You create custom dashboards in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) using the ‘Explore’ section, which allows you to visualise data beyond the standard pre-built reports. This involves selecting dimensions and metrics, then choosing a visualisation type to display the information in a tailored format.
As of December 2025, GA4’s ‘Explore’ section offers several dashboard creation methods. ‘Free form’ exploration is the most flexible, letting you drag and drop dimensions (like ‘City’, relevant for Australian regional analysis) and metrics (like ‘Users’, ‘Event count’) onto a canvas. You can then choose from various visualisations – line charts, bar charts, scatter plots, and geo maps – to represent the data. GA4 now includes pre-built templates within ‘Explore’ for common use cases, streamlining dashboard creation. The platform supports custom date ranges and segmentation, allowing you to focus on specific user groups or time periods. Data sampling, which may affect accuracy for very large datasets, is indicated within the interface. GA4 data processing complies with Australian privacy regulations, and data residency options are available for businesses requiring data to be stored within Australia. In 2026, Google has announced enhancements to the ‘Explore’ section to include more advanced statistical modelling capabilities.
GA4 custom dashboards function by allowing users to define the specific data points and visual representations they need, providing a tailored view of website and app performance.
