> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.upstackdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Meta App Installs: Mobile App Installations from Ads

> Track mobile app installations from Meta ads. Measure app install campaign performance and optimize user acquisition costs.

<Tip>
  Counts how many people installed your mobile app after engaging with your Meta ad—the primary metric for app install campaigns.
</Tip>

## Formula

<Info>
  **Meta App Installs** = **COUNT** ( app\_install events )
</Info>

### Formula Components

| Metric                  | Definition                                                                             |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **app\_install events** | Each mobile app installation attributed to your Meta ads within the attribution window |

| Metadata        |                                   |
| --------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Type**        | Number                            |
| **Data Source** | [Meta Ads](/sources/facebook-ads) |
| **Aggregation** | Count                             |

***

## Example

Your Meta app install campaigns drove **2,847 installs** in Q2 across iOS and Android.

| Campaign      | Installs | Spend   | Cost per Install |
| ------------- | -------- | ------- | ---------------- |
| iOS Lookalike | 1,423    | \$4,269 | \$3.00           |
| Android Broad | 892      | \$3,568 | \$4.00           |
| Retargeting   | 532      | \$1,330 | \$2.50           |

***

## How It Works

Meta counts an app install when a user downloads and opens your app after interacting with your ad within the attribution window. Install events are captured via the Meta SDK integrated in your mobile app, which sends the installation signal back to Meta's servers for attribution.

***

## When to Use

| Scenario                       | Action                                                             |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Evaluating app campaigns       | Compare install counts across campaigns to identify top performers |
| Optimizing cost per install    | Shift budget toward ad sets driving installs more efficiently      |
| Assessing platform performance | Compare iOS vs Android install volumes and costs                   |
| Planning acquisition budgets   | Forecast install volumes based on historical campaign data         |

***

## Related Metrics

| Metric                                                                                                            | Relationship                                           |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| [Meta Spend](/reference/metrics/advertising/meta/meta-spend/meta-spend)                                           | Total ad investment used to calculate cost per install |
| [Meta Completed Registrations](/reference/metrics/advertising/meta/meta-conversions/meta-completed-registrations) | Users who registered after installing your app         |

[See all Meta Conversions metrics →](/reference/metrics/advertising/meta/meta-conversions)