Learn · How to fix
Why is a DIRECT account registered to another company's domain?
Updated Oct 7, 2026 · data from 12 App Store genres · top free + top grossing charts · US · iOS + Android
Short answerThe ad system's sellers.json lists a different company domain for this DIRECT account than the domain of your app-ads.txt (or its OWNERDOMAIN).
423 of 883
ad-monetized top US apps in this index have this finding (48%)
Why it matters
Buyers can compare the seller's domain in sellers.json with the publisher's domain. A mismatch is normal when the account belongs to your company under another domain, but buyers can't tell that without OWNERDOMAIN.
How to fix it
- If the account is yours, declare OWNERDOMAIN=<your company domain> in app-ads.txt.
- If it isn't yours, the line is probably a partner's and should be RESELLER.
More on declaring your company domain: OWNERDOMAIN and MANAGERDOMAIN.
Before
# no OWNERDOMAIN
After
OWNERDOMAIN=examplegames.com
Apps with this finding
Each report lists the exact lines involved.
- Word Search Explorer® · PlaySimple Games Pte Ltd
- Plex: Find Movies and TV Shows · Plex Inc.
- MaxPreps: High School Sports · MaxPreps Inc.
- Mystery Town: Merge Games · Cedar Co., Limited
- Vita Mahjong · VITA STUDIO PTE. LTD.
- Meowdoku! · OAKEVER GAMES PTE. LTD.
- Amaze GO! · OAKEVER GAMES PTE. LTD.
- Colorever: Gem Art Puzzle · OAKEVER GAMES PTE. LTD.
- Jigsawcard Solitaire Puzzle · OAKEVER GAMES PTE. LTD.
- ShareChat - Videos & Status · MOHALLA TECH PRIVATE LIMITED
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch · St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LLC
- Kik Messaging & Chat App · Ai Medialab Inc
Related
Based on the IAB Tech Lab ads.txt/app-ads.txt and sellers.json specifications. Numbers are automated observations of public files on the date above.