Problem summary
You can see zero values for some Google Analytics 4 (GA4) metrics when your data source combines them with attribution dimensions.
Error message or symptoms
Sessions, Views, Item views or Add to carts contain zero values even though GA4 contains activity for the same dates.
When does this occur
The data source combines an affected metric with one or more attribution dimensions, such as:
Source, Medium, Campaign or Campaign ID.
Default channel grouping or Source platform.
Google Ads account, campaign, ad group, keyword or query dimensions.
Manual ad content or Manual term.
Root cause
The Analytics Data API returns zero for these metrics when the request combines them with incompatible attribution dimensions.
Solution
Review the dimensions in the data source.
For session metrics, use the corresponding dimension that starts with Session, such as Session source or Session campaign.
For user metrics, use the corresponding dimension that starts with First user, such as First user source or First user campaign.
If you must use the original attribution dimensions, create a separate data source for them. Do not add the affected metrics to this data source.
Create another data source for the affected metrics. Do not add the attribution dimensions to this data source.
Filter downstream reports by data source if the two sources contain overlapping metrics.