UTMGuard

Google Ads Tracking: When to Skip UTM Parameters

UTMGuard Team
••5 min read•troubleshooting

Your Google Ads campaigns include both auto-tagging (gclid) and manual UTM parameters. While this doesn't break tracking, the UTMs are redundant—Google's auto-tagging handles everything.

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What's Happening

Google Ads automatically adds gclid to track clicks. GA4 recognizes gclid and properly classifies traffic as Google Ads.

When you also add manual UTMs:

yoursite.com?gclid=abc123&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc

Important: GA4 does NOT create duplicate sessions. Auto-tagging takes precedence over manual UTMs. The UTMs are simply ignored, making them unnecessary overhead.

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• Average: $8,400/month in wasted ad spend

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The Simplification

You can remove manual UTM parameters from Google Ads since auto-tagging handles attribution:

Steps:

  1. Open Google Ads
  2. Settings → Account Settings
  3. Verify auto-tagging is enabled
  4. Remove manual UTMs from final URL templates
  5. Save changes

Google Ads continues tracking automatically with gclid.

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What Changes

Before (gclid + UTMs):

  • Both parameters present
  • UTMs ignored by GA4
  • Longer URLs

After (gclid only):

  • Cleaner URLs
  • Same tracking accuracy
  • Simplified setup

FAQ

Will this break my tracking?

No. GA4 reads gclid automatically. Removing UTMs has no effect on tracking.

Should I remove UTMs from all Google Ads campaigns?

It's optional. UTMs don't harm tracking—they're just unnecessary for Google Ads.

Related: Platform Click ID Conflicts Documentation