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Troubleshooting PublisherAdvertiser

An install wasn't tracked

Updated

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An install counts only when it’s matched to a tap we recorded. Publishers: check that the user came through your tracking link with their own ID. Advertisers: check that your app kept afos_click_id and your server sent it back with the event.

On this page

What you see

What you seeWhat it meansWhat to do
No conversion for the user’s ID in Conversions or Flight RecorderThe install was never matched to their tapPublisher checks below
A conversion at that time under another sub IDThe link carried a shared ID, or a literal {SUB_ID}Give every user their own ID
The user saw “This offer isn’t available for your account”Our traffic checks refused the tapSee Users are blocked or rejected
Event logs shows missing_attributionNo click ID came with the event, or not one of oursAdvertiser checks below
Attribution lists the install under Not from AffiliateOSNo tap of ours matched itAdvertiser checks below
Attribution shows Ambiguous (several users, one IP)Different users tapped from one address, and we don’t guessSend the click ID another way

Publishers: checks, most likely first

  1. How to confirm: In Reporting, then Flight Recorder, filter by Offer instead of Sub ID and look around the time of the install. A conversion under a shared value, or under {SUB_ID}, is this user’s.

    Fix: Put each user’s own ID in sub_id on every link (on the Hosted Offerwall, in uid). It’s the only ID that comes back on the postback, so it decides whose balance you credit.

  2. The tap was refused

    How to confirm: The user saw “This offer isn’t available for your account” or “This offer isn’t available in your state” after tapping. A refused tap never reaches the store, so the install can’t count.

    Fix: See Users are blocked or rejected. Don’t coach users around the message.

  3. The user was already credited for this offer

    How to confirm: An earlier install for the same offer under the same user ID. A later tap on that offer goes to the app’s store page instead, because the install is already recorded and that link can’t credit it twice.

    Fix: Nothing to fix. The page’s button reads “Open”, so they land in the app they already have.

  4. The offer’s conditions weren’t met

    How to confirm: Open the offer from Offers. Offer details shows the Attribution window, the number of days after the tap the advertiser counts the install; Description says what counts.

    Fix: Nothing to fix for this user. Show the description next to the offer, so users read it before they start.

  5. The advertiser’s side reported nothing for your taps

    How to confirm: In Reporting, then Offer Health, the offer is listed as an issue. View details shows Offer / tracking problem and says no conversion attempts were received despite your clicks.

    Fix: Add the device’s advertising ID to your links as device_id when you have it: advertisers attribute and approve more installs with it. Send us the offer ID and a few tap times so we can look at the offer’s tracking.

Advertisers: checks, most likely first

  1. No click ID came with the event

    How to confirm: Event logs on the campaign shows missing_attribution. A made-up value, such as test-123, reads the same way.

    Fix: Store afos_click_id on the player when they arrive, and send it as clickId on every live event. On Android, read it from the Play install referrer on first launch. With an attribution tool, set your store link to the tool’s link and read it from the install data.

  2. The install couldn’t be matched to a tap

    How to confirm: Attribution lists the install under Not from AffiliateOS or Ambiguous (several users, one IP). Expand a row to see the taps from that address and which check each failed: App, Platform, Window, Unclaimed, Not blocked, Eligible.

    Fix: Ask for the match when the player first opens the app: it uses the device’s address and platform, and gets weaker with time. Each tap matches one install only. When several different users tapped from one address, we don’t pick one; use the install referrer or your attribution tool for those players.

  3. The event came too late

    How to confirm: Event logs shows outside_window.

    Fix: The event’s timestamp must be within 48 hours of when we receive it, and inside the event’s attribution window after the tap. Send events as they happen, not in a nightly batch.

  4. It was a test, or the campaign couldn’t pay

    How to confirm: The event was sent with "test": true, or Event logs shows campaign_paused or insufficient_balance.

    Fix: A test event checks your setup and never counts as a paid install. For the other two, add funds and check the campaign is live again before you send new events.

Send us this

  • The email you sign in with, and your role.
  • Publishers: the user’s ID, the offer ID, the device (iPhone or Android), and when they tapped and installed, with your time zone.
  • Advertisers: the clickId you stored (if any), the eventId, what Event logs shows for it and the time you sent it.
  • What you expected to happen.
Postback. A request we send to your server when a conversion happens, so you can credit the user.What is a postback?
Attribution. Working out which click led to an install or an event.What is attribution?
afos_click_id. The click ID we add to an advertiser's destination URL on every tap. The advertiser sends it back with each event.What is afos_click_id?
Test event. An advertiser event sent with test=true. It checks the event works and is never charged.What is a test event?

Support

Still stuck? Write to us.

One address for every question: hello@affiliateos.ai. Put the details from this list in your first message so we can find the click or conversion without asking you for them again.

Put these in your message

  1. 01The email you sign in with
  2. 02Your role: publisher, advertiser or network
  3. 03The offer ID
  4. 04The click ID or action_id
  5. 05The time it happened, with your time zone
  6. 06What you expected to happen

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