Tracking and analytics · Guide
Looker Studio templates (now Data Studio): how to use them
By Limon Ghosh, Sydney · Updated 24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: Google keeps an official template gallery at datastudio.google.com/gallery. To use a template, open it, click “Use my own data”, pick your data source, then click “Edit and share” to save your own copy. A template is only a starting layout. Check that its fields, dates and metric definitions match your business before you trust any number.
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What a template is
Name change: Google’s documentation says the product name returned to Data Studio in April 2026, and the address is now datastudio.google.com. The old lookerstudio.google.com address redirects there. Many people still search for “Looker Studio”, so we use both names.
A template is a ready-made report layout. It has charts, tables and filters already placed, connected to sample data. You swap in your own data and keep the design. Google says its templates cover data from BigQuery, Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Sheets, YouTube Analytics, Search Console, Display & Video 360, Search Ads 360 and Apigee.
Where to find them
Google’s official template gallery is the safest place to start, because those templates are built by Google. Google says its gallery templates are in English only. A template is just a report, and you can view any report in preview by adding /preview to the end of its web address.
Be careful with third-party templates. Anyone can share a report link. Before you connect your accounts, check who made it, and that the data source connection is replaceable.
How to use a template in four steps
- Open the templatePick one from the gallery, for example one for Google Ads or Google Analytics.
- Click “Use my own data”It is in the upper right. Google’s help says you can then replace the default data source or add a new one.
- Choose your accountSelect the Google Ads account, Analytics property, sheet or project that holds your data, then confirm.
- Click “Edit and share”This copies the template into a new report that belongs to you. Now you can edit it and share it with your team.
If a chart shows an error after you swap the data, the template is probably expecting a field your source does not have. Open the chart and map it to the nearest field.
What to check before you trust a template
- Metric definitions. Does “revenue” mean the platform’s number or your store’s? Label each one. See why platform numbers differ.
- Date range and time zone match your business, not the template author’s.
- Currency shows AUD or USD correctly.
- Filters do not hide campaigns or products you care about.
- Sample data is fully replaced. Leftover sample data is the most common mistake.
- Refresh timing suits how often you make decisions.
Data does not update instantly. Google’s freshness page lists these defaults:
Default data refresh by source type
Hours between refreshes, as listed on Google’s data freshness page
Source: Google: manage data freshness. Google Analytics also offers 1, 4 or 12 hours. Google Sheets default is 15 minutes.
View as table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Google Sheets | 0.25 h |
| Google Ads, Google Analytics, Search Console | 12.00 h |
| BigQuery and databases | 12.00 h |
When a template is not enough
Templates are good for a first look. If you need data from several ad platforms in one place, reconciled against your store, you will usually build your own. Our ecommerce dashboard blueprint shows the panels to include, and our reporting service builds and maintains them for you.
Sources
- Google: create a report from a template
- Google: Data Studio template gallery
- Google: manage data freshness
- Google: Data Studio welcome and rename
Questions answered
Are Looker Studio templates free?
Google says Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) is available at no charge for creators and report viewers, and its gallery templates are built by Google. Some data connectors from other companies may have their own costs, so check each connector.
How do I use my own data in a template?
Open the template, click “Use my own data” in the upper right, choose to replace the data source or add a new one, pick your account, then click “Edit and share” to save your own copy.
Why is my template showing sample data?
The data source has not been replaced everywhere. Use “Use my own data” and check each chart and filter. Charts built on a different source must be changed separately.
Can I use a Looker Studio template with Meta or TikTok data?
Google lists its own gallery templates for Google products. For other platforms you need a connector, and Google says community connectors let anyone build connections to internet-accessible data sources. Check the connector provider before you share your account.
Is Looker Studio the same as Data Studio?
Google’s documentation says the product name returned to Data Studio in April 2026. The tool is the same, and the old Looker Studio address redirects to the new one.
Limon Ghosh runs MindfulClicks from Sydney and manages paid ads, tracking and Claude AI automation for online stores and B2B companies in Australia and the USA.
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