Google Tag Managerintermediate 5 min read 3 steps

How to Track YouTube Video Views in GTM

Track embedded YouTube video engagement using GTM's built-in YouTube Video trigger. Enable YouTube Video variables in GTM, create a YouTube Video trigger for start, progress, and complete events, and create a GA4 Event tag. GA4 Enhanced Measurement also tracks video engagement automatically for embe

Event Trackingtrack youtube video views gtm

Quick summary

Track embedded YouTube video engagement using GTM's built-in YouTube Video trigger. Enable YouTube Video variables in GTM, create a YouTube Video trigger for start, progress, and complete events, and create a GA4 Event tag. GA4 Enhanced Measurement also tracks video engagement automatically for embe

Process Flow

Animated overview of the full workflow

Start
1Enable Variables
2Create Trigger
3Create Tag
Complete

TL;DR

Track embedded YouTube video engagement using GTM's built-in YouTube Video trigger. Enable YouTube Video variables in GTM, create a YouTube Video trigger for start, progress, and complete events, and create a GA4 Event tag. GA4 Enhanced Measurement also tracks video engagement automatically for embedded YouTube videos, but GTM offers more granular control.


Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these 3 steps to complete this guide

  1. 1

    Enable Variables

    Variables > Configure > enable Video Provider, Video Status, Video Current Time, Video Duration, Video Percent, Video Title, Video URL, Video Visible.

  2. 2

    Create Trigger

    Triggers > New > YouTube Video. Select capture options: Start, Complete, Pause, Seeking, Progress (add thresholds: 25%, 50%, 75%). Enable 'Add JavaScript API support to all YouTube videos.'

  3. 3

    Create Tag

    GA4 Event tag with event name 'video_engagement'. Parameters: video_title ({{Video Title}}), video_percent ({{Video Percent}}), video_status ({{Video Status}}).

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