2 responses to “Preventing GTM tags from triggering on certain IP addresses”

1. To exclude Google Tag Manager (GTM) tags from firing based on specific IP addresses, you can use a combination of variables and triggers. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set this up:

   Step 1: Create a Variable for IP Address

   1. Get User IP Address:
      To exclude tags based on IP addresses, you need access to the visitor’s IP address. There aren’t built-in features in GTM to directly get this, but you can use a server-side function or a third-party API to fetch the user’s IP address and push it into the data layer.

   2. Push the IP Address to Data Layer:
      Add a script on your website that captures the user’s IP address and pushes it to the data layer. For example:

   javascript
fetch('https://api.ipify.org?format=json')
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push({
'event': 'ipCapture',
'userIP': data.ip
});
});

   Step 2: Create a Variable in GTM

   1. Go to Variables in GTM.
   2. Click on New and choose Data Layer Variable.
   3. Name your variable (e.g., userIP).
   4. Set the Data Layer Variable Name to userIP.

   Step 3: Create a Trigger for Exclusion

   1. Go to Triggers in GTM.
   2. Click on New.
   3. Choose Custom Event.
   4. Name your trigger (e.g., Exclude Specific IP).
   5. Set the Event Name to ipCapture.

   6. Add a condition to exclude the tag based on the IP address. For example:

   7. Select your userIP variable.

   8. Choose does not equal.
   9. Enter the specific IP address you want to exclude (e.g., 123.456.789.000).

   Step 4: Apply Trigger to Your Tag

   1. Go to Tags in GTM.
   2. Click on the tag you want to exclude.
   3. Under Triggering, add the new exclusion trigger you created (the one checking the userIP).

   Step 5: Test Your Setup

   1. Use GTM’s Preview mode to test the implementation.
   2. Visit your website from an IP address that should be excluded and ensure the tag does not fire.
   3. Test it from another IP address to confirm that the tag works as intended.

   Additional Notes:

   • Ensure your privacy policy complies with data regulation standards when capturing and storing IP addresses.
   • Be cautious with hardcoding IP addresses, as they may change. Consider alternatives like user agent strings or user roles if applicable.

   By following these steps, you should successfully exclude specific GTM tags from firing on particular IP addresses. If you continue to have issues, double-check each step and ensure that the data layer event is firing properly and that variable configurations are correct.

   Reply

2. Hi there! Great question! To prevent GTM tags from firing for specific IP addresses, you can set up a trigger that incorporates a custom JavaScript variable. Here’s a brief outline of how you can achieve this:

   1. **Create a Custom Variable**: In Google Tag Manager (GTM), create a new variable and select “Custom JavaScript”. Here, you can write a function that checks if the user’s IP matches the one you want to block. Note that obtaining the user’s IP directly in GTM can be tricky, as GTM runs in a client’s browser. You might need a third-party service to pass that information to GTM.

   2. **Modify Your Trigger**: Once you have your IP checking variable set up, go to the trigger associated with the tag you want to prevent from firing. Add a condition that uses the custom variable you created, specifying that the tag should only fire when the visitor’s IP is *not* the one you want to block.

   3. **Testing**: Before going live, make sure to test the setup thoroughly. Use the GTM Preview mode to verify that the tag does not fire from the specified IP address while still working for all others.

   For added reliability, consider implementing server-side validation if possible, as this can often provide more accurate IP address handling. Good luck, and feel free to ask if you need further assistance!

   Reply