GA4 to Google Ads: Conversion Sync Step-by-Step (UI 2026)

This guide explains the GA4 → Google Ads conversion sync flow using the 2026 UI. With this setup, conversions sent to GA4 by Konektor can be imported into Google Ads for more accurate bidding and reporting.

Prerequisites

• Admin access to GA4 Property and Google Ads.
• Conversion events already appear in GA4 Realtime.
• Auto-tagging enabled in Google Ads.
• GA4 and Google Ads accounts can be linked.

Tracking Methods

Konektor supports two methods for sending data to Google:

1. Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Measurement Protocol: Recommended for website-first flows where GA4 tagging is consistently available, then imported into Google Ads.
2. Direct Google Ads API (Advanced): Recommended for offline conversions, landing-to-WhatsApp flows, and CRM-style lead optimization.

Enable Google Ads API Mode in Konektor

Use this mode if you want to send conversions directly to Google Ads (offline conversions) without GA4.

1. Set up Google Ads Integration

1. Open Konektor > Ads Spend > Manage Connections.
2. Select the Google Ads tab.
3. Connect the Google Ads account used for your campaigns.
4. Make sure the integration status is Active.

2. Get the Conversion Action ID

1. Open Google Ads > Goals > Conversions.
2. Click the conversion action you want to use.
3. Once the details page opens, look at the URL in your browser.
4. Find the parameter ctId=123456789.
5. The number after ctId is the Action ID used for Google Ads API mode.

3. Enable the Mode in Konektor Pixel

1. Open Konektor > Pixel & Tracking.
2. Click Add Pixel or Edit your Google pixel.
3. Select Delivery Mode: Google Ads API (Advanced).
4. Choose the active Google Ads Integration.
5. Enter the Action ID (ctId).
6. Save.

4. Verify

1. Change a lead status (e.g., new to qualified) to trigger an event.
2. Check Google Ads > Goals > Conversions until status shows Recording.
3. Wait 24–48 hours for the first conversions to appear.

Mandatory Preparation (Auto-tagging)

For server-side tracking to work, you must enable Auto-tagging in your Google Ads account.

1. Open Google Ads > Settings > Account Settings.
2. Open the Auto-tagging section.
3. Check "Tag the URL that people click through from my ad".
4. Save.

This will add the ?gclid=... parameter to every ad click, which Konektor will capture.

Google Ads UTM Template

Paste this template into the Tracking Template field at the Account Level to apply it automatically to all campaigns. Do not manually add gclid because Auto-tagging fills it automatically.

{lpurl}?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={_campaignname}&utm_term={keyword}&utm_content={creative}&campaign_id={campaignid}&campaign_name={_campaignname}&ad_group_id={adgroupid}&ad_group_name={_adgroup}&ad_id={adid}&creative_id={creative}&matchtype={matchtype}&network={network}&device={device}&ad_account_id=YOUR_AD_ACCOUNT_ID

Fill ad_account_id with your Google Ads Customer ID.

How to Set Up at Account Level

1. Go to Google Ads > Admin > Account Settings.
2. Open the Tracking section.
3. Paste the template above into the Tracking template field.
4. Click Save.

How to Add Custom Parameters

Since Google Ads does not have consistent automatic macros for Campaign Name ({campaignname}) and Ad Group Name ({adgroupname}) across all campaign types, we use Custom Parameters.

1. Campaign Level ({_campaignname})

1. Select your Campaign > Settings.
2. Scroll down, expand Additional settings.
3. Open Campaign URL options.
4. Under Custom parameters, add:
   • Name: _campaignname
   • Value: (Enter your campaign name, e.g., summer_sale)
5. Save.

2. Ad Group Level ({_adgroup})

1. Select your Ad Group > Settings.
2. Open Ad group URL options.
3. Under Custom parameters, add:
   • Name: _adgroup
   • Value: (Enter your ad group name, e.g., target_us)
4. Save.

Optional (GA4 Manual Tagging): Add these parameters if you want richer GA4 reporting:

• utm_id
• utm_source_platform
• utm_creative_format
• utm_marketing_tactic

Setup via GA4 (Recommended for Website-First Flows)

1. Get Measurement ID & API Secret

1. Open Google Analytics > Admin > Data Streams.
2. Click your website stream.
3. Copy the Measurement ID (example: G-ABC12345).
4. Scroll down, click Measurement Protocol API secrets.
5. Create a new secret, name it "Konektor", then copy the Secret Value.

2. Input in Konektor

1. Open Konektor > Integrations > Google Ads.
2. Enter Measurement ID and API Secret.
3. Save & Test Connection.

3. Confirm GA4 Event Is Collected

1. Open GA4 > Reports > Realtime.
2. Trigger the event on your site (form submit, purchase, etc.).
3. Make sure the event appears with the correct name, e.g. generate_lead.

4. Mark the Event as a Key Event

1. Open GA4 > Admin > Events.
2. Find the event you want to count as a conversion.
3. Toggle Mark as key event.

5. Link GA4 to Google Ads (UI 2026)

1. Open GA4 > Admin > Product Links > Google Ads Links.
2. Click Link, then select the correct Google Ads account.
3. Enable Personalized Advertising if available.
4. Save until the link status shows Active.

6. Import Key Event into Google Ads (UI 2026)

1. Open Google Ads > Goals > Conversions > Summary.
2. Click New Conversion Action.
3. Select Import > Google Analytics 4 properties.
4. Choose the key event to import (e.g. purchase, generate_lead).
5. Set Primary if you want it used for bidding optimization.
6. Adjust Value, Count, and Conversion Window to match your business model.

6A. Change Secondary to Primary (Required for Bidding)

By default, GA4 imports often land as Secondary, so they do not affect smart bidding. Use these steps to switch them.

1. Open Google Ads > Goals > Conversions.
2. Click the imported GA4 conversion name.
3. Click Edit settings.
4. Under Goal and action optimization, select Primary.
5. Ensure Include in "Conversions" is enabled.
6. Click Save.

Once set to Primary, the conversion will appear in the Conversions column and be used for bidding.

7. Verify Conversion Status

1. Open Google Ads > Goals > Conversions.
2. Confirm the status becomes Recording.
3. Wait 24–48 hours for the first conversions to appear.

Setup via Direct Google Ads API (Advanced)

If you do not use GA4 and you specifically need direct uploads to Google Ads, use this advanced method. This path requires a valid click identifier and a correctly configured Conversion Action.

1. Create a new Conversion Action in Google Ads > Goals > Conversions.
2. Select Import > Other data sources or CRMs > Track conversions from clicks.
3. Fill in the conversion name, value, and other settings as needed.
4. Copy the Conversion Customer ID (format XXX-XXX-XXXX).
5. Open the Conversion Action details page.
6. Get the Action ID from the ctId parameter in the details URL.

GA4 Segmentation for Paid & Conversions

This section ensures Google Ads traffic is classified as Paid and conversions are visible in GA4 reports.

1. Validate UTM and Auto-tagging

1. Ensure the UTM template is applied in Google Ads.
2. Confirm Auto-tagging is enabled so gclid is captured.
3. Check GA4 Realtime and verify Session source/medium shows google / cpc.

2. Check Channel Group (Paid Search)

1. Open GA4 > Admin > Data display > Channel groups.
2. Open Default channel group.
3. Make sure the Paid Search rule includes:
   • Session source = google
   • Session medium matches cpc, ppc, or paidsearch
4. If it does not match, create a Custom channel group and add the rules above.

3. Create Paid Segment in Reports

1. Open GA4 > Reports > Acquisition > Traffic acquisition.
2. Click Add comparison.
3. Set Session default channel group = Paid Search.
4. Save it as Paid Search Only.

4. Ensure Conversions Appear in GA4

1. Open GA4 > Reports > Engagement > Events.
2. Filter your key event (e.g. generate_lead).
3. Confirm the Key events column shows data.
4. Enable the Paid Search Only comparison to see paid conversions only.

Troubleshooting

PMax looks lower than Search

Problem: PMax conversions look lower than Search even though GA4 and Google Ads are already linked correctly. Solution:

• Check Google signals in GA4 if you rely on cross-device conversions.
• Use the GA4 attribution model Google paid channels last click for Google Ads imports.
• Make sure the imported conversion is set to Primary and Include in "Conversions" is enabled.
• Validate in GA4 Realtime that ad sessions show up as google / cpc.
• If your main flow is landing -> WhatsApp or CRM-style leads, consider switching to Direct Google Ads API (Advanced).

Next Steps

• Setup Enhanced Conversions (High Accuracy)
• Event & Conversion Settings