Optimizing GA4 Settings: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Exclude IP Addresses for Enhanced Analytics Precision

This blog guides you with simple steps about how to exclude IP addresses in GA4. Before going through the steps, let’s understand why do we need to exclude IP addresses in GA4

The basic idea of IP address exclusion is to improve the accuracy of data by removing test data. For example, you are a team and while implementing the tracking and after implementing the tracking your team is performing tests and validating the accuracy of data. When test data get recorded with real customer data it may damage the reporting and exclusion will improve the reports with real data only.

Let’s dive into the steps:

Step 1 : Click on gear icon (⚙) i.e. Admin

Step 2 : Click on Data streams

Step 3 : Select your website stream. Click anywhere on the stream card

Step 4 : On your website stream page, scroll down and click on Configure tag settings

Step 5 : On configure tag settings page, scroll down and click on Show more

Step 6 : Click on Define internal traffic from the list

Step 7 : on Define internal traffic page, click on Create button

Step 8 : On create internal traffic rule page, there are form fields we need to fill in order to set up the IP exclusion

Available match types till date

In my case I will select IP address equals but in your case you can choose a matchy type are your needs. For example, you if you a range of IP to exclude let’s say X.X.X.1 to X.X.X.255, then you should select IP address is in range (CIDR notation) and in value field it should be like X.X.X.1/255

Step 9 : If you have more IP addresses to exclude then click on Add condition button

You can keep on adding the IP addresses upto 10 IP addresses in one list

Step 10 : Once you are done with adding your IP addresses, click on Create button

Step 11 : You will see the list of rules you created 

Step 12 : As you are done with adding IP addresses. Now the next step is to activate the filter you created. For this go back to your admin page page and click on Data filter

Step 13 : On Data filters page, click on 3 dot icons

Step 14 : Click on Activate filter

Step 15 : Confirm the Activate filter on confirmation pop up window

And that’s all…

You are done with adding your IP address you want to exclude and activating the filter.

Please let me know your thoughts and valuable suggestions.

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