If you’ve been hearing buzz about MCPs (Measurement Control Protocols) and wondering what they are or how to get started, you’re in the right place. Google Analytics just launched their own MCP, and it’s a game-changer for querying your GA4 data with AI tools like Claude or Gemini.

Let me walk you through the basics, the setup, and how you can start building interactive dashboards without needing to be a coding expert.

What Is an MCP? The Simplest Explanation

Think of an MCP as the middleman between your data requests and the answers you get. You send a request, like “How many sessions did I have in the last 30 days?”

The MCP runs through rules and logic to figure out how to get that data from multiple tables, APIs, and endpoints, then spits out the answer. It’s like having a smart assistant that knows exactly where to look and how to combine data for you.

Right now, MCPs are still learning, for example, they struggle with complex funnel queries or joining data by item ID instead of page path. So, always double-check your outputs to make sure they’re accurate. But the potential here is huge for simplifying analytics queries

Key Benefits of Google Analytics MCP

• Simplified data access without complex API knowledge
• AI-powered analytics insights
• Real-time data visualization capabilities
• Seamless integration with existing GA4 setup
• Enhanced reporting automation

Live Demo: Querying Sessions and Building Reports

Here’s a quick peek at what you can do with an MCP:

• Ask for the number of sessions in the last 30 days.
• Request a table showing event names and their counts.
• Build an interactive report with sessions, users, and new users for a specific period.

The coolest part? You don’t have to specify API endpoints or the exact steps. The MCP figures out the process on its own, making it super user-friendly 

Step-by-Step Installation Guide: Python & Homebrew

Before you dive in, you’ll need to set up a couple of things on your computer:

1. Install Python: Head to the official Python website, download, and install it. No coding needed, just the installation.
2. Install Homebrew: This is a package manager for MacOS that helps install other tools easily. You’ll use your terminal to paste a simple bash command to get it running.
3. Install Pipx: Pipx lets you run Python applications in isolated environments. Again, just copy-paste a command in your terminal, and you’re set.

Once these are installed, you’re ready to run the MCP server for GA4 

Creating Google Cloud Credentials: The Key to Accessing Your Data

To connect your GA4 account with the MCP, you need credentials from Google Cloud:

• Create a Google Cloud account if you don’t have one.
• Go to APIs & Services and activate two APIs:
  • Google Analytics Data API
  • Google Analytics Admin API
• Create a Service Account credential.
• Generate a JSON key file and save it securely on your computer.
• Grant this service account access to your GA4 property via Account Access Management.

This setup ensures your MCP server can securely query your analytics data 

Connecting MCP Server to Claude Desktop

Once your credentials are ready:

• Open your Claude Desktop app.
• Go to Cloud Menu > Settings > Developer > Edit Config.
• Open the JSON config file and replace the placeholder path with the location of your saved JSON key.
• Save changes, restart Claude Desktop.
• Verify connection by searching for “Analytics MCP” in the tools menu.

If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see options to get metrics, dimensions, realtime reports, and more — all powered by your MCP connection 

Why You Should Start Using MCP Today

• No need to know API endpoints or complex queries. The MCP figures it out for you.
• Build interactive dashboards and reports quickly.
• Integrate with AI tools like Claude or Gemini for smarter data analysis.
• Stay ahead with Google’s latest analytics technology.

Just remember, MCPs are evolving, so always validate your data outputs. But once you get the hang of it, this is a powerful way to unlock your GA4 data like never before.

Final Thoughts

Setting up Google Analytics MCP might sound technical, but with Python, Homebrew, and Google Cloud credentials, it’s surprisingly straightforward. Whether you’re a marketer, analyst, or developer, this tool can save you tons of time and help you get deeper insights faster.