PRODUCT_NODES // ACCESS_OPEN SAVE $700+/MO →
// Direct answer

What Is Google Enhanced Conversions?

Direct answer

Google Enhanced Conversions is a Google Ads feature that supplements standard conversion tracking by sending hashed customer data (email, phone) server-side to Google — recovering purchase attribution lost when iOS strips the gclid click ID or Safari ITP clears the attribution cookie. Google matches this hashed data to signed-in Google accounts, restoring conversion credit even when the browser-based gTag fails. Most Shopify stores recover 15–35% more Google Ads conversions. Free to implement via Make.com in 6 minutes.

15–35%
Conversions recovered
SHA-256
Data hashing used
6 min
Setup time free
$0
Monthly cost
// Why it exists

Why Google created Enhanced Conversions

PROBLEM 01
iOS Link Tracking Protection

iOS 17+ strips the gclid parameter from ad URLs when customers open them via Mail, Messages, or Safari Private Browsing. Without gclid, Google cannot attribute the purchase to the ad click — the conversion disappears. Enhanced Conversions recovers it by matching the customer’s hashed email to their Google account.

affects all Shopify stores with iOS traffic
PROBLEM 02
Safari ITP Cookie Limits

Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention limits attribution cookies to 24 hours — sometimes 1 hour. If a customer clicks a Google Ad, leaves, and returns days later to purchase, the gclid cookie is gone. Enhanced Conversions matches the purchase to the Google account regardless of cookie expiry.

particularly affects considered-purchase stores
PROBLEM 03
Ad Blockers

Browser extensions block the Google Ads gTag from loading on the checkout confirmation page entirely. The purchase completes in Shopify — Google records zero conversions for that customer. Enhanced Conversions fires server-side, completely bypassing browser-based ad blockers.

42% of desktop users have ad blockers (2026)
// How it works

How Google Enhanced Conversions works

Step 01
Customer purchases

Customer completes checkout on Shopify. Shopify records the order including the customer’s email address and phone number.

Step 02
Webhook fires

Shopify sends an Order payment webhook to Make.com server-to-server — invisible to the customer’s browser, iOS, and ad blockers.

Step 03
Hash + send

Make.com SHA-256 hashes the customer email and phone, then POSTs them to the Google Ads Conversions API with the purchase value and timestamp.

Step 04
Google matches

Google looks up whether a signed-in Google account matches the hashed data. If yes, conversion credit is assigned to the ad click that brought that user.

// Key insight

The standard gTag does the same job from the browser. Enhanced Conversions is a supplement, not a replacement — you run both simultaneously. Google automatically deduplicates using the order ID, so the same purchase is never counted twice. Enhanced Conversions adds attribution recovery for the 15–35% of purchases where the gTag fails.

// Setup guide

How to set up Google Enhanced Conversions for Shopify — free

No Google Tag Manager. No paid apps. Make.com free tier + one Shopify webhook.

Step 01
Create a Make.com account

Sign up at make.com free — 1,000 operations/month, no credit card required. This is the automation platform that will route your Shopify order data to Google’s API.

make.com · free tier · no credit card
Step 02
Add a Shopify webhook

In Shopify Admin → Settings → Notifications → Webhooks, create an Order payment webhook pointing to your Make.com scenario URL. This fires every time a Shopify order is paid.

Shopify Admin → Settings → Webhooks
Step 03
Add an HTTP module for Google API

In Make.com, add an HTTP module that POSTs to the Google Ads Conversions API endpoint with your Conversion Action ID, hashed email (SHA-256), and order value. Connect via OAuth 2.0 to your Google Ads account.

Google Ads Conversions API v17
Full step-by-step setup guide →
// FAQ

Google Enhanced Conversions — every question answered

<details class="faq-item-c"><summary>What is the difference between Google Enhanced Conversions and Google CAPI?<span class="faq-ico" aria-hidden="true"></span></summary><div class="faq-ans-c"><p>These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are different. Google Enhanced Conversions is a specific Google Ads feature that sends hashed first-party data (email, phone) to supplement standard gTag tracking. Google CAPI (Conversions API) is a broader term referring to any server-side conversion event routing via the Google Ads API or Google Analytics Measurement Protocol. In practice, for Shopify stores, Enhanced Conversions is implemented via the Google Ads Conversions API — making the terms functionally synonymous in most guides.</p></div></details><details class="faq-item-c"><summary>Does Google Enhanced Conversions work with Performance Max?<span class="faq-ico" aria-hidden="true"></span></summary><div class="faq-ans-c"><p>Yes. Performance Max campaigns use all available conversion signals to optimise delivery — including Enhanced Conversions data. More complete conversion data gives Performance Max better signals for audience targeting and bidding, typically improving campaign performance within 2–3 weeks of Enhanced Conversions implementation.</p></div></details><details class="faq-item-c"><summary>Is Google Enhanced Conversions GDPR compliant?<span class="faq-ico" aria-hidden="true"></span></summary><div class="faq-ans-c"><p>Yes, when correctly implemented. All personal data (email, phone) is hashed using SHA-256 before transmission — Google never receives raw personal information. The hashed data cannot be reverse-engineered. Your store's privacy policy should disclose that hashed customer data is shared with Google for conversion measurement purposes as part of your advertising data processing disclosure.</p></div></details><details class="faq-item-c"><summary>How do I verify Google Enhanced Conversions is working?<span class="faq-ico" aria-hidden="true"></span></summary><div class="faq-ans-c"><p>In Google Ads, go to Tools &rarr; Conversions &rarr; select your conversion action &rarr; Diagnostics tab. After 24–48 hours of data, the Diagnostics tab shows whether Enhanced Conversions data is being received. You can also use the Google Tag Assistant or place a test order and monitor the Google Ads API response in Make.com.</p></div></details><details class="faq-item-c"><summary>What is the difference between Google Enhanced Conversions and Meta CAPI?<span class="faq-ico" aria-hidden="true"></span></summary><div class="faq-ans-c"><p>Both serve the same purpose — recovering conversion attribution lost to iOS and browser tracking failures — but for different ad platforms. Google Enhanced Conversions routes data to Google Ads for Smart Bidding optimisation. Meta CAPI routes data to Meta (Facebook/Instagram) for Advantage+ and manual campaign attribution. Both use hashed customer data and can run simultaneously from the same Shopify Order webhook in Make.com.</p></div></details>
Fix your Google Ads tracking in 6 minutes.
Free server-side Enhanced Conversions via Make.com — $0/month, no code.
// Related pages

More Google Ads tracking resources