Get referrer after installing app from Android Market

I am trying to register a Broadcast Receiver that catches "com.android.vending.INSTALL_REFERRER" intents launched by Android after an app is installed from the Market.

I am following the details here: http://code.google.com/mobile/analytics/docs/android/#referrals

However, I cannot use Google Analytics so I have created my own solution. I have added the following to my manifest file:

<receiver android:name="com.test.Receiver" android:exported="true">
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="com.android.vending.INSTALL_REFERRER" />
</intent-filter>
</receiver>

and created a basic BroadcastReceiver class:

public class Receiver extends BroadcastReceiver {

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {

        Bundle extras = intent.getExtras();
        String referrerString = extras.getString("referrer");

        Log.w("TEST", "Referrer is: " + referrerString);
    }
}

However, when the app is installed the receiver doesn't seem to catch the Intent (if the Intent is even broadcast?) and I get no logging output.

Am I going wrong somewhere or is the Market no longer launching these Intents when an app is installed?

Solution 1:

I would try to help who, like me, fails to make install_referrer work and who don't find ANY useful information about these features.

Notes:

1. The intent com.android.vending.INSTALL_REFERRER will be caught during the install process, not when the application starts for the first time.
2. The referrer ...extras.getString("referrer").. is fixed but the contents can be any string value that respect the http get syntax ...referrer=thatsthevalue&thisisnot=xxx

The above code is okay, just some explanations to complete the info:

1. Android Manifest. The <receiver> tags must be inside the <application> tags.
2. The correct url to link the market is not the results of the famous google forms in sdk

but this one

http://market.android.com/details?id=your.application.package.name&referrer=my_referrer_finally_works_fine

Obviously, you need to follow the link from the mobile device and the only way for a complete test is to publish a test application in the market.

And a final and personal note.

I don't understand why those info are omitted completely and i hope that Google will act for detailing it.

Solution 2:

This might be a little late, but you CAN test the install referrer without using Google Play, just use ADB :)

Run this from adb.exe

adb shell

am broadcast -a com.android.vending.INSTALL_REFERRER -n your.package/path.to.your.BroadcastReceiver --es "referrer" "test_referrer=test"

If you have logging setup in your BroadcastReceiver, you will see it popup in LogCat.

Hope this helps!

Solution 3:

I think these answers must have been written pre-Android 3.1 - because things have changed in one import way.

The system now marks app as dormant when they are installed - they won't receive INSTALL_REFERRER or any other broadcast until the user explicitly activates the app by running it (or placing widget).