How to Add GTM to Shopify？
If you run a Shopify store and use Google Ads to drive traffic, you’ve probably realized one thing: accurate conversion tracking is not as simple as it sounds.
Between cookie restrictions, privacy updates, and inconsistent browser behavior, tracking every purchase and event can get messy fast. That’s why many successful Shopify merchants now choose to add GTM to Shopify — short for Google Tag Manager — to manage all tracking tags in one reliable place.
What Is Google Tag Manager (GTM)?
Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a free tool from Google that lets you manage all your marketing and analytics tags without manually editing your website’s code.
Instead of inserting multiple tracking scripts into your Shopify theme, GTM acts as a single container that controls everything — Google Ads, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, TikTok Pixel, and even server side tracking tags.
This gives you centralized control, faster updates, and much cleaner data.
When you add GTM to Shopify, you’re essentially creating a bridge between your store and all your marketing tools.
Why You Should Add GTM to Shopify
Let’s look at why integrating GTM is one of the smartest moves you can make for your eCommerce business.
- Simplified Tag Management
Without GTM, every time you want to add a new tracking pixel or update an existing tag, you have to edit Shopify’s theme code manually.
That’s time-consuming and risky — one mistake can break your checkout flow.
By adding GTM, all tag management happens in one intuitive interface, saving time and reducing errors.
- Better Conversion Tracking for Google Ads
If you run Google Ads, GTM gives you the flexibility to track more precise actions: purchases, add-to-cart events, subscription sign-ups, and more.
You can use GTM to configure Google Ads conversion tracking tags and pass enhanced eCommerce data — helping Google’s Smart Bidding algorithms better understand which ads bring real sales.
When combined with Shopify server side tracking, this setup provides the most accurate, end-to-end view of your advertising ROI.
- Faster Website Performance
Every extra script on your website slows it down.
With GTM, you load one lightweight container instead of multiple tracking codes.
That means faster page speeds — and faster pages mean better user experience, higher conversion rates, and even improved SEO rankings.
- Future-Proof Tracking Setup
As browsers and privacy laws evolve, merchants need flexibility. GTM makes it easy to adjust tracking strategies without touching your store’s backend code.
You can easily add new tags, test server side setups, or update triggers when Shopify rolls out new checkout extensibility features.
How to Add GTM to Shopify: A Step-by-Step Overview
If you’re ready to add GTM to Shopify, here’s the basic setup flow:
- Create a GTM Account
Go to tagmanager.google.com
and create a new container for your Shopify store.
Select “Web” as the target platform. - Install the GTM Container on Shopify
Copy your GTM container code (it looks like GTM-XXXXXXX).
In Shopify Admin, navigate to Online Store > Themes > Edit Code, and paste the GTM and snippets in the theme.liquid file, right before the closing and tags.
Tip: You can also install GTM via Shopify’s Checkout Extensibility if your store is on Shopify Plus, which allows direct integration into the checkout flow.
- Add Your Tracking Tags in GTM
Inside GTM, create tags for:
Google Ads Conversion Tracking
Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Remarketing Tags or Custom Events
Set up triggers (like “Purchase” or “Add to Cart”) based on your business goals.
- Publish and Test Your Container
After setting everything up, use GTM’s “Preview” mode to test your tags before publishing.
Confirm that conversions are firing correctly in both GTM and your Google Ads account.
The Power of GTM + Shopify Server Side Tracking
Adding GTM to Shopify is the first step.
But if you want complete tracking accuracy, the next level is Shopify server side tracking — sending data directly from your Shopify server to Google Ads or GA4 without relying on browser cookies.
When GTM works hand-in-hand with a server side setup, you get the perfect combination: flexible tag control + accurate conversion data.
Simplify Shopify GTM Setup with JTracking
Manually setting up GTM and server side tracking can be complex — especially for merchants who aren’t developers.
That’s where JTracking comes in.
JTracking helps Shopify merchants and agencies automatically add GTM to Shopify and deploy AI-powered server side tracking for Google Ads in just one click.
No manual code edits, no data loss — just clean, accurate tracking from day one.