A click string (sometimes called a click tag) is part of the URL that takes the user to the ad's destination. A click string can come from display ads in web browsers or mobile apps and contains encoded information for the ad that's served.
This article gives simple instructions for how to get started capturing click strings in a web browser or on a mobile device, which may be helpful when troubleshooting ad delivery issues with Campaign Manager 360 and Google Ad Manager. It also provides additional resources for troubleshooting in Campaign Manager 360 and Google Ad Manager.
In some advanced cases, additional tools and resources are listed.
On this page
- Capture a click string from an ad in a web browser or on a mobile device
- Troubleshoot tagging issues in Campaign Manager 360
- Troubleshoot ad delivery issues in Google Ad Manager
Example
Usable click strings contain some reference to the system where they were served, such as:
googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk…oradclick.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click…
Capture a click string
In a web browser
Right-click the ad and copy the link address. If you can't right-click the ad, you may need to disable your computer's internet connection, click the ad, and then copy the URL that's in the address bar in your browser.
Additional tools and resources
There are a few other recommended tools to find the click string of an ad used in combination with your browser:
- Using Google Chrome: Chrome's Developer Tools can capture all traffic, including the click intermediate destinations such as the click string. Learn how to use Developer Tools to inspect network activity and save all requests to a HAR file.
- Using Charles proxy: You may be able to install the Charles web debugging proxy application and use it to capture click strings, as well as other information about ads. Learn more about Charles proxy.
- Using a browser extension: There may be an extension available for your browser that can help. Extensions can capture a click string without needing to disable your computer's internet connection.
On a mobile device
First, try long-pressing on an ad and then tapping Copy URL.
If that doesn't work, disconnect from any internet or cellular service, then click or tap the ad. The ad will attempt to open in a browser window, but because there's no service it will not load. However, the click string is exposed in the URL. This approach can also be used on a computer.
If this doesn't work, for example when using Safari or Firefox, follow the instructions below to find and capture a click string from a mobile device:
iOS
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Trigger ad.
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Hold down ad headline with finger and swipe up.
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Select Copy or Share.
Android
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Trigger ad.
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Hold down ad headline with finger.
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Select Copy link address.
Troubleshoot tagging issues in Campaign Manager 360
In combination with the click string you've identified in this article, you can learn how to troubleshoot tagging issues for Campaign Manager with the following resources:
- Test tags: How to test your placement tags in a browser before sending them to a publisher.
- Tagging issues in Campaign Manager 360: Automatically detected errors, including "Invalid third-party click string."
- Site-supplied click string issues: A technical guide to how the
click=parameter works and how to troubleshoot it.
Troubleshoot ad delivery issues in Google Ad Manager
In combination with the click string you've identified in this article, you can learn how to troubleshoot tagging and ad delivery issues for Google Ad Manager with the following resources:
- Understand ad delivery with Google Publisher Console: Learn how to use the built-in console on your site to inspect ad slots.
- Inspect web page ad delivery: Use the Ad Manager "Delivery Tools" to simulate and diagnose ad requests for a specific URL.
