Google Analytics Measurement Protocol not working

Question

I want to track an application that runs in different environments:

phonegap build
node-webkit app
website

In order to use one tracking mechanism for all I thought it would be a good idea to use the "Measurement Protocol"

I set up a new tracking property (type Website) and performed multiple requests to the www.google-analytics.com/collect site as described in their devguide. I always get the Status 200 (OK) from my POST request, but unfortunately I can´t see any tracking information coming in to my GA account.

Here is what the request looks like (Build with Postman plugin for Chrome):

POST /collect?v=1&tid=UA-29xxxxxx-2&cid=35009a79-1a05-49d7-b876-2b884d0f825b&t=pageview&dh=mysite.com&dp=%2Fhome&dt=Homepage&an=myapp HTTP/1.1
Host: www.google-analytics.com
Cache-Control: no-cache

Basically I´m sending these parameters:

v=1
&tid=UA-29xxxxxx-2
&cid=35009a79-1a05-49d7-b876-2b884d0f825b
&t=pageview
&dh=mysite.com
&dp=%2Fhome
&dt=Homepage
&an=myapp

I also tried to create a "Mobile Application" in Google Analytics and use that tracking id instead. Same result here - no tracking information in Google Analytics.

Does anyone know, how to perform this tracking requests successfully or if there is a debug-option so that I can at least see, why the tracking call is not saved? Thanks!

How long did you wait after creating these new Web Properties? It takes 24 - 48 hours before they are going to start showing data. — Linda Lawton - DaImTo, Dec 08 '14 at 12:43
I created them 4h ago or so. Are the real-time-reports not updated immediately? — tomraithel, Dec 08 '14 at 13:06
It takes 48 - 72 hours before Google will start recording data on a new web property you will need to wait. — Linda Lawton - DaImTo, Dec 08 '14 at 14:02
No @DaImTo, the Real Time Data.. is in Real Time. You don't need to wait to see the data on real time dashboard. — cmarrero01, Dec 29 '14 at 19:32
take a look at [this post](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22894416/how-to-correctly-use-google-analytics-measurement-protocol) — MrColes, Dec 30 '14 at 17:00
I am having the exact same issue. Did you manage to solve it? — Buzzy, Apr 01 '15 at 07:05
@Buzzy try the `/debug/collect` endpoint specified here: https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/protocol/v1/validating-hits to get some feedback from GA. — Lars de Bruijn, Apr 04 '16 at 09:00

score 19 · Answer 1 · answered May 29 '19 at 06:37

19

Had the same problem: whatever I POSTed, it did not show up in GA. Debug API successfully validated my hits. Finally, I found out what was missing: you must send a user agent string (parameter ua), too.

answered May 29 '19 at 06:37

SomeGuest

191
1
3

You, sir, saved my day with this simple and valuable piece of information. – J. Bruni Jul 08 '19 at 13:52
Thanks a lot, bro. Your comment is amazing. You help me! – volos Feb 01 '22 at 11:52

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered May 13 '20 at 09:32

Cross reference to other given solutions: How to correctly use google analytics measurement protocol?

Takeaway:

use the /debug/collect endpoint
Check the GA live report after a try with /collect
Check you ua and cid parameters
Use proxying that browser extensions don't fish away your requests

My request now looks like: https://strongstaff.eu/statistics?v=1&tid=UA-XXX&cid=35009a79-1a05-49d7-b876-2b884d0f825b&t=pageview&dp=/&dt=Homepage&an=myapp%20HTTP/1.1&ua=Mmyapp%20HTTP/1.1

which proxy_pass'es to: proxy_pass https://www.google-analytics.com/collect?$args;

Google Analytics Measurement Protocol not working

2 Answers2

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