Learn · How to fix
Malformed app-ads.txt lines: what crawlers ignore
Updated Oct 7, 2026 · data from 12 App Store genres · top free + top grossing charts · US · iOS + Android
Short answerLines that don't follow the format (ad system domain, seller ID, DIRECT or RESELLER, optional certification ID) are skipped by crawlers, so they authorize nothing.
291 of 883
ad-monetized top US apps in this index have this finding (33%)
Why it matters
Typical problems: a missing domain extension, a missing comma, or a relationship value other than DIRECT or RESELLER.
How to fix it
- Fix each flagged line to the standard format.
Before
pubmatic, 162439, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace smaato.com, 1100052485, RESELLER 07bcf65f187117b4
After
pubmatic.com, 162439, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace smaato.com, 1100052485, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
Apps with this finding
Each report lists the exact lines involved.
- Castle Busters · Voodoo
- Paper.io 2 · Voodoo
- Mob Control · Voodoo
- Hole.io · Voodoo
- Marble Sort! - Color Puzzle · Voodoo
- Wizz App - chat now · VLB
- Weather Pro · Radar Alerts · BUCKET LIST LABS S.L.
- Authenticator ℠ App · BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED
- iCardiac: Heart Rate & Health · BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED
- Universal Remote TV Control · · BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED
- FaceVital: Health Monitor · BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED
- Glucera: Blood Sugar Tracker · BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED
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.