How URLgenius Tracks App Installs and App Opens (SDK-Free)
URLgenius is an SDK-free linking and attribution platform, which means we do not require any code inside your app to measure performance. Instead, tracking is based on link behavior, system responses, and user flow outcomes. This approach allows us to provide reliable insights while maintaining a lightweight, privacy-friendly setup.
How App Opens Are Measured
When a user clicks a URLgenius link on mobile, we observe what happens after the click:
- If the app successfully opens, the system redirects into the app
- If the app does not open, the user is redirected to a fallback destination (such as a website or app store)
An App Open is recorded when the app launch flow completes and the user is not sent to a fallback destination.
About “Open App / Cancel” Pop-Ups
In some environments (such as Facebook or system browsers), users may see a modal like:
“Leaving Facebook — Open App or Cancel”
Important clarification:
- This modal is owned by the platform or operating system, not by URLgenius
- URLgenius does not receive a signal when a user taps “Open App” or “Cancel”
- We determine outcomes based on what happens next in the flow, not the modal interaction itself
If the user taps “Cancel” and remains in the browser, the app does not open and the user is redirected to the fallback — this is not counted as an App Open.
If the app opens successfully, the flow completes and an App Open is recorded.
How App Installs are Measured
For users who do not yet have the app installed, URLgenius:
- Can route the user to the appropriate app store
- Monitors the post-install behavior
Why This Works Without an SDK
Because URLgenius does not live inside the app:
- We cannot observe in-app events
- We do not track taps on third-party modals
- We rely on outcome-based detection, not user-level surveillance
Instead, we measure:
- Click behavior
- Redirect success
- App launch vs. fallback resolution
- Store → app return flow (for installs)
This allows us to provide consistent, privacy-aligned measurement across iOS and Android without requiring app releases, SDK updates, or engineering overhead.
Deferred Deep Linking (DDL) Note
Deferred Deep Linking provides additional confirmation signals because the app actively retrieves the original link context after install. As a result, install attribution via DDL is typically more deterministic than standard open detection.
With DDL Setup, DDL
- Confirms whether the user returns through the expected deferred deep link flow
- If the install completes and the app is opened as part of that flow, it is recorded as an Install.