Google Play Referrer Link Builder
Add UTM campaign details to your Play Store link so your Android app knows which ad, post or QR code each install came from.
Enter your package name and a campaign source to build the link.
Reading the referrer in your app
Add the com.android.installreferrer:installreferrer library and read the value on first launch:
// Android (Kotlin) — read the referrer once, on first launch
val client = InstallReferrerClient.newBuilder(context).build()
client.startConnection(object : InstallReferrerStateListener {
override fun onInstallReferrerSetupFinished(code: Int) {
if (code == InstallReferrerClient.InstallReferrerResponse.OK) {
val referrer = client.installReferrer.installReferrer
// "utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign=diwali_sale"
client.endConnection()
}
}
override fun onInstallReferrerServiceDisconnected() {}
})Track installs on Android and iOS, without the plumbing
notifySphere TrackerLink creates campaign links that work on both platforms, reads the referrer for you, and shows installs and in-app events per campaign, next to your push and WhatsApp campaigns.
Try notifySphere freeFrequently asked questions
What is a Google Play install referrer?
It's a text value you add to a Play Store link with the referrer parameter. After someone installs your app from that link, the Play Install Referrer API gives the same value to your app, so you can tell which ad, post or QR code brought the install.
Why is the referrer value encoded twice?
The UTM parameters live inside the referrer parameter, so their & and = signs must be URL-encoded. Otherwise the Play Store would treat utm_medium and the rest as separate parameters of its own URL and drop them. This tool handles the encoding for you.
Does this work for iPhone apps?
No. The App Store doesn't pass a referrer to the app after install. For iOS you need deferred deep linking, which matches the click to the install, or Apple's own App Store Connect campaign links for aggregate numbers.
How long is the referrer available after install?
Google keeps the install referrer available to the app for 90 days after installation, but you should read it on the first launch and store it, since that's when it's most useful for attribution.
Related: Deferred deep linking explained · All tools