Google Analytics recently introduced a super handy feature called “Copy Reports and Explorations Across Properties.” If you’ve ever wished for an easier way to manage reports when juggling multiple properties (like websites or apps), this update is here to save your day — and your time. Let’s break it all down and show you how it works!
What’s New?
With this update, you can now copy custom reports and explorations from one property to another. Think of properties as separate sets of data that you manage. For example, if you track traffic for multiple websites, each website might have its own property. Previously, you’d have to recreate reports or explorations manually for each new property — a tedious and time-consuming process. But now, you can replicate them with just a few clicks!
Why Is This Useful?
Let’s say you’ve spent hours perfecting a detailed report to track user behavior, top-performing pages, or website visits for one of your sites. Before this update, duplicating this report for another site would involve starting from scratch. Not anymore! This new feature lets you copy that exact report to a different property, so you can quickly scale your insights across accounts. Time saved = more time for analysis.
What Can You Copy?
Here’s what’s included in the copy feature:
- Custom detail reports: Summaries and key stats (e.g., cards showing traffic numbers).
- Explorations: Deep dives into specific user behaviors, including all tabs set up in the exploration.
However, there are a few important limits to keep in mind:
- You cannot copy default reports — only custom ones.
- Advanced features like custom dimensions or metrics don’t transfer automatically. You’ll need to reconfigure these in the target property.
For a full list of caveats, check the official Limits and Caveats page.
How to Copy a Report or Exploration
Google Analytics has made the process quick and straightforward. Here’s how:
- For Reports:
- Go to the Reports section in your account.
- Click Library at the bottom of the navigation panel.
- Find the report you’d like to copy and select Copy across properties.
- Choose the target property, and voilà — your report has been transferred!
- For Explorations:
- Head to the Explore section.
- Open the exploration you’d like to copy and select Copy across properties.
- Pick the property you’d like to transfer it to, and that’s it.
Need additional guidance? Check out the sections on Copying a Custom Detail Report and Copying an Exploration.
What Happens After You Copy?
Here are a few things to know once you’ve copied a report or exploration:
- The copied version is independent of the original, so it won’t update if you later make changes to the original.
- If the original report included custom settings (e.g., specific audiences or dimensions), you’ll need to set those up manually in the new property.
For example, if your original report used “Custom Audience A” and that audience doesn’t exist in the new property, you’ll need to create it again.
Helpful Tips to Keep in Mind
- Permissions Matter: To use this feature, you need the right permissions. For reports, you need to be an Editor. For explorations, even a Viewer can copy items.
- Respect Quota Limits: Properties have limits, like a maximum of 150 custom reports. If the target property has hit its quota, you won’t be able to copy anything new.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
When copying reports or explorations, you might encounter one of these statuses:
- Success: Everything copied over perfectly.
- Warning: Most elements are copied, but some (e.g., custom metrics) couldn’t be transferred.
- Failure: The copy didn’t work, often due to lack of permissions or hitting quota limits in the property.
For a breakdown of these statuses, visit the official Statuses Section.
What to Do Next
Once you’ve successfully copied your report or exploration, here’s how to finalize things:
- Make it accessible: Add the report to the navigation or share the exploration with team members for easier collaboration.
- Update any missing elements: If some features didn’t copy properly (like custom audiences), be sure to reconfigure them in the new property.
With these steps, you’re all set to take full advantage of this fantastic new feature. Happy reporting!