Google Data Studio Common Errors & Solutions [4 Common Errors]

Hi. Today, we are going to talk about Google Data Studio’s common error and their solution. There can be so many errors for a beginner who just getting started with Google Data Studio. We will the most common errors when creating charts, connecting data sources, adding metrics, and dimensions, or with custom fields. We will see the problem and the most optimum solution for those. Today’s article is meant to solve your runtime issues, help you identify the cause of errors, and help you troubleshoot your Google Data Studio reports without any problem.

Google Data Studio does not mean to be accommodative or thorough when your visualizations or charts shatter.  The extent of this article is to share with you some of the causes why your visualizations break, also we will share some other common Google Data Studio errors and their solutions. Google Data Studio supports third-party apps for adding functionalities to Studio, we can add so many data sources and external APIs to make good reports and share them in a flash.

Importance of understanding Common Errors in Data Studio

Whenever we work with any application or tool like Google Sheets, Slides, Docs, or Studio, we just need to have basic knowledge of using the application interface to interact with its basic features. Furthermore, we also need to know some basic error handling. Error handling helps us recover the data from errors, sometimes we don’t do anything wrong but face errors. This happens because we don’t follow all the instructions to use the application for the first time from the official documentation, and that’s why we end up doing a minor mistake while working.

So, to work with these tools, we need to have basic error handling knowledge, we must identify the different types of errors we encounter while working, and we need to know their causes, and also the solution.

In today’s guide, we only talk about Google Data Studio’s common errors and their solution, this guide will help you with the most common and frequent errors probably every user encounter when using Google Data Studio initially without too much experience. So, therefore we need to understand Google Data Studio common errors and their solution.

Google Data Studio Common Errors and Solutions

There are some common errors, we will see each of them, and talk about their possible causes, and then we will talk about and implement the possible solutions for those errors. This is how we will be able to master error handling in Google Data Studio.

Google Data Studio – Missing Data Source

In this first section, we will learn Google Data Studio’s common errors and their solution, and we will talk about the Missing Data source error. We will learn about a common error “Missing Data source” error and we will see why it occurs and what is the possible solution for it.

This error is encountered when there is no data source associated with the component, chart, or element. In 99% of cases, the solution is obvious, the solution is to add a data source.

To do so, we have some simple steps to follow

Step 1

Click on the “Add data” button

Step 2

Now, select a connector from the given list and add it to your studio

Step 3

Now, select the chart, and in the Sidebar of the chart, click on the Select Data Source button and select a data source, you will see the error is gone.

Most of the time, this error is gone when you add a data source to the element. And, for the very worst case, if your error is not gone, then you better try to see your data source, if it has some data that is valid to the elements or chart’s perspective.

Solution 1: Connect a data source

Solution 2: Link the data source to the charts, and see if they are valid

Google Data Studio – Unknown Data Source error

In this section, we will see Google Data Studio common errors and their solution and we will talk about the “Unknown data source” error.

This error may be very frustrating for a new user arriving on Google Data Studio. It looks weird and is not a good welcome for the users.

This error is related to the connector, or while connecting a connector.

The error suggests you that have not added or connected your studio with a connector, the visualizations are empty because they can’t find any connector, or you have ended up connecting the connector badly and it turned out to be a connection error.

You can go to the Resource tab and then click on manage added data sources; you will find there is no connector.

To fix this error, follow the below steps

Step 1

Go to Resource > Manage added data sources

Step 2

Here you can see your connectors, try disconnecting, and then reconnecting the connector that is showing the error.

Step 3

Try “refresh fields” and then click the Finish button

Note: If your error is not gone, then try this step again after a few hours.

Still not working?

Try closing your report, creating a new report, and connecting your connector or data source from the scratch on a new Google Data Studio blank file.

In most cases, this error is gone when you reconnect your connector. Fewer times, we need to relaunch the Studio and set up a new blank file to connect the connector or data source.

Solution 1: Disconnect and then Reconnect the connector or data source.

Solution 2: Try the above solution on a newly created blank Google Data Studio file

Google Data Studio – System errors

In this section, we are learning about Google Data Studio’s common errors and their solution, now here we will specifically learn about system errors. When and why do they occur? what is the root cause? and what is the solution for those? Let’s see what system errors are.

You may face system errors probably while building the logic for dimension and metric

Another reason can be the connector, if you or someone on your report have intentionally or unintentionally removed the active connector, then you may see a system error.

To troubleshoot system errors, we have many ways. Let’s see the below steps

In the first case, check your connector is correctly set up:

Step 1

Go to the Resource > Manage added data sources

Step 2

Double-check that your connector is connected, and working

Step 3

Click on the “Edit” button on the connector

Note: The edit button will only work for original and custom data sources, not for a Sample data source such as Google Analytics.

Step 4

Refresh the data fields.

Now back to your studio, and see if the error is gone.

If the error is not gone, then you should go to contact and report your problem to Google Data Studio support

Another less likely solution

The second case is when your internet connection is weak or unstable, check your internet connection and reload the page. Wait for some minutes.

If your error is still not gone, reach out to your connector provider.

By the way, most of the time, this error occurs because of a failed connection from Connector’s, Data Studio’s server. Another possible reason can be your bad internet connection.

Solution 1: Try refreshing the fields

Solution 2: Try double-checking your internet connection, and connect to another internet connection if available to verify that the problem persists from your side.

Google Data Studio Data Set Configuration Error

In this section, we will be learning Google Data Studio common errors and their solution, and we will see the configuration errors. There can be two names of configuration errors in Google Data Studio.

Google Data Studio sometimes does not notify that “This data source was improperly configured. “But it will display a prompt with some very specific problems like below

On the same problem, some connectors may show the same issue with a different message. It depends on the connectors, some connector says it’s a user configuration error, and others say it’s a database configuration error.

The solution can be very simple in most cases.

Step 1

Review your metrics and dimensions, and try choosing a valid combination of metrics and dimensions.

Note: If you use any third-party connector, there can be some combinations that seem valid but are invalid, so the root cause of this problem is not reviewing the original data or not knowing your connector’s nature.

Also note that all invalid combinations of metric(s) and dimension(s) show errors, sometimes they generate visualization but of course, they are not what we intended.

Note: The sorting can also be the reason for this error.

Solution 1: Recheck your metric and dimension combination

Solution 2: Check your original data and review the list of available parameters in your connector.

So, these are the most common errors every user faces when using Google Data Studio with less experience.

I hope you find this guide helpful.

Conclusion

So that’s all from Google Data Studio common errors and their solution. We have discussed the four most common errors of Google Data Studio, we tried to find the root causes, and also see easy and quick solutions to tackle these errors. If you have got some other errors, you can comment on your problem below with the screenshot. I will try to solve your problem as soon as I can. That’s all from today’s guide. I will see you with another helpful article soon. Thank you and keep learning with Office Demy.