Google App Ads Report 60% Bot Installs for Small Developer
September 11, 2026
A small app developer reported that 20 out of 21 installs attributed to a Google Ads campaign were bots. These devices ran obsolete app versions not available on the Play Store, despite Google Play reporting them as the installer source.
HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU
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founderYou should implement server-side validation to verify actual user engagement before scaling ad spend.