How to Track App Installs from Google Ads

Published July 2026 · 7 min read · View all posts

Google Universal App Campaigns (UAC) are one of the most effective channels for mobile user acquisition — but without proper attribution, you can't measure their real impact. Here's how to set up accurate tracking with AppMeasurely.

How Google App Campaign Attribution Works

When a user clicks on a Google App Campaign ad and installs your app, attribution happens through two mechanisms:

1. Google Play Install Referrer (Android) — Referrer parameters are passed through the Play Store URL and read by the AppMeasurely SDK on first launch
2. Google Advertising ID (GAID) — The device's advertising ID is matched against AppMeasurely's click database

Step 1: Integrate AppMeasurely SDK

Add the AppMeasurely SDK to your Android app:

Initialize in your Application class:

Step 2: Add Your App to AppMeasurely Dashboard

1. Log in to app.appmeasurely.com
2. Click + Add Property
3. Enter your app name, bundle ID and select Android
4. Your API key will be generated upon approval

Step 3: Set Up Google Ads Conversion Tracking

In Google Ads, go to Tools → Conversions → App → Add install conversion. Select "Third-party app analytics" and choose AppMeasurely as your measurement partner.

Step 4: Create UTM-Tagged Campaign URLs

Use UTM parameters in your Google App Campaign settings so AppMeasurely can identify the source:

Step 5: Monitor in AppMeasurely Dashboard

Once live, AppMeasurely will show:

• Installs attributed to Google Ads by campaign, ad group and creative
• Post-install events (registrations, purchases, revenue)
• D1/D7/D30 retention by campaign
• LTV by campaign and cohort
• Fraud rate per campaign