At a glance: When performing attribution tests, register your test device to make sure each install is recorded as a new install. A registered test device prevents installs from being recorded as reinstalls.
Overview
When performing attribution tests, the re-attribution window limits install attributions to one per 90-day window. Therefore, if you repeatedly use the same device to test install attributions, nothing is recorded. Registering a test device prevents installs from being recorded as reinstalls.
Methods for registering a test device
Registering a test device includes selecting the device's operating system (Android, iOS, or Windows), and adding the device identifier.
You can use one of the following methods to register:
- Download and install the My Device ID by AppsFlyer app: [admin only] Once you install the app on the test device, you can automatically register the device and share device ID details to your AppsFlyer account.
- Manually add the test device: Any account user can add a test device to the AppsFlyer Test Devices page.
Keep in mind the following:
- Registered test devices are available to all apps that belong to the account.
- Ad networks need to ask an advertiser to add devices; agencies can add their own devices.
Supported device identifiers
Device identifiers include the following:
- Android: AID (GAID or OAID), IMEI, Android ID
Note
When registering a test device, you should only add IMEI or Android ID device identifiers if your app uses these identifiers.
- iOS: IDFA, IDFV
- Windows Phone: Windows advertising ID
Managing the registered-device list
Add a device using the AppsFlyer device ID app (admin only)
To download the AppsFlyer device ID app:
- Download and install the app using the QR code (Google Play store) or one of the provided links.
- On an iOS 14.5+ device, if you want to allow IDFA collection, tap Allow when the ATT prompt displays.
-
On the Android/iOS/Windows screen, tap Register to register the device.
- Enter your AppsFlyer login credentials. The device is now registered.
- Tap Share details to share Device ID information.
Add a device manually via the user interface
Account users can manually add a device identifier to the list of test devices.
To add a device to the list:
- In AppsFlyer, in the upper-right click on your email address.
- Select Test devices.
- Click Add device.
- Complete the following:
- Name (only use English letters): Enter an identifying name for the device.
- OS: Select an operating system.
- Device ID type: Select a device identifier.
- Device ID: Provide the device ID according to the operating system :
Get identifiers by using the AppsFlyer Device ID app or by dialing the codes into the device:
Identifier Retrieval method Google Play Other AID (GAID or OAID) Use the AppsFlyer Device ID app Mandatory Can be used to register the device IMEI *#06#* Not applicable Can be used to register the device Android ID *#*#8255#*#* (may not work on newer devices) Not applicable Can be used to register the device - IDFA
- Install the AppsFlyer device ID app
- IDFV
- This identifier is only relevant if a vendor has at least 1 of their apps, besides the test app, installed on the device. See our guidelines about when to register for IDFV.
IDFV must be extracted from the app; ask your developer to provide you with the IDFV of your app on your device.
- Windows Ad ID
- Get the Windows advertising ID
- Click Save.
The device displays in the list of registered devices. Note! Although the device displays in the list of registered devices immediately, it may take a few minutes to register in the system and function as intended.
Note
There can be cases in which you want to add more than 1 identifier to your test device, for example, you want both IDFA and IDFV on the same device.
To add an additional identifier:
- Click Add device.
- Use the same name for the test device, and add the 2nd identifier.
- Click Save.
Guidelines for registering IDFA or IDFV to iOS 14+ test devices
Follow these guidelines when adding a test device manually:
- Register for IDFA - do this if AppTransparency Tracking (ATT) was implemented on your app and you want to run tests as a consenting user. When launching the app for the first time, make sure to click Allow in the ATT prompt.
- Register for IDFV - do this if you have more than 1 of your apps, besides the test app installed on the device, and one of the following applies:
- ATT was implemented, and you want to run tests as a non-consenting user. When launching the app for the first time, make sure to click Don't Allow in the ATT prompt.
- ATT was not implemented.
Reason: When at least 2 of your apps are installed on a device, uninstalling and then reinstalling the test app results in the device getting the same IDFV, and the install is recorded as a reinstall. Registering the device allows the install to be recorded as a new install.
- Don't register your device - do this if ATT was not implemented and you don't have additional apps. In this instance, probabilistic modeling is used for attribution. Each install is recorded as a new install on the test device.
This method can help with registering repeated test installs for the same device if at least one of the following happens:- Reinstall detection is disabled for the app (not recommended for live apps)
-
The AppsFlyer iOS SDK is v6.8.0 or below
- The test attribution link contains "is_retargeting=true". In this case, installs are recorded as re-attributions and are available in the retargeting dashboard and retargeting raw data reports.
Delete a registered device
A maximum of 200 devices can be registered per account. Only an admin user can delete test devices.
To delete a device from the list:
- In AppsFlyer, in the upper-right click on your email address.
- Select Test devices.
- Click the delete icon to remove devices.