A global filter narrows every widget on a dashboard at once, from the filter bar above the grid. This page explains how a filter decides which widgets it applies to, and why some metrics keep showing totals while the rest of the dashboard is filtered.
How a global filter applies
Section titled “How a global filter applies”A global filter names a dimension and the values to keep. Every widget on the dashboard adds that condition to its own query, on top of any filters set on the widget itself.
Each widget queries its own dataset, so whether the filter lands depends on that dataset. If it has the dimension, the widget narrows to the filtered values. Datasets can share a dimension, which is how one filter narrows widgets from several datasets at the same time. If the dataset lacks the dimension, the widget skips the filter and its number stays the same.
The filter bar offers the dimensions of the datasets used on the dashboard, so every filter you can add applies to at least one widget. It won’t apply to all of them unless every widget shares that dimension.
The date range
Section titled “The date range”The date range at the top of the dashboard applies to every widget, whatever its dataset. Every dataset carries a date field, so no widget skips it. When a number won’t respond to any dimension filter, the date range still moves it.
Exceptions
Section titled “Exceptions”Two cases keep showing unfiltered numbers while the rest of the dashboard narrows.
GA4 Channel Share
Section titled “GA4 Channel Share”A dataset that exposes few dimensions leaves few filters to apply. The clearest case is GA4 Channel Share: besides date, it exposes one dimension, the GA4 property. A filter on campaign, list, or segment has no counterpart in this dataset, so its share metrics keep showing the ratio across all your data while the widgets around them narrow. To move share numbers, change the date range or filter on property.
The Target plan metric widget
Section titled “The Target plan metric widget”The Target plan metric widget ignores global filters by design. It reports a plan metric with the plan’s own dataset, period, and filters, so the number on the dashboard always matches the plan page. A global filter applied on top would make the widget disagree with the plan it reports.