search Console Link option. If you don’t see this option in your GA4 account yet, don’t worry; it may take a few days or weeks to become available. Just keep an eye out for it.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

When the Search Console Link option appears in your GA4, click on it to proceed with the integration.

STEP 4 Click the blue Link button you see in the top right corner.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 5 When you go to Search Console Links, you will see a list with three steps that you need to go through.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 5.1 Choose a link to a Google Search Console that you have the necessary permissions to manage.

What is important, and what you can read at the top of the screen: “To link a GA property to a Search Console property, you must be a verified site owner of the Search Console property and have “edit” permissions on the GA property.”

In the list provided on the screen, you see the Google Search Console properties that you currently own.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

⚠️ Please note that at this stage, you can only select one Search Console property at a time. However, it’s fairly possible that this limit might be increased in the future.

STEP 5.2 Choose Web Stream. Confirm your choice by clicking the right row.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 5.3 In the final step, double-check that you have selected the correct services. If everything looks good, click on Apply.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

🏆 Congrats! You’ve successfully connected Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4!

STEP 6 Reopen Google Search Console to see the link to the new GSC property.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

When you finally connect Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4, you may start wondering…

Let me show you how to access and analyze the data after connecting Google Search Console to your Google Analytics 4.

STEP 1 From the left sidebar, choose Reports.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 2 From the Life cycle, click Acquisition → Overview

source: Delante’s own screenshot

In the report, you’ll notice 2 new tiles displaying your sought-after GSC data:

• Google organic search traffic
• Google organic search queries

source: Delante’s own screenshot

Click on the buttons to view more detailed reports on those two metrics.

STEP 3 Now you see 2 charts and a table. When it comes to the latter, you can pick and select 3 metrics:

• Landing page + query string
• Country
• Device category

source: Delante’s own screenshot

Besides the existing data, GA4 also shows historical data.

STEP 4 To view data from specific time periods, you can easily adjust the time interval using the calendar located on the right side of the report.

As shown in the below screenshots, you can choose from a number of pre-defined options for different time intervals. Naturally, you can also select a custom interval that suits your needs.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

⚠️ Keep in mind that it once you connect GSC with GA4 it may take up to 24 hours to get the data shown in the report. So, if you don’t see any information yet, don’t worry – just stay patient.

Just give it a little time and occasionally refresh the page. You’ll soon have access to valuable analytical data and insights from GSC in your GA4.

I bet you’re now wondering…

Just like your other reports, you can easily display the Google Search Console data report in the GA4 sidebar. Here’s how you do this:

STEP 1 In the left sidebar, click on Library.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 2 On the screen, you see several collections of reports. Use the arrows to navigate and find Search Console.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

STEP 3 Once you locate it, click on the three dots menu icon. This is how you open a drop-down list from which you should select Publish.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

When you do this, the status of the Search Console collection changes to Published.

source: Delante’s own screenshot

As a result, the corresponding section now appears in your GA4 sidebar.

🏆 That’s all! You’ve made it!

Indeed, integrating GSC with GA4 comes with some limitations. These constraints arise from the way data is imported between these two tools.

👉 The primary limitation is referred to as “one property, one network data stream.” What does this mean? If you have linked one GA4 property to multiple domains or subdomains, each with its own separate Search Console, you won’t be able to connect them all to gather comprehensive data.

As mentioned above, currently GA4 allows you to link to only one GSC property. Although this might change in the future, for now, you’ll need to handle things a bit differently.

👉 Here’s another limitation you need to be aware of. While connecting GSC with GA4 gives you access to some data and reports within the GA4 interface, it doesn’t replace the complete Google Search Console interface, which provides you with more tools and features for search optimization. For instance, in the GA4 interface, you won’t find data on indexing errors, organic conversion phrases, or site loading speed issues – information that is crucial for your SEO strategy.

👉 And another thing – data availability limitation. The moment you can access the data depends on the timing of data stream creation and site verification in GSC. If you create the data stream before the verification process is completed, GA4 will only have data from the moment the site was verified onwards. However, if you create the data stream after verification is completed, you’ll have access to historical data.

Keep these factors in mind to ensure you have the data you need for your analysis in GA4.

Now you know how to connect Google Search Console with Google Analytics 4. This quick and simple process of integrating the two tools will be highly beneficial for you – it gives you access to analytical data presented in one place. By investing just 10 minutes of your time, you’ll have all the essential information consolidated in one tool. Convenient, isn’t it?

No worries if you don’t know how to migrate your data to GA4 safely – we are here to help you implement and configure GA4. Feel free to reach out to us if you need an SEO Specialist to transfer all the analytical data you’ve gathered so far, without risking losing a single piece of information.