Test universal links

Before going live with your universal links in a campaign, it's important to test them. This will ensure they are set up correctly, deliver the user to the intended content, and that Adjust is measuring campaigns with these links.

If during testing you encounter problems, read our Troubleshooting Universal Links guide for more information.

Testing checklist

  • Test the correct version of the app. For example: If you have only implemented universal links in a debug version of the app, run your tests on that version.
  • If you test on a debug version and need assistance from Adjust's Support team, consider releasing a version on TestFlight and inviting them.
  • To test JSR links, it's best practice to use the specific environment where the campaign will run.

Additional points for testing attribution

Build a test site

Universal links have to be opened in Safari or Chrome. They also do not work if you enter the link directly into the address bar of a browser.

This means you should host your links in a web environment for testing. We recommend clicking the deep link on an HTML page when testing. Use a free website builder to set up a simple test site.

You can create a page with the following HTML:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
   <head>
      <style>
         a {
         font-size: 100px
         }
      </style>
   </head>
   <body>
      <a href="https://f2k5.adj.st/profile/67890?adj_t=abc123">Deep Link</a>
   </body>
</html>

How to test

The test process is determined by the type of link and scenario it is used in. For example, your link should behave differently for a user who already has the app installed compated with someone who does not.

Below, you can find instructions on how to test your link as an existing user, a new user, and to test reattribution via your universal link.

As an existing user // direct deep links

To test your universal link as an existing user, follow these steps.  

  1. Create a test web page.
  2. Add your raw universal link to the test webpage.
  3. Add your complete universal link to the test webpage.
  4. Install the app on your test device.
  5. If there are welcome screens, clear them. Log in if the app requires it.
  6. On your test device, open a web browser and navigate to your test web page.
  7. Click the universal link.

If your app opens automatically on the correct page, you're ready to measure campaigns with the universal link.

If the app does not open, check that your integration is correct by clicking on the raw universal link. If the link fails and returns the HTTP 404 error ( URL not found ), revisit our integration instructions.

As a new user // deferred deep links

To test your universal link as a new user, follow these steps.

  1. Install the Adjust Insights app on your test device.
  2. Find and retrieve your advertising ID.
  3. If your app is already installed on your test device, uninstall it.
  4. Forget your device in our system using the Adjust Testing Console.
  5. Create a deep link with an advertising ID parameter.
    • Example: https://f2k5.adj.st/profile/67890?adj_t=abc123&adj_idfa=8C6CBCOD-5F43-4765-A6E6-84DFF3D24707
  6. On your test device, open a web browser and navigate to your test web page.
  7. Click the universal link.
  8. Install the app.
  9. Open the app.

At app open, you will be linked to the specific location written in your custom URI scheme.

If the deferred deep link fails to open the correct page, but clicking on the deep link with the app installed does open the correct page, check that the app scheme entered in AppView is correct.

Reset your device between tests

If you run deferred deep link tests multiple times, it's important to reset your device between tests. Always follow these steps to ensure your device is reset.

  1. Uninstall the app from your test device.
  2. Clear the advertising ID from our system.
  3. Install the app without clicking any links.
  4. Check the Adjust Testing Console to make sure the install is shown as organic.
    • If it is not, repeat steps 1-3 until this is the case.
  5. Uninstall the app from your test device.
  6. Clear the advertising ID from our system.

Reattribution

To test reattribution via your universal link, follow these steps.

1. Set the reattribution inactivity period to 0 days on your test link

To set your reattribution inactivity period to 0 days on your test link, follow these steps in Campaign Lab.

Important:
If you changed the inactivity window at the app level, don't forget to revert this setting to your preferred inactivity window period after completing the test.

2. Set up your link and device for testing

  1. Create a deep link without an advertising ID parameter.
    • For example: https://f2k5.adj.st/profile/67890?adj_t=abc123
  2. Clear your test device's advertising ID from our system.
  3. Install the app without clicking any links.
  4. On your test device, open a web browser and navigate to your HTML testing page.
  5. Click the deep link.
  6. Use the Testing Console to check that your device is now attributed to the test link.