Refresh fields in GA4 data source not working

[santiagomic]

I trying refresh fields in LS for conecction GA4. When I click on the refresh flieds button I don't get the fields (customs dimensions) that I have created.

I have also tried reconnecting the GA4 data source and it still does not show me the pop-up that comes up when you have added new fields.

What can I do?

[seanbraeckman]

I am currently experiencing the exact same problem.
Whenever clicking the "refresh fields" button, the icon spins for 1 second and then nothing happens.

I made sure to disable any blocking extensions on the browser but that did not fix the problem.

[AJP95]

I am also experiencing the same problem. A new custom dimension added in GA4 will not come through on my existing Looker dashboard, but if I create a new dashboard one from scratch, it is there in the data source. I have no way of updating the data source and it's been 5 days. Worried that if I completely disconnect and reconnect, everything will break.

[googleuser56471]

I have the same issue. I have added custom dimensions to GA4 (a week ago) where they are working fine. I cannot get Looker Studio to show these as fields for the data source. I have tried reconnecting, refreshing fields and adding a new data source from scratch but nothing seems to pull the fields through.

[900rr]

I have the same issue. Can't refresh the fields. I tried different computer / browser and still the same. Big issue 

[TFA2030]

I am also facing the same issue, i.e. custom dimensions do not appear in the list of fields after reconnecting/refreshing the connection.  

A colleague found a workaround: add the data source again (give a different name to it) and all the fields appear. However, you may have to reconnect data for each visual.

[alanrioscosta]

I also have this problem. I click to update the fields, but nothing happens, I also tried to reconnect the source and the pop with new fields does not appear

[tota]

I also have the same problem, guys, did you found any solutions in last 3 weeks ?

[alanrioscosta]

I'm using the tip from TFA2030 

"A colleague found a workaround: add the data source again (give a different name to it) and all the fields appear. However, you may have to reconnect data for each visual"

[tota]

thanks @alanrioscosta , this i am doing now but its very confusing 🫤 for other to use. and hard to explain for each user this thing. I thought I am doing something wrong but I guess its looker studio another bug 🐞  which not get highlighted in a good way.

[alanrioscosta]

@tota Unfortunately, I don't understand how Google doesn't fix a bug as annoying as this.

[tota]

exactly @alanrioscosta , its a basic step which need to fix and adjusted. But I try to figure it out on LinkedIn as well, no one talk about this error, may be because many influencers shift to Bigquery and there connection reconnect is working properly and they want to sell now Bigquery stuff more. 

But what about small clients those still depends on looker studio with GA4 connection. #Google do #equaljustice with your #ownproducts. #shame

[900rr]

But next time, if you add custom dim or metrics, you'll need to do it the same again 

[STRAREXDigital]

I'm facing this issue as well now. I cannot reconnect the data source either, it doesn't show any custom fields that were added. Even when I create a new data source it doesn't pull in the new information. Has anyone come across any other options here to try and fix it?

[tota]

directly connect in looker studio data source with different name. Hope it will gonna help you. If not wait till 24 hours to appear new publish data from ga4 to looker studio. 

[eatmush]

Guys, after facing the same issue, I think I figured out what's happening. In Looker Studio, try searching for the original parameter name instead of the "user friendly" dimension name (it worked for me).

[jorenwouters]

Hey Guys! I found an easier solution than reconnecting each visual to a new data set.

Here's what you need to do:
1. Make a copy of your report (File -> Make a copy)
2. Now a pop-up comes up. In this pop-up, don't use your current GA4 Connection, but click on "New dataset" and select Google Analytics 4
3. Now a copy of your report is created with your GA4 data with custom dimensions!

It's still not an ideal solution, but it's better than reconnecting each visual!

Hope this helps!

[jorenwouters]

Hey Guys! I found an easier solution that reconnecting each visual.

Here's what you can do:
1. Make a copy of your report (File -> Make a copy)
2. Now a pop-up comes up. Here, you should replace your original GA4 dataset. Click on "Add New Dataset" and connect to your Google Analytics 4 property.
3. Now a copy of your report is created with your GA4 data with custom dimensions!

It's still not ideal, but better than reconnecting each visual.

Hope this helps!

[atulrai87]

Facing the same issue. neither reconnect the data source nor refresh fields working. Event I removed data source and added it again with my reports but still the new custom dimension I created in GA4 not appearing in Looker Studio.

[eatmush]

In GA4, custom dimensions have both a 'friendly name' and a more technical name (the parameter name itself). Try searching for the technical name in Looker.

[AJP95]

@jorenwouters This is a good solution if using a dashboard internally, or if it's shared with only a few people you work closely with.

However, in my scenario clients already have the links to live dashboards, so doing this would mean resharing with multiple stakeholders across the business, which then gets messier if it needs to be done every single time there is a new parameter added to GTM with the aim of being reported on in the dashboard.

It's a real pain that this is an issue to begin with, and has been for at least 3 months now!

[eatmush]

Check in GA4 for the original name of the custom dimension you are trying to locate in Looker. Now, try to find it in Looker using that original name. I'm attaching an image from GA4 to illustrate what I'm referring to.

[tota]

but why are you adding search_term, session_duration as custom definition , it is pre defined dimension and yeah that's why you are seeing them. I am having 125 custom definitions, if I gave every name based on google, then why don't even I need such definitions.  Sorry, but, I don't get your logic and what you really wanna do with it. can you please explain?

[eatmush]

@tota , I took the screenshot from the 'GA4 - Google Merch Shop' demo property just to show what I'm referring to. Please ignore the dimensions themselves. My point is only about finding custom dimensions in Looker. Sometimes you'll find them under the 'friendly name' you assigned, and sometimes under the original parameter name.

[AJP95]

@eatmush This hasn't done the trick for me, and I typically use the same naming convention across both. Thanks for sharing though

[eatmush]

I apologize. I reviewed the original question and I think I have a clearer understanding of the problem now (also, thank you @AJP95 for the feedback). In this case, I don’t know how to solve the problem (and I just realized that I'm experiencing the same issue).

[JenS]

There was an issue with refreshing data source fields in the GA4 Connector, and it is now resolved. Thank you for your patience! 

[fredrambert]

Hi, doesn't look like its fixed on my end. Clicking on "Refresh Fields" and number of fields does not increase. 

Cheers

[AJP95]

Hi @JenS,

Thanks for following up on this. Great to see it's been acknowledged!

Naturally, the first thing I've done is try and update the data sources that I know are missing certain parameters. However, I'm still not seeing them come through. Neither the 'reconnect' or 'refresh fields' are working for me. I've cleared the cache and refreshed the page etc, but still no luck.

 

To be clear on what the issue has been in my experience, this is the scenario in which I've come across it;

1. A Looker Studio dashboard is using the native GA4 connector
2. New events and parameters are created in GTM, and GA4 is updated with them accordingly
3. Within 24-48 hours this data is available in GA4 and you can create explore reports with it
4. However, despite it being available in GA4, it's not in Looker Studio. These new parameters are not added to the existing data source, even if you refresh fields and/or reconnect it.

Do you have any other advice, or is it a case of waiting a few more days for the fix to rollout completely?

Thanks

[loafingoaf]

it is NOT fixed. I have several key events that were created WEEKS ago, that are still not appearing in Looker, even after being able to refresh the connector. It found other completely irrelevant and useless new dimensions and metrics, but not the ones I actually need. Typical Google. More than 12 months after GA4 supposedly went out of Beta, here you are still demonstrating that you thought trough absolutely nothing about the new platform, and just decided to spend 18 months beta testing it on the entire planet.

Broken GA4. Broken Looker Studio. Broken Google Ads interface.
I wonder - how do you actually get to be the biggest IT brand on the planet, when your own IT department is staffed entirely by rank amateurs?

Also, I have no patience left for Google. You've exhausted every skerrick of patience I ever had for evil, incompetent monopolists.

[fredrambert]

Hi there, Doesn't look like it has fixed on my end. Still not getting new fields when hit refresh fields. 

[900rr]

It is not fixed. I have hundreds of reports that are broken due to this. Shame 

[JenS]

Thank you for your patience. I spoke too soon and the fix has not been rolled out. I'll keep you all updated.

[AJP95]

Hi All.

It looks like a fix has now been rolled out - I have just successfully been able to update data sources that have been stuck for 3 months. Is everybody else seeing the same?

[fredrambert]

YEs!!!!!! 

I was able to Refresh Fields in a data set today too. 

[JenS · Accepted solution]

This is now fixed. Thank you!

[santiagomic]

This is already working 😀