Fix Fragment Before Query Error in 60 Seconds

You got an alert: "Fragment Before Query detected in your campaign URLs."

You're seeing unattributed traffic in GA4. Your campaign data is missing.

Here's the 60-second fix.

The Problem (5-Second Version)

Your URL has the # symbol before the ? symbol:

❌ yoursite.com#pricing?utm_source=facebook

Everything after # stays in the browser and never reaches Google Analytics.

Result: Zero campaign tracking.

The Fix (3 Steps)

Step 1: Swap the Order (30 seconds)

Change this:

yoursite.com#pricing?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=summer

To this:

yoursite.com?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=summer#pricing

That's it. Question mark ? before hash #.

Step 2: Update Active Campaigns (20 seconds)

Replace the broken URL in:

• Social media posts
• Email campaigns
• Paid ads
• QR codes

No need to pause campaigns. Just update the URLs.

Step 3: Test (10 seconds)

1. Visit your corrected URL in incognito mode
2. Open GA4 → Real-Time reports
3. Verify campaign appears

Done? Your tracking is fixed.

Why This Happens

The # symbol (fragment) is for in-page navigation. Browsers don't send anything after # to servers.

When you put UTM parameters after the hash:

domain.com#section?utm_params

The browser sees:

• URL sent to server: domain.com
• Fragment kept locally: #section?utm_params

Your UTM parameters never reach Google Analytics.

Real Example: 30-Second Fix Saves $5K Campaign

Campaign: LinkedIn product launch Budget: $5,000 Problem: Zero attribution after 2 days

Broken URL:

saas-app.com#features?utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=launch

Fixed URL (30 seconds later):

saas-app.com?utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=launch#features

Result:

• Tracking restored immediately
• Remaining 12 days tracked correctly
• Clear ROI data for future campaigns

Time to fix: 30 seconds Value saved: $5,000 in attribution data

Common Variations of This Error

Variation 1: Multiple Anchors

❌ site.com#header?utm_source=email#footer
✅ site.com?utm_source=email#header

(Only one anchor allowed; use the first one)

Variation 2: SPA Hash Routing

❌ app.com/#/dashboard?utm_source=twitter
✅ app.com?utm_source=twitter#/dashboard

Variation 3: Anchor with Special Characters

❌ site.com#section-1?utm_source=facebook
✅ site.com?utm_source=facebook#section-1

Quick Validation Checklist

Before launching, verify:

✅ ? appears before # in URL ✅ All UTM parameters come after ? ✅ Anchor (if used) comes last after # ✅ Test shows campaign in GA4 Real-Time

Prevention: Never Make This Mistake Again

Use This URL Template

https://domain.com/page?utm_source=`{"{"}{"{"}source{"}"}{"}"}}`&utm_medium=`{"{"}{"{"}medium{"}"}{"}"}}`&utm_campaign=`{"{"}{"{"}campaign{"}"}{"}"}}`#anchor

Order:

1. Domain and path
2. ? (question mark)
3. UTM parameters (connected with &)
4. # (hash) - optional
5. Anchor name - optional

Automation

Stop manually checking URLs. UTMGuard:

• Scans your GA4 data automatically
• Detects fragment-before-query errors
• Alerts you before campaigns launch
• Shows exact sessions affected

FAQ

Will this fix my historical data?

No. Past data stays unattributed. The fix only affects future traffic.

Do I need to restart my campaigns?

No. Just update the URLs. Active campaigns will track correctly immediately.

How fast does the fix work?

Instant. Test in GA4 Real-Time reports within 60 seconds.

Can I skip the anchor entirely?

Yes. If you don't need in-page navigation, remove the #anchor completely. UTMs will work fine without it.

What if I have multiple UTM parameters?

Same rule. All UTMs go after ?, connected with &, and the anchor # comes last:

domain.com?utm_source=x&utm_medium=y&utm_campaign=z#anchor

Conclusion

Fragment Before Query error? Swap the order: ? before #.

❌ BROKEN: site.com#anchor?utm_params
✅ FIXED:  site.com?utm_params#anchor

Update your campaign URLs. Test in GA4 Real-Time. Done in 60 seconds.

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Technical Reference: Fragment Before Query Validation Rule