What is the app-ads.txt file?

Introduction

As digital advertising continues to grow, ensuring transparency and authenticity in ad transactions is critical—especially for mobile applications. The app-ads.txt file, or Authorized Sellers for Apps, is designed to protect mobile app ad inventory from unauthorized resellers, preventing fraud and improving trust between publishers and advertisers.

Similar to the ads.txt file used for websites, the app-ads.txt file acts as a verification tool for advertisers, allowing them to confirm that an ad space is being sold by legitimate sellers. In this article, we’ll explain what the app-ads.txt file is, why it’s important, and how to implement it in your eDirectory-powered mobile app.

Understanding the app-ads.txt File

The app-ads.txt file is a publicly accessible text file that app developers place on their official website to declare which ad networks and platforms are authorized to sell their app’s ad inventory. This helps prevent ad fraud, ensuring that only legitimate sellers can monetize the app’s ad space.

By using the app-ads.txt file, advertisers can:

Verify the legitimacy of the ad space before purchasing
Reduce unauthorized reselling and fraud
Ensure their ads are displayed in the correct applications
Improve transparency in mobile advertising transactions

To check whether an app has an app-ads.txt file, simply add /app-ads.txt to the root domain of the developer’s website. For example: 👉 website.com/app-ads.txt

Once the file is in place, advertisers and ad networks can cross-check the listed sellers before running ads in the application.

Why is app-ads.txt Important?

Implementing an app-ads.txt file benefits both publishers and advertisers. For publishers (app owners), it ensures that only authorized sellers can profit from their app’s ad inventory. For advertisers, it provides confidence that they are buying legitimate ad space, reducing the risk of fraud and misrepresentation.

Without an app-ads.txt file, fraudulent sellers could claim to represent an app and sell unauthorized ad space, leading to lost revenue for legitimate app owners and wasted ad spend for advertisers. By implementing this file, app developers take a proactive step toward securing their ad ecosystem.

How to Implement app-ads.txt in eDirectory

For eDirectory users, integrating the app-ads.txt file is simple and can be done directly from the platform’s SEO Center within the Site Manager.

Follow these steps to add the app-ads.txt file:

Obtain the app-ads.txt content from your ad provider (e.g., Google AdMob).
Navigate to the SEO Center in your eDirectory’s Site Manager.
Locate the Webmaster Tools section.
Enter or upload the app-ads.txt file content.
Save and publish your changes.

Once this is completed, your app’s app-ads.txt file will be publicly accessible, allowing ad networks and advertisers to verify your app’s authorized sellers.

For further details on app-ads.txt, refer to Google’s official guide:

https://support.google.com/admanager/answer/7441288?hl=en

Conclusion

Implementing the app-ads.txt file is essential for any app publisher looking to secure their ad revenue and maintain a trusted relationship with advertisers. By listing authorized sellers in this file, developers can prevent fraudulent ad transactions, protect their brand, and ensure their app’s ad space is only sold through approved channels.

For eDirectory users, the process is straightforward and can be managed directly within the SEO Center of the Site Manager. Taking this step not only enhances security but also improves the efficiency and credibility of your app’s advertising strategy.