GA4 DebugView: see your events arrive, one by one
DebugView shows events from your browser as they arrive, with every parameter. Three ways to turn on debug mode, what to check, and the trap in switching off.
Realtime tells you visits are arriving. DebugView tells you exactly what: every event from your browser, in order, with each parameter it carried. It is the fastest way to check a new event or a changed tag.
Three ways to switch it on
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Tag Assistant preview (tagassistant.google.com) | Checking any site without code changes |
| Google Analytics Debugger browser extension | Your own browser, always on while enabled |
debug_mode: true in the config or an event | A development build |
gtag("config", "G-XXXXXXX", { debug_mode: true });Where to find it
In GA4, Admin, then DebugView under the property's data display settings. Choose your device from the debug device list at the top if several are sending.
What to check
- Each event fires once per action. Doubled
page_views are covered in GA4 on a single page app. - Parameters carry the values you expect, with no personal data or keys.
- Event names follow your convention; see GA4 event naming.
- Consent state is what you expect for your region.
Realtime or DebugView?
Realtime answers whether visits are arriving at all, across every visitor. DebugView answers what one browser sent, in order, with each parameter. Use Realtime after a deploy to confirm the tag is live, and DebugView when you add or change an event and need to see its details.
The trap: turning it off
Google's documentation says setting debug_mode: false does not disable debug mode. To turn it off, remove the parameter. Build it conditionally, so production code never includes it.
GA4 + Search Console Setup checks your tag is live after you deploy, and DebugView is the natural next step when you start adding events of your own.
Questions
How do I turn on GA4 debug mode?
Use Tag Assistant's preview, install the Google Analytics Debugger extension, or add debug_mode: true to the config or event parameters. Then open DebugView in Admin.
Why is DebugView empty?
Debug mode is not on for your browser, the tag is not firing, or you are looking at a different property. Choose your device in the debug device list at the top of DebugView.
How do I turn debug mode off?
Remove the debug_mode parameter entirely. Setting it to false does not disable debug mode, according to Google's documentation.