What is a Preset Filter in Looker Studio? | Clear guide

If you’ve been exploring Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio), you may have come across the option called preset filter. But what is a preset filter, and when should you use it?

In simple terms, a preset filter is a button control that allows you to quickly activate or deactivate a boolean filter (true/false). This makes it easier for report viewers to see or hide data without having to manually set up conditions.

For example, you can set up a button that shows data only when a certain product category is included, or hides results that don’t meet a key condition.

How a Preset Filter works

Here’s the key idea: the dimension behind a preset filter must be boolean (true/false).

• If the control is set to true on report load → the filter is applied immediately.
• If it is set to false → the filter is not active when the report loads.

This behaviour is different from a tickbox control in Looker Studio. For a tickbox control, selecting “false” still enforces the condition (for example, excluding products that don’t match). With a preset filter, “false” simply means “do nothing until activated.”

When should you use a Preset Filter?

Preset filters are most useful when there’s a frequently applied condition in your report. Instead of making users adjust a filter every time, you can give them a one-click option.

Use cases:

• Highlighting a key product line (e.g., Wilson Jones products in the Superstore dataset).
• Filtering reports by specific campaigns or regions.
• Showing only “active” vs. “inactive” customers.
• Quickly toggling between internal vs. external sales data.

This keeps dashboards clean while still giving users flexibility.

Step-by-step example- What is a Preset Filter

Let’s walk through a practical example using the Products Superstore dataset.

1. Create a boolean field
   • Example formula: CONTAINS(Product Name, "Wilson Jones") This returns true if the product name contains “Wilson Jones,” otherwise false.
2. Add a Preset Filter control
   • Go to Insert → Preset Filter.

👉 Visit the post on how to add controls to your report in Looker Studio, if you need a refresher.

3. Configure the control
   • Choose your boolean field (e.g., Wilson Jones filter).
   • Decide whether the filter should load as true (active) or false (inactive).

4. Edit the button label
   • By default, it says New Button.
   • Click the text and rename it to something clear, like Show Wilson Jones Products.

5. Test the interaction
   • Load your report.
   • If set to true, only Wilson Jones products appear.
   • If false, the filter will not activate until the button is clicked.

Customising the button in Looker Studio

Preset filters are buttons, so you can adjust their behaviour:

• Change the action type → instead of filtering, you can make the button navigate to another page or perform an action.
• Style the button → adjust colour, font, and size to make it stand out.
• Label it clearly → always describe the filter purpose in plain language (e.g., “Show UK Sales Only”).

For more on buttons, see Google’s official Looker Studio documentation.

What is a Preset Filter key takeaways

• A preset filter is a button that toggles a true/false condition.
• It requires a boolean dimension.
• Use it for frequently applied filters to save users time.
• Unlike tickbox filters, “false” simply means “inactive,” not “exclude.”
• Always use clear button labels so end users know what the filter does.

FAQs – What is a Preset Filter

Conclusion – What is a Preset Filter

Preset filters in Looker Studio may look simple, but they are powerful tools for making dashboards more interactive and user-friendly. By giving your audience a one-click option to apply common conditions, you save them time and guide them toward insights that matter most. If you’re building reports for teams or clients, learning how to use preset filters effectively will help you deliver dashboards that are both clear and actionable.