Hey there, I'm Benjamin from Loves Data.
In this video, I'm going to answer the question - 'what happens if you delete a data stream
in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)?'
Let's take a look!
A data stream in GA4 lets you collect data from your website or app.
If you're just tracking your website with GA4, then you will probably have a single
data stream.
And this data stream has its own unique Measurement ID to ensure that data from your website ends
up in your GA4 property.
Along with the Measurement ID, your stream will also include the dedicated Google Analytics
tracking code.
Let's head to Google Analytics to take a look...
I'm already in the admin area of Google Analytics, so let's select 'Data Streams'...
And we can see in my demo property, there is one data stream.
Let's select the stream to open it...
On the top right corner, we can see the unique Measurement ID for the stream...
And if we select 'Global Site Tag'...
We can see the dedicated Google Analytics tracking code.
If you've been using Google Analytics for a while, then you've probably been using Universal
Analytics.
With Universal Analytics, the Tracking ID (which is the equivalent of the Measurement
ID) is directly tied to the property.
But with GA4 properties, the Measurement ID (or data stream) is independent of the property.
This is why we can configure multiple streams in GA4 if we have multiple websites, or a
website and an app, or any other combination.
So this raises the question - what happens if we delete a data stream in GA4?
Let's head back to Google Analytics...
In my demo property, you can see I have a small amount of data for a handful of days.
And let's take a look at one of the reports.
Let's select 'Technology' and open the 'Overview' report...
Here we can see again some of the information in my demo property...
This has all been collected using the data stream we saw previously.
Okay, so now let's navigate to 'Admin'...
And let's select 'Data Streams' again...
I'm going to open my stream...
And I'm going to click the three vertical dots on the top right corner...
And I'm going to select 'Delete Stream'...
Now there was no confirmation when deleting the stream.
So please be extra, extra careful.
I'm guessing Google will add a second step to confirm your decision to delete a stream
at some point, but currently, it happens as soon as you click delete.
The data stream has now been deleted.
Let's head back to the reports...
We can see the historical data is still in the report.
Let's head to the 'Technology Overview' report...
Again we can see the data is still there.
Okay, so now let's create a new data stream.
Let's navigate to 'Admin'...
And let's create a new data stream for our website...
Now that we've created the new stream, let's head back to the reports...
We can now see there is no data in the property.
We have zeros for the days that previously had user numbers being reported...
And let's head back to the 'Technology Overview' report...
Again zeros.
Now I need to highlight, that there is no 'undo'.
You can't bring back any data streams you've deleted in GA4.
This is permanent.
Hopefully, Google changes this in the future, but for now, you can't change your mind.
There's no 'undo'.
So that's what happens if you delete a data stream.
You will no longer be able to use the Measurement ID to collect data into your reports.
And your historical data will be deleted too.
This means, that you should only delete a stream in very specific circumstances, for
example, if you no longer need to use the data and reports that are associated with
the stream.
Please proceed with caution!
Have you ever needed to delete a stream in GA4?
I would love to know!
Let me know in the comments below.
And if you found this video helpful, then please subscribe so I know to make more videos
like this one.
See you in the next video!