Looker Studio: Creating a Dashboard

Owned by Andrew Reiter (Unlicensed)
Mar 30, 2023
4 min read

Adapted from Quick start guide - Looker Studio Help

Google identifies 6 key steps in getting started in Looker Studio (previously known as Data Studio).

Step 1: Sign into Looker Studio

 Here’s your homepage:

What is a report exactly? Reports let you visualize your data, gain insights, and share those insights and visualizations with others.

 In the blue rectangle in the screenshot above, you will see the create button: click this button and select “report.” This will create a report.

You also have options to view your recent reports (see the orange square in the screenshot) OR “start with a template” for your report.

Some quick step-by-step “how to” guides:

View a report:

To view a report that's been shared with you, click the report name in the list in the middle of the screen.

Edit a report:

  1. View the report

  2. In the upper right corner, click:

    Edit icon

    Edit

If you don't see an Edit button, then the report has been shared with only "Can View" access. If the owner of the report has allowed it, you can make a copy which you can then edit.

Create a report:

  1. In the top left, click:

Create

2. Select Report.

 

Step 2: Add your data source

What is a data source? Data sources allow you to manage connects to your data and configure the fields you can use in your report.

A field is a column of data.

Looker Studio makes it simple to add data sources from Google Analytics. Here are the steps:

 

  1. In the Add data to report panel, click “Connect to data.” (see the blue rectangle in the screenshot towards the bottom).

  2. Select the connector that matches to the kind of data this data source will provide, for example, Google Analytics or Ads.

  3. If prompted, click “Authorize” to allow Looker Studio to access your data on your behalf.

  4. Provide account details.

  5. In the bottom right, click “Add.”

  6. A table appears with fields from that data source.

  7. To customize the table's data and style, use the properties panel on the right.

  8. To rename your report, in the top left, click Untitled Report and then name your report.

 

Step 3: Create a Chart or Graph

  1. In the toolbar at the top of the editor, click “Add a chart” and then select a chart from the options.

  2. Click the canvas where you want the chart to appear.

  3. Move and resize the chart, based on your preferences and needs.

  4. Add or change the dimensions and metrics by clicking the fields in the properties panel or dragging/dropping them from the data panel (to the right of the chart panel) directly onto the chart.

Note: You can also create charts by dragging a field from the data panel onto the canvas you are working in. 

Step 4: View the Report

Viewing the report allows you to see how it will look for other people. Viewers cannot make changes to your report but can use any interactive features you have chosen to incorporate into the report.

To view your report, click the blue button with an eye at the top of the report.

Step 5: Share your report

PLEASE NOTE: Editors must be signed in to edit the report, but anyone can view the report without being required to sign in.

In the upper right, click the share button (see above in the red rectangle).

  1. Specify the people and/or groups you want to share the report with.

  2. OPTIONAL: use the advanced options to change how individual addresses can access the report.

  3.  

Step 6: Share your data source (optional)

This will allow others to build reports based off your data.

  1. On your homepage, select “Data sources.”

  2. Click the three dots and select “Share.”

  3. Specify the people and/or groups you want to share the report with.

  4. OPTIONAL: use the advanced options to change how individual addresses can access the report