How to Get Started with Looker on Zapier

Zapier lets you connect Looker to your other business apps so you can automate reporting tasks, alerting, and data workflows without writing code. This guide walks you through how to set up the Looker app on Zapier, create actions and triggers, and test your automations end to end.

What you need before you connect Looker to Zapier

Before you can use the Looker app in Zapier, make sure your Looker instance and user account are configured correctly. The Looker app in Zapier is designed to work with the Looker API and requires the right access in your analytics environment.

• Access to a Looker instance with API enabled.
• A Looker user account with an API3 key (client ID and client secret).
• Ability to run and schedule Looks or Explores in Looker.
• A Zapier account with permission to create and manage Zaps.

Once you have these pieces in place, you are ready to connect Looker and build automated workflows.

How to connect Looker to Zapier

Connecting Looker to Zapier is done once per Looker instance. After the connection is created, you can reuse it across multiple Zaps and workflows.

Step 1: Start from the Looker app in Zapier

1. Log in to your Zapier account.
2. Click My Apps in the left navigation.
3. Search for Looker in the app directory.
4. Select the Looker app to begin the connection process.

You can also begin from inside a new Zap by choosing Looker as either the trigger or the action app. Zapier will prompt you to connect a Looker account if you have not done so already.

Step 2: Enter your Looker API credentials

1. In the connection window, enter your Looker Base URL. This is typically your Looker instance URL, for example https://yourcompany.looker.com.
2. Paste your API3 Client ID and API3 Client Secret from your Looker user settings.
3. Confirm and save the connection.

Zapier uses these values to authenticate to the Looker API and run queries or fetch data for your Zaps. Make sure you keep your API credentials secure and rotate them according to your organization’s security policies.

Available Looker triggers in Zapier

In Zapier, a trigger starts your workflow. With the Looker app, you can use scheduled triggers to run data checks, reports, or alerts automatically.

Common Looker trigger types include:

• Scheduled Look trigger: Run a specific Look at a defined interval and send the results to another app.
• Explore-based trigger: Execute an Explore query on a schedule and use the returned rows in subsequent Zap steps.

To set up a trigger in Zapier:

1. Create a new Zap and search for the Looker app.
2. Choose the trigger event you want to use.
3. Select the connected Looker account.
4. Configure trigger options, such as which Look, Explore, or filters to use.
5. Test the trigger to make sure Zapier can pull sample data from Looker.

Available Looker actions in Zapier

Actions are the steps that run after a trigger fires. Looker actions in Zapier commonly involve running queries or sending data from Looker into other tools.

Typical Looker action options include:

• Run a Look: Execute a prebuilt Look and return the results to Zapier.
• Run an inline query: Build an ad-hoc query in the Zap and use its results downstream.

To configure an action:

1. In your Zap editor, click + Add step and choose the Looker app.
2. Select the action event (for example, run a Look or inline query).
3. Pick your Looker account.
4. Define which model, view, fields, filters, and sorts to use.
5. Test the step so Zapier can retrieve sample output.

Once the action is returning data successfully, you can pass that data into later steps, such as sending messages, creating tasks, or updating sheets.

How to build a complete Zapier workflow with Looker

With your Looker triggers and actions available, you can create full workflows inside Zapier that connect analytics to everyday tools like email, chat, or project management platforms.

Example workflow: Send a report on a schedule

1. Set Looker as the trigger app and choose a scheduled query or Look.
2. Configure filters and schedule options in the trigger settings.
3. Add an email or chat app as the action step.
4. Map the fields from Looker (such as report links, key metrics, or row summaries) into the message body.
5. Turn the Zap on so the report is automatically sent on the schedule you defined.

This pattern lets you push important metrics from Looker directly into the tools your team already uses, without manual exports.

Example workflow: Use Looker data in downstream apps

1. Use another app as the trigger, such as a new row in a spreadsheet or a new record in your CRM.
2. Add a Looker action such as an inline query that uses trigger data as filters.
3. Pass the Looker query results into later steps, like updating records, creating tasks, or logging entries.
4. Test the entire Zap to ensure the data flows correctly through each step.

By combining Looker with other apps in Zapier, you can enrich existing processes with analytics data at the moment it is needed.

Testing and troubleshooting Looker steps in Zapier

After connecting Looker, each trigger and action step should be tested in the Zap editor. Testing confirms that Zapier can access your Looker instance and that your configuration is valid.

If a test fails, review these areas:

• Verify the Looker base URL, client ID, and client secret in your Zapier connection settings.
• Confirm that your Looker user still has API access and permission to run the chosen Look or Explore.
• Check that any filters, model names, or field names used in the step still exist and are spelled correctly.
• Review Looker logs or admin settings for any API rate limits or permission issues.

When a test succeeds, Zapier will display sample data from Looker that you can use to map fields into later steps.

Manage and update your Looker connection in Zapier

You can manage existing Looker connections from the My Apps page in your Zapier dashboard.

• Rename a connection to keep track of multiple Looker instances.
• Reconnect if your API credentials change or expire.
• Remove a connection that is no longer needed.

If you reconnect, remember to test any Zaps that rely on Looker steps to ensure that everything continues to run smoothly.

Where to find more help for Looker and Zapier

You can review the official setup details for the Looker app on Zapier, including available triggers, actions, and field descriptions, in the original help article here: How to get started with Looker on Zapier.

For broader workflow design guidance and automation best practices, you can also explore resources from automation specialists such as Consultevo, which provides strategy and implementation help for integrating tools in your stack.

Once your Looker connection is set up and your first Zap is running, you can continue to expand your automation library, connecting more data sources and destinations to make the most of both Looker and Zapier in your analytics operations.

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