Set up your SDK and link your Google Ads account to an app analytics provider

This article provides instructions on how to set up an SDK (software development kit) for your app and how to link your Google Ads account to Google Analytics 4, Google Analytics 4 for Firebase, or your third-party app analytics provider so that you can import your conversion data and optimally measure performance of your app ads.

Integrating an SDK when managing apps is very helpful. An SDK will include third-party code that helps enable full functionality and access to services for your apps.

Get started

If you don’t have a Firebase account, you can learn more in the Firebase help center and on the Firebase developers website. Or, if you’re using a third-party app analytics provider, you can work with your representative to help you set up their SDK.

Make sure that you also have the following:

An app to market in Google Ads.
Administrative access to a Google Ads account or a Google Ads manager account.
Google Play Console account ownership for Android. Learn more about Console Play access levels.

How to integrate an SDK into your app

You may want to work with your developer team to do this.

GA4 or GA4F SDK: If you integrate your SDK with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) or use the Google Analytics for Firebase SDK (GA4F SDK), you’ll gain comprehensive, privacy-centric analytics that help you better measure and optimize your app ad performance.
Third-party analytics: If you’re using a third-party app analytics provider to track and measure your mobile app conversions, you can import app conversion data from your provider by linking it to your Google Ads account.

The Google Analytics for Firebase SDK (GA4F SDK) is a piece of code to be implemented into your app.

Follow the implementation instructions in the links below to integrate it. Learn more on how to Get Started with Google Analytics for Firebase SDK.

Add Analytics SDK to your app for Android

You can follow the steps on how to Add the Analytics SDK to your app for Android in Firebase.

Note: Make sure that you add Firebase to your Android project and Google Analytics is enabled in your Firebase project:

If you're creating a new Firebase project, enable Google Analytics during the project creation workflow.
If you're using an existing Firebase project that doesn't have Google Analytics enabled, go to the Integrations tab in Project settings to enable it.

When you enable Google Analytics in your project, your Firebase apps are linked to Google Analytics data streams.

For iOS+

You can follow the steps on how to Add the Analytics SDK to your app for iOS+ in Firebase.

Note: Make sure that you add Firebase to your Apple project and Google Analytics is enabled in your Firebase project:

If you're creating a new Firebase project, enable Google Analytics during the project creation workflow.
If you're using an existing Firebase project that doesn't have Google Analytics enabled, go to the Integrations tab in Project settings to enable it.

When you enable Google Analytics in your project, your Firebase apps are linked to Google Analytics data streams.

We recommend that you add the AdSupport framework to your project to enable additional features such as audiences and campaign attribution.

For Web

You can follow the steps on how to Add the Analytics SDK to your app for web in Firebase.

Note: Make sure that you add Firebase to your JavaScript project and Google Analytics is enabled in your Firebase project:

If you're creating a new Firebase project, enable Google Analytics during the project creation workflow.
If you're using an existing Firebase project that doesn't have Google Analytics enabled, go to the Integrations tab in Project settings to enable it.

When you enable Google Analytics in your project, your Firebase web apps are linked to Google Analytics data streams associated with an App + Web property.

The Google Mobile Ads SDK is also an option for your SDK:

How to link your Google Ads account to a Google Analytics and Firebase property

After you’ve set up your SDK, you’ll want to link your Google Ads account to an analytics solution. Below, you’ll find instructions on how to link your account to GA4 and Firebase.

Link your account to GA4 and Firebase in Google Ads

In your Google Ads account, click the Admin icon .
Under "From Google," find “Google Analytics (GA4) and Firebase", then click Details.
Find the Google Analytics property or a Firebase project in the table, then click Link.
In the confirmation window, select if you want to import additional data (for example, audiences) and click Link.
In the confirmation window, click Activate.

Learn more about linking Google Analytics 4 properties and Google Ads and Google Ads integration.

Link your account to GA4 and Firebase in App Connect Interface

Go to App advertising hub within the Planning menu.
In the “Conversion tracking setup” card, click Get started next to the “Implement SDK and link Ads account”.
In the slider panel page, click Manage & link next to “Google Analytics & Firebase”.
In the “Google Analytics (GA4) & Firebase” page, click the plus button .
In the slider panel page, select a Google Analytics or Firebase property and then click Next.
After you configure your settings, click Submit.

How to link your Google Ads account to your third-party app analytics provider if not using Google Analytics and Firebase

When you’ve set up your SDK, you’ll want to link your Google Ads account to an analytics solution.

You’ll need to create a different link ID for each app you track with a third-party provider. After you've generated the link ID and shared it with your third-party provider, you'll be able to import conversion events into Google Ads.

Link your account to a third-party app analytics provider in Google Ads

In your Google Ads account, click the Admin icon .
Click Linked accounts.
Under “Third-party app analytics”, click Details.
Choose from the following options:
- If you’ve never linked any app analytics providers to your Google Ads account, click Create link ID.
- If you already have app analytics providers linked to your Google Ads account and would like to create an additional link, click the plus button to link a new provider or app.
  - Note: You need administrative access to the account in order to create a link ID.
Select your app analytics provider. If it’s not listed in the drop-down, select Other provider, then enter the ID that identifies your provider. If you don’t know the ID, ask your provider, or you can work with your provider to identify the ID in the Developer's Guide.
Select your mobile app’s platform.
Use the “Look up your app” field to find your app.
Click Create link ID.
Click the copy button to copy your link ID. Paste this link ID into your third-party account.
Click Done. Your status will show “Unverified” until you’ve added your link ID to your third-party account and conversion data begins to flow into Google Ads.

Link your account to a third-party app analytics provider in App Connect Interface

Go to App advertising hub within the Planning menu.
In the “Conversion tracking setup” card, click Get started next to the “Implement SDK and link Ads account”.
In the slider panel page, click Manage & link next to “Third-party app analytics”.
In the “Third-party app analytics” page, click the plus button .
In the dialogue box that opens, select your “App analytics provider” in the drop-down menu and select your mobile app’s platform.
Search or enter the name of your app in the search box provided.
Click Create link ID.

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