--- metadata: - name: generator content: Diplodoc Platform v5.50.6 alternate: - https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-tracker.md - https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/ru/mobile-tracking/add-tracker.md --- > **Documentation Index:** Fetch the complete configuration index at https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/llms.txt # Creating a tracker {% note alert "" %} You can only create a tracker after you integrate the AppMetrica SDK. For more information, see [Android](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/sdk/android/analytics/quick-start.md) | [iOS](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/sdk/ios/analytics/quick-start.md) SDK integration. {% endnote %} Trackers are an AppMetrica tool used to attribute installs and deeplinks. You can use them in any advertising network and on external sites. When creating a tracker, you'll encounter the following key entities: - SmartLink: A technology used to create universal tracking URLs for various platforms and app stores. - Media Source: An advertising network or traffic source to which clicks, installs, and conversions are attributed. - Attribution and postback settings: How installs are counted and what data is sent to the media source. - Various types of URLs: Issued after creating the tracker based on your selected settings. For more information, see [Step 7](#apply). {% note info "" %} AppMetrica features an automated solution for click spam protection. It automatically blocks trackers with a large number of clicks and abnormally low click-to-install conversion rate on a daily basis. AppMetrica won't perform attribution for these trackers. Their historical data won't change. {% endnote %} In AppMetrica, you can create two types of trackers: the main tracker and a tracker for app pre-installs. Below are the steps for setting up your main tracker. For information on how to configure a tracker for pre-installs, see [Creating a tracker for pre-installs](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-preinstall.md). {% note warning "" %} The exact tracker settings for [DoubleClick](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/doubleclick-settings.md), [Facebook](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/facebook-tracking.md), [Google Ads](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/adwords-settings.md), [Petal Ads (Huawei)](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/petalads-settings.md), [TikTok Ads](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/tiktok-settings.md), [VK Ads (formerly myTarget)](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/vkads-settings.md), and Yandex Direct ([unified performance campaigns](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/yandex-direct-media-tracking.md), [display campaigns](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/yandex-direct-media-tracking.md), [Web+App](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/yandex-direct-web-app-tracking.md)) may differ. For more information, see the corresponding pages of these media sources. {% endnote %} ## Step 1. General settings {#general} 1. In the AppMetrica interface, go to **Tracking** → **Add tracker**. 2. Enter the name of the tracker. 3. Select a [media source](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-partner.md) to attribute clicks, installs, and conversions to. You can use the tracker in any advertising network that supports tracking URLs and on external sites. If the media source isn't in the list, [add a new source](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-partner.md#add-partner). {% note info "" %} Once the tracker has been created, you can't change the media source in the settings. {% endnote %} 4. Specify **Main** as the tracker type. ## Step 2. SmartLink, destination URLs, and deeplinks {#smartlink} To create a universal tracking URL that supports all app stores, enable **SmartLink**. With this option enabled, you can define the tracker's behavior in various scenarios: - If the app isn't installed, a destination URL takes the user to an application store: the App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android), AppGallery (Android), Mi Store (Android), or Windows Phone Store (Windows Phone). {% cut "About Google Play and AppGallery" %} **Google Play**: If only **Google Play** is selected as the app store, a user with a Xiaomi or Huawei device will be directed to **Google Play**. **AppGallery**: If **AppGallery** isn't installed on the user's Huawei device, they'll be redirected to the web version of this store. {% endcut %} - If the app is already installed, the specified deeplink opens. You can generate different deeplinks for different app stores. - **Fallback** is the destination URL used for all other cases (such as clicks originating on desktops). If you only select **Fallback**, all users will get redirected to the specified destination URL. {% cut "Configuring a SmartLink" %} ![Configuring a SmartLink](../../_images/tracker-smartlink-en.png){style="border: solid 1px #cccccc; max-width: 800px;"} {% endcut %} If you disable **SmartLink**, you can create a tracker for only one operating system: either iOS or Android. In this case, you need to set up separate URLs for your re-engagement or app-to-app deeplinks. These URLs aren't combined with the tracking link and don't automatically redirect the user. {% cut "Setup without a SmartLink" %} ![Setup without a SmartLink](../../_images/tracker-no-smartlink-en.png){style="border: solid 1px #cccccc; max-width: 800px;"} {% endcut %} {% note info "" %} If a media source requires that you use a direct link to the platform and a deeplink, disable the **SmartLink** option. {% endnote %} ## Step 3. (*Optional*) Configure attribution {#attribution} This attribution type correctly detects the source that brought users to your app and accurately links app installs to ad interactions, whether they're a click or an impression. Attribution settings are common for all types of conversions, both installations and subsequent events. For more information about attribution methods, see [AppMetrica tracking technology](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/technology.md) and [Impression attribution](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/vta-tracking-specification.md). - **Reattribution** — Attribution of reinstalls by pre-existing users. This option is disabled by default. For more information, see [Attributing app installs](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/policy.md#reattribution). {% note info "" %} For test devices, reattribution is always enabled (regardless of the option status). For more information about adding test devices, see [Testing attribution](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/testing-attribution.md). {% endnote %} - **Click settings** - **Fingerprint** — Time interval of attribution (the time between the click and first start). AppMetrica uses it for the [Device Fingerprint Matching](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/technology.md) attribution. Acceptable values are from 1 to 24 hours. The default value is 24 hours. - **Device ID / Install Referrer** — Time interval of attribution, that is used for the [Device Identifier Matching](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/technology.md) attribution. Acceptable values are from 1 to 30 days. The default value is 10 days. - **Impression attribution**, also known as post-view attribution or view-through attribution (VTA), accounts for cases where a user didn't navigate to the app store by clicking an ad but still installed your app shortly after viewing it. The option is enabled by default. For more information, see [Impression attribution](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/vta-tracking-specification.md). - **Fingerprint** — Time interval of attribution (the time between the impression and first start). AppMetrica uses it for the [Device Fingerprint Matching](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/technology.md) attribution. Acceptable values are from 1 to 24 hours. The default value is 24 hours. - **Device ID / Install Referrer** — Time interval of attribution, that is used for the [Device Identifier Matching](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/technology.md) attribution. Acceptable values are from 1 to 72 hours. The default value is 24 hours. - **CTV/Desktop attribution** — allows to track installations after ad impressions on Connected TV (CTV) and other platforms. CTV/Desktop attribution accounts for scenarios where the impression occurs on one device and the installation occurs on another, if the devices are on the same network. Enable the option if you run campaigns with impressions on media platforms, and specify the attribution window for CTV and/or Desktop devices. For more details see [CTV/Desktop attribution](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/ctv-desktop-attribution.md). Acceptable values for both CTV and Desktop are from 1 to 24 hours. The default value is 6 hours. - **Equal priority for CTV/Desktop** — if enabled, within the equal priority window, the installation will be attributed to the closest interaction, regardless of the source type. If disabled, attribution for clicks and impressions on the same device takes priority over CTV/Desktop — if a click or impression on the same device is found within the attribution window, the event will be attributed to it. For more details see [CTV/Desktop attribution](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/ctv-desktop-attribution.md). Available only when the **CTV/Desktop attribution** option is enabled. Acceptable values are from 1 to 6 hours. The default value is 1 hour. {% cut "Setting up attribution" %} ![Setting up attribution](../../_images/tracker-attribution-en.png){style="border: solid 1px #cccccc; max-width: 800px;"} {% endcut %} ## Step 4. (*Optional*) Configure postbacks {#postbacks} A postback is a request to the media source's server sent via a set link (postback URL). The request transmits data about a conversion that occurred in the app. Postbacks are typically used when running CPI/CPA campaigns. You can add up to 10 postbacks per tracker. Postbacks can be created for configured types of [conversions](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/conversions.md): - app installation; - deeplink opening; - conversion event. If you have [default postbacks](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-partner.md#postback-template) configured for the selected media source, they're automatically added to the tracker. You can disable these postbacks, add templates that exist for the media source and are disabled by default, or create new ones. For media source, [postbacks for all sources](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-partner.md#postback-all-sources) can also be configured — they allow you to send event data to the media source regardless of whether the user was acquired through advertising or organically. Such postbacks are not linked to specific trackers. You can view them on the [media source page](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/add-partner.md#partner-page). 1. Select the [conversion](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/conversions.md) for which you want to send a postback, then choose a sending method (POST or GET). 1. Generate a postback URL. To transmit additional information about the event to the media source, use [macros](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/postback-specification.md) when generating the URL. {% note info "" %} Some media sources can set a permanent Postback URL for their network. In this case, the postback is sent to the media source regardless of other settings. It can't be edited. {% endnote %} {% cut "Setting up postbacks" %} ![Setting up postbacks](../../_images/tracker-postback-en.png){style="border: solid 1px #cccccc; max-width: 800px;"} {% endcut %} ## Step 5. (*Optional*) Configure anti-fraud {#anti-fraud} Enable **FraudScore** to check installs and events for fraud via [FraudScore](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/common/fraud-score.md). **FraudScore** is a paid option ([Pricing plans](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/common/pricing/uae-currency.md)) only available for legal entities registered in Russia. FraudScore isn't available for the following media sources: - Google Ads - Google AdWords (Unconfigured) - Google Play - Google Search - Yandex Direct - Yandex ## Step 6. Save changes and test the tracker {#test} 1. Click **Save** at the bottom of the page. The list of all saved trackers are in the **Trackers** section. You can edit and archive them. The statistics from archived trackers remain available in reports. 2. [Test the tracker](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/testing-attribution.md) before launching a campaign. ## Step 7. Use the created tracking URLs {#apply} When creating a tracker, several URL types are available in the interface on the right. You can use them in your campaign after successful testing. To do this, copy the URL from the desired field on the right. Choose the URL that best matches your scenario: - **App-to-app link**: A universal link suitable for most campaigns. - **Tracking link**: Another universal link suitable for most campaigns, excluding when you need your deeplink to direct users to an iOS app. In those cases, use the App-to-app link instead. - **Impression URL**: Used for [impression attribution](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/vta-tracking-specification.md). - **Re-engagement deeplink**: Available if **SmartLink** is disabled. Used for campaigns with deeplinks. For each tracking link, you can specify predefined, static (UTM), and custom parameters that will be passed to the destination URL or deeplink. For example, you can disable JavaScript redirect using the `appmetrica_js_redirect=0` parameter. For more information, see [Parameters of the tracking URL](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/mobile-tracking/tracking-specification.md). {% note alert "" %} Don't use the `target= "_blank"` attribute when inserting a URL into the markup. Some browsers may block the click-through when opening a URL in a new window. Don't place the URL in the `iframe` element. {% endnote %} ## Learn more {#learn-more} - [How can I create a tracking URL for other install sources?](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/troubleshooting/troubleshooting.md#tracking-url) - [AppMetrica Blog: Parameters of the tracking URL](https://appmetrica.yandex.ru/blog/custom-url-parameters) - [Does AppMetrica use UTM tags?](https://appmetrica.yandex.by/docs/en/troubleshooting/troubleshooting.md#utm) If you didn't find the answer you were looking for, you can use the feedback form to submit your question. 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