How to find file download data in Google Analytics?

Jeremi Lashua

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In Google Analytics 4 (GA4), file downloads are automatically tracked as “file_download” events. To find which files were downloaded, follow these steps:

1. Using the Events Report

  1. Log in to Google Analytics and go to the GA4 property.
  2. In the left menu, click Reports > Engagement > Events.
  3. Look for the event named “file_download”.
  4. Click on “file_download” to see details like:
    • File name (file_name)
    • File extension (file_extension)
    • Link URL (link_url)

2. Using Explore for Custom Analysis

  1. Go to Explore in GA4.
  2. Click on + Create a new exploration.
  3. Add a new dimension: Event Name and filter it to “file_download”.
  4. Add file_name, link_url, or page_location as additional dimensions.
  5. Add Event count as a metric.
  6. Drag these into the table to analyze file downloads in more detail.

3. Using Google Tag Manager (GTM) for Custom Tracking (If Needed)

If the built-in tracking doesn’t work for certain files, you can set up Google Tag Manager to track clicks on specific download links.

Would you like help setting up a custom report or GTM tag for tracking downloads?

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