Why does Looker Studio display “Data source not available” after sharing?

“Data source not available” after sharing almost always means the recipient may see the report, but not the data source behind it. In Looker Studio, reports and data sources are shared separately. If the data source uses viewer’s credentials, every recipient needs their own access to GA4, Google Ads or the sheet.

The quickest fix is usually to switch the data source to owner’s credentials. Everyone who may see the report then sees the data too, without their own access to the source.

Why does Looker Studio show “Data source not available”?

• Viewer’s credentials. The data source queries with the account of each viewer. If that account has no access to the GA4 property, the Google Ads account or the Google Sheet, the chart stays empty.
• The owner has lost access. With owner’s credentials everything depends on one account. If it loses access to the source, for example because an employee has left the company, every viewer sees the error.
• Reusable data source not shared. A reusable data source is a separate file with its own sharing. If only the report was shared, the recipient has no access to that file. Embedded data sources, by contrast, are shared with the report.
• Sharing outside the organisation blocked. In Google Workspace accounts the administrator can restrict sharing Looker Studio content externally.

How do I fix the error?

1. Open the report in edit mode and choose Resource → Manage added data sources.
2. Click Edit next to the affected source, then Data credentials at the top.
3. Choose Owner if all report readers should see the data, or keep Viewer and give each recipient access to the source.
4. If the data source is reusable, also share it with the recipients, at least as viewers.
5. Open the report in a private window with a test account and check every page.

Owner or viewer credentials: which is safer?

With owner’s credentials, anyone who may open the report sees the data in it, even without their own access to GA4 or Google Ads. That is convenient, but the report sharing alone then decides who sees numbers. Do not share such reports via “Anyone with the link”. With viewer’s credentials control stays with the source, but every recipient has to be granted access there.

Build client reports with a company account that keeps permanent access to the sources, not with a personal account. That way the report does not break when a person leaves the company.

Sources

• Looker Studio Help: Data source credentials
• Looker Studio Help: Share reports

Do your dashboards break when shared or show different numbers from GA4? We set up data sources and sharing so reports run reliably. Book a free intro call or read more about our reporting.