Testing the SDK integration for marketers

Starting with iOS 14.5, IDFA is only available if the user consents via the AppTransparency Tracking (ATT) prompt. If the ATT prompt was implemented on your app, you can run tests as a consenting or non-consenting user.  For more information, see the guidelines for registering your test device with IDFA or IDFV.

We recommend that you start by testing an organic install.

To test an organic install:

1. Install the app on a registered test device.
2. Launch the app.

The app's dashboard displays a new organic install. Allow up to 30 minutes for the install to appear.

Use the SDK Integration Tests page to test non-organic installs, in-app events, and deep linking (retargeting), and locate any integration issues in your project.

Before you begin:

1. Prepare a device (Android or iOS) that does not have the app installed. If needed, uninstall the app from the device.
2. Register the device as a test device.

Step 1: Test non-organic installs

1. In the dashboard, select the app.
2. Go to Integration SDK Integration Tests. 
   The SDK integration tests page opens. 
   
3. Run the Non-Organic Install test.
4. Select a listed test device. 
5. Select the store from which to install the app:
   • For Android: 
     • Google Play
     • Other (for example, Out-of store, Android Studio, APK file) 
   • For iOS:
     • App Store
     • Other (for example, XCode, TestFlight)
6. Scan the QR code with the registered test device and follow the instructions on the device.
7. If you selected Other, install the app from your development environment.
8. Wait until the non-organic install is registered on the SDK Integration Tests page, indicating the test is successful. This can take up to 2 minutes.

   

   If the app does not record a non-organic install, possible reasons might be:
   • You ran the test on an iOS 14+ device that is not registered with IDFA.
   • An organic install was recorded.
   • The test was performed on a version of the app that does not include the SDK.

For integration errors, contact your developer.

Step 2: Test in-app events

Before you begin:

• Make sure you use the same test device that was used to record a non-organic install.

1. Run the In-app Events test.
2. Select a listed test device, and then click Next. 
3. Launch your app and start generating in-app events.
4. You will see a log of these events as they are registered in real-time.

   

Step 3: Test deep links (retargeting)

Before you begin:

• Make sure you use the same test device that was used to record a non-organic install. 
• Launch the test app at least 3 times.
• To test deep linking (retargeting), OneLink must be defined for your app. For more information, see the OneLink Setup guide. 
• Verify that retargeting is turned on.

1. Run the Deep linking test.
2. Select a listed test device.
3. Select a test type:
   • OneLink: Select the OneLink. 
   • URI Scheme: Enter the URI scheme (for example, greatapps://cars).
4. Click Next.
5. Scan the QR code with your registered test device and follow the instructions on your device. Once a test is finished, the Deep Linking Test is registered as successful.

   

Testing installs allows you to verify that the AppsFlyer SDK is attributing installs correctly to various media sources.

To test install attribution:

1. Copy the following link (Android or iOS), and make these changes:
   1. app_id value: Add your app ID in AppsFlyer. 
   2. pid parameter: Specify the name of the media source to which the install is attributed.
   3. c parameter: Specify the name of the campaign.
   4. If you are testing an app available via a third-party Android store, add the af_r parameter to the attribution link. 
   5. Replace the GAID, IDFA, or IDFV with your specific device identifier.
   Android iOS

   https://app.appsflyer.com/<app_id>?pid=Test&c=Test&advertising_id=<GAID>

   IDFA

   https://app.appsflyer.com/<app_id>?pid=Test&c=Test&idfa=<IDFA>

   IDFV

   https://app.appsflyer.com/<app_id>?pid=Test&c=Test&idfv=<IDFV>

   The following are examples of attribution links with specific values:

   Android iOS

   
   https://app.appsflyer.com/com.my.app?pid=Test&c=Test&advertising_id=12345f9*-eba*-421*-876*-7654ac67876*

   
   https://app.appsflyer.com/id123456789?pid=Test&c=Test&idfa=1A2B****-9128-4***-123*-04E***654321

2. Copy your updated link, send it to the test device, and then click the link.

    Note

   In iOS, use iMessage or email to send the link to the device. Don't paste the link in the iOS Notes app and click the link. This action can cause the link to break.

3. Do one of the following:
   • If the app is live, proceed to install it.
   • If the app is pending, the following message displays: "The app you are looking for is not available in the market yet." This is the expected result. Since the app is not live, the attribution link doesn't lead to any app store. However, the attribution link is still valid for attribution purposes and you should install the app as follows:
     • For Android: From Android Studio or an APK file
     • For iOS: From TestFlight

   You should see an install that is attributed to the test campaign under the media source called Test. Allow up to 30 minutes for the install to appear in the app's dashboard.

Tip! Consider downloading the installation raw data report to verify the install was attributed correctly. This report takes several minutes to download.

To download the report:

1. In the dashboard, go to Reports > Export Data. 
2. In the Raw Data Reports section, download the Installation raw data report. 

Testing in-app events allows you to verify that revenue associated with an event is displayed and that in-app events are attributed to the media source that generates the install.

To test attribution of in-app events:

1. Launch the app; and then generate a few in-app events.
2. Open the app's dashboard, and click Events.

   You should see the events, their revenue (if revenue is associated with them), and the media source to which they are associated. Allow up to 60-70 minutes for the events to appear in the dashboard.

   

Tip! Consider downloading the in-app events raw data report to verify that events are attributed correctly. This report takes several minutes to download.

To download the report:

1. In the dashboard, go to Reports > Export Data.
2. In the Raw Data Reports section, download the in-app events raw data report.

OneLink allows you to set a single attribution link for both Android and iOS. OneLink recognizes the user's device and redirects them to the relevant app store.

In addition, OneLink enables deep linking. Deep linking allows you to open the app in a specific app activity while serving customized content.

For more information, see our guide on testing OneLink URLs.

Retargeting attribution occurs when a user engages with a retargeting campaign by clicking on a retargeting attribution link. This results in a re-attribution or a re-engagement event. For more information, see the Retargeting attribution guide.

Retargeting tests include the following :

• For re-attribution: Uninstalling and reinstalling the app. Then, verifying in the dashboard that an install was recorded.
• For re-engagement: Clicking a retargeting attribution link or a deep link, and then verifying that a re-engagement is attributed to the correct media source.

Before running retargeting tests, the following setup is required:

• Retargeting must be activated for the app you are testing.
• Create an app-specific link or retrieve a OneLink custom link. These links must include the retargeting parameter.

To set up retargeting tests:

1. Enable retargeting in the app's settings.

   In the app's dashboard, click App Settings and turn on Enable retargeting attribution.

   

2. Do one of the following: 
   • Create an app-specific attribution link. Make sure to include the retargeting parameter, is_retargeting=true, and the advertising ID. To view the GAID, IDFA, or IDFV, follow the  Registering a test device instructions.  
     The following is an example of an attribution link that includes an Android-specific parameter as the device identifier (GAID). For more information about adding other device identifier parameters, such as IDFA or IDFV, see Attribution link structure and parameters. 

     
     https://app.appsflyer.com/<app_id>?pid=Test&c=Test&is_retargeting=true&advertising_id=<GAID>

   • Retrieve the custom link's long URL from a OneLink template. Make sure to activate Retargeting campaign. The following image shows an example of a custom long URL:

     

You can now proceed to test re-attribution and re-engagement.

Before you begin:

• Follow the instructions for setting up retargeting tests.
• Make sure your test device is not registered.

To test re-attribution:

1. Uninstall the app from the device. If you just installed the app, wait for a few minutes.
2. Copy the attribution link you created previously, either the app-specific attribution link or custom long link from the OneLink template, send it to the test device, and then click the link.

    Note

   In iOS, use iMessage or email to send the link to the device. Don't paste the link in the iOS Notes app and click the link. This action may cause the link to break.

3. Do one of the following:
   • If the app is live, proceed to install it.
   • If the app is pending, install it as follows:
     • For Android: Install from Android Studio or an APK file.
     • For iOS: Install from TestFlight.
4. Open the app's dashboard and click Retargeting in the left-hand side menu.

   You should see the install attributed to the media source Test under the campaign name Test. Allow up to 30 minutes for the retargeted install to appear in the dashboard.

   

Tip! Consider downloading the conversions raw data report to verify that the install was attributed to the correct media source. This report takes several minutes to download.

To download the report:

1. In the dashboard, go to Reports > Export Data.
2. In the Retargeting section, download the Conversions (re-engagements & re-attributions) report.

Before you begin:

• Follow the instructions for setting up retargeting tests. 
• For testing purposes, set the minimum time between conversions to None. This allows all of the re-engagement conversions to be recorded and attributed during testing.

  

• Make sure the app is installed on your test device and has been launched several times. If you just installed the app, wait for a few minutes.

To test re-engagement (direct deep linking):

Make sure that your app is configured for deep linking, and then follow this procedure for testing.

To test re-engagement (indirect deep linking):

1. Copy the attribution link you created previously, either the app-specific attribution link or custom long link from the OneLink template.
2. Send the link to your test device, and then click the link.
3. To open the app, do one of the following:
   • In the app store, click Open.
   • Launch the app from your device.

   In the dashboard, you should see a re-engagement attributed to the media source Test under the campaign name Test. Allow up to 30 minutes for the re-engagement to appear.

Tip! Consider downloading the conversions raw data report to verify that the re-engagement was attributed to the correct media source. This report takes several minutes to download.

To download the report:

1. In the dashboard, go to Reports > Export Data.
2. In the Retargeting section, download the Conversions (re-engagements & re-attributions) report.