diff --git a/.changeset/fix-ga4-gtag-stub.md b/.changeset/fix-ga4-gtag-stub.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e83d1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-ga4-gtag-stub.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+"@junctionjs/destination-ga4": patch
+---
+
+Fix gtag.js integration: use Arguments object instead of Array for dataLayer
+
+The gtag stub function was using an arrow function with rest parameters, which
+pushed plain Arrays to the dataLayer. gtag.js silently ignores array entries —
+it expects the Arguments object. Switched to a named function declaration using
+`arguments` to match Google's official snippet.
+
+Also added `gtag("consent", "default", {...})` call before `gtag("config", ...)`
+when consent mode is enabled. Without this, gtag.js doesn't know consent mode
+is active and consent state is never communicated to Google.
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b0e095b..deb95be 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -41,3 +41,6 @@ yarn-debug.log*
 yarn-error.log*
 .vercel
 .env*.local
+
+# Worktrees
+.worktrees/
diff --git a/apps/demo/lib/demo-sink.ts b/apps/demo/lib/demo-sink.ts
index 0e2f9e2..77e8da1 100644
--- a/apps/demo/lib/demo-sink.ts
+++ b/apps/demo/lib/demo-sink.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ function noopDestination(name: string, consent: string[]): Destination<Record<st
   };
 }
 
-export const simulatedGA4 = noopDestination("ga4", ["analytics"]);
 export const simulatedAmplitude = noopDestination("amplitude", ["analytics"]);
 export const simulatedMeta = noopDestination("meta", ["marketing"]);
 
diff --git a/apps/demo/lib/junction-config.ts b/apps/demo/lib/junction-config.ts
index 24c7bac..6cacdb2 100644
--- a/apps/demo/lib/junction-config.ts
+++ b/apps/demo/lib/junction-config.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 import { readConsentCookie } from "@/components/consent/use-consent-cookie";
 import type { CollectorConfig } from "@junctionjs/core";
+import { ga4 } from "@junctionjs/destination-ga4";
 import { contracts } from "./contracts";
-import { demoSink, simulatedAmplitude, simulatedGA4, simulatedMeta } from "./demo-sink";
+import { demoSink, simulatedAmplitude, simulatedMeta } from "./demo-sink";
 
 /**
  * Junction collector configuration for the Orbit Supply demo.
  *
  * The demo-sink (exempt) always receives events for visualization.
- * Simulated GA4/Amplitude/Meta destinations are consent-gated so the
+ * GA4 is a real destination gated on NEXT_PUBLIC_GA4_MEASUREMENT_ID env var.
+ * Simulated Amplitude/Meta destinations are consent-gated so the
  * consent queue actually works: events queue while pending, flush on
  * grant, and drop on deny.
  */
@@ -32,9 +34,21 @@ export const junctionConfig: CollectorConfig = {
       consent: ["exempt"],
       enabled: true,
     },
-    // Simulated consent-gated destinations — no-op send, but their consent
-    // requirements drive the queue/flush/drop behavior visible in the demo.
-    { destination: simulatedGA4, config: {}, enabled: true },
+    // Real GA4 — gated on env var so the demo works without it.
+    ...(process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_GA4_MEASUREMENT_ID
+      ? [
+          {
+            destination: ga4,
+            config: {
+              measurementId: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_GA4_MEASUREMENT_ID,
+              sendPageView: false,
+              consentMode: true,
+            },
+            consent: ["analytics"],
+            enabled: true,
+          },
+        ]
+      : []),
     { destination: simulatedAmplitude, config: {}, enabled: true },
     { destination: simulatedMeta, config: {}, enabled: true },
   ],
diff --git a/packages/destination-ga4/src/index.ts b/packages/destination-ga4/src/index.ts
index 5006331..3df8629 100644
--- a/packages/destination-ga4/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/destination-ga4/src/index.ts
@@ -196,12 +196,17 @@ function loadGtag(measurementId: string, gtagUrl?: string): void {
   if (typeof window === "undefined") return;
   if (typeof (window as any).gtag === "function") return;
 
-  // Initialize dataLayer
+  // Initialize dataLayer and gtag stub matching Google's official snippet exactly.
+  // The stub MUST use `arguments` (not rest params) — gtag.js expects Arguments
+  // objects in the dataLayer queue, not plain arrays. Arrow functions and rest
+  // params produce arrays which gtag.js silently ignores.
   (window as any).dataLayer = (window as any).dataLayer || [];
-  (window as any).gtag = (...args: any[]) => {
-    (window as any).dataLayer.push(args);
-  };
-  (window as any).gtag("js", new Date());
+  function gtagStub(..._: unknown[]) {
+    // biome-ignore lint/style/noArguments: gtag.js requires the Arguments object, not an Array
+    (window as any).dataLayer.push(arguments);
+  }
+  (window as any).gtag = gtagStub;
+  gtagStub("js", new Date());
 
   // Load script
   const script = document.createElement("script");
@@ -231,19 +236,33 @@ export function createGA4(): Destination<GA4Config> {
         throw new Error("[Junction:GA4] measurementId is required");
       }
 
+      consentModeEnabled = config.consentMode === true;
+
       // Client-side: load gtag.js if needed
       if (typeof window !== "undefined" && config.loadScript !== false) {
         loadGtag(config.measurementId, config.gtagUrl);
 
+        // Set consent defaults BEFORE config — required by Google's consent mode v2.
+        // Without this, gtag doesn't know consent mode is active.
+        if (consentModeEnabled) {
+          (window as any).gtag("consent", "default", {
+            ad_storage: "denied",
+            analytics_storage: "denied",
+            ad_user_data: "denied",
+            ad_personalization: "denied",
+            personalization_storage: "denied",
+            functionality_storage: "granted",
+            security_storage: "granted",
+          });
+        }
+
         // Configure GA4
         const gtagConfig: Record<string, unknown> = {
           send_page_view: config.sendPageView ?? false,
         };
 
-        (window as any).gtag?.("config", config.measurementId, gtagConfig);
+        (window as any).gtag("config", config.measurementId, gtagConfig);
       }
-
-      consentModeEnabled = config.consentMode === true;
     },
 
     transform(event: JctEvent, config: GA4Config) {