Why do GTM tags and triggers only work in preview (test) mode?
- Alex Denshik
- Mar 17, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 12, 2021
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Problem:
You have set up event tracking in GTM, checked their work in preview mode. Everything works well, but after exiting the preview mode, no data comes in, triggers and tags do not fire, as if they are not on the site. Or your tags and triggers work just fine for you and not for other site visitors.
Solution:
If everything works well in preview mode (!), then in 99% of cases you simply do not have permission to publish this specific CONTAINER
Often, even an experienced manager may not notice this right away, since the "SUBMIT" button may be active.
Step 1: Go to the GTM page (https://tagmanager.google.com/) and log into your account. Then select the "Admin" menu item.
Step 2: At the account level, select "User Management"
Step 3: Click on your user to view/set permissions
Step 4: Check your account permissions, but also check the permissions for the specific CONTAINER you need. Click on the name of the container.
Step 5: Check permissions. If something is inactive, activate it (or ask the admin to do it if you do not have enough rights). Save your changes.
If something works in preview mode, it will work with a 99% in the published container. If everything works fine for you in preview mode, but it doesn’t work in normal mode and you have 100% all accesses - contact the developers for help, it might be a problem with the back-end. Also, check that you have not confused the accounts and containers installed on the site.
See Screenshots:
Step 1: Go to the GTM page (https://tagmanager.google.com/) and log into your account. Then select the "Admin" menu item.

Step 2: At the account level, select "User Management"

Step 3: Click on your user to view/set permissions

Step 4: Check your account permissions, but also check the permissions for the specific CONTAINER you need. Click on the name of the container.

Step 5: Check permissions. If something is inactive, activate it (or ask the admin to do it if you do not have enough rights). Save your changes.

If something works in preview mode, it will work with a 99% in the published container. If everything works fine for you in preview mode, but it doesn’t work in normal mode and you have 100% all accesses - contact the developers for help, it might be a problem with the back-end. Also, check that you have not confused the accounts and containers installed on the site.
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