Google Analytics is a great free tool for businesses to track and analyze website performance. However, not all business owners know their account credentials. You can always get your Google Analytics account password back if you own associated email account. But what if you have no idea who owns the Analytics account? It may be that the last person who managed your Google Analytics left your company without giving you the account credentials, or you’ve switched to a new agency and your former agency didn’t give you the account login information.
It is always recommended to try to regain access to your Google Analytics account rather than creating a new account for your website. All of the historical data in your account is critical when analyzing trends and making business decisions.
To regain your Google Analytics account access, simply follow the 8 steps below:
1. Go to the Google Adwords Help Center and login to your Google Adwords account. (If you don’t have one, you’ll need create one first. )
2. Click Contact Us and you will see several different ways to contact Google.
- Call 866-246-6453, Monday – Friday, 9am-8pm EDT
- Live Chat
- Video Chat
- Email Google
If you need immediate help, we suggest that you call Google directly or chat with an Online Specialist.
3. When you speak with a Google Online Specialist, be sure to have your Google Analytics account number (UA-XXXXXXXX-X) with you. You can find the account number in your website source code. It is usually in the <head> section. With this account number, Google can identify the current account admin, contact the him/her, and ask him/her to reach out to you directly.
4. At the same time, you will receive an email from your Google Online Specialist. This email includes the steps to demonstrate ownership of your Google Analytics account if you don’t hear from the current admin within five business days. Make sure you don’t delete it.
5. So, you wait for 5 business days and the admin didn’t reach out to you. Now it’s time to ask Google give you the permissions directly. First, create a text file and save it as: analytics.txt.
6. Put a string of text in this text file. Usually, Google Online Specialists will highlight it in yellow for you in the email. Replace {INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS}, {INSERT UA-ID}, and {INSERT DATE} with your information.
7. Upload the text file to the root of the domain that you’re requesting access for. If your website url is www.example.com, you should be able to visit the text file via www.example.com/analytics.txt
8. Reply to the Online Specialist’s email with the URL of the uploaded text file. Once the Google Online Specialist receives it, Google will grant the email address you listed in the text file your Google Analytics account.
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Cheryl Gong is the SEO specialist at Logic Solutions. With experience in SEO, digital marketing strategy, and website development, Cheryl has worked with different sites and brands to provide best practices for each client’s unique business needs.