On-Device Conversion logs are inconsistent and misleading: "Disabled" status hard to verify after the very first app launch

[cantopm]

Description

We are trying to update the Firebase version from 11.6.0 to the latest 12.7.0, but from our understanding now there is a new feature enabled by default called On-Device Conversion, which can be disabled in plist (if we want to preserve our existing features).

But it's hard to verify whether this feature is truly disabled, because the SDK's logging behavior for the "On-Device Conversion" feature is inconsistent and it's not clear whether the feature is really disabled via Info.plist.

When GOOGLE_ADS_ON_DEVICE_CONVERSION_EVENT_DATA_ENABLED is set to NO (or false):

• The log confirming the service is disabled ([I-ACS023295] Conversion service disabled from Info.plist) only appears on the very first launch after a fresh install. On all subsequent launches (warm starts) or app updates, this log is never seen and is replaced by a generic will not attempt a fetch message. This makes it difficult to verify and confirm that the feature doesn't work.
• The SDK continues to log an error ([I-ACS023308] Ads account not linked) on every launch, even though the feature is disabled.

Expected behaviour (as for me):

• The SDK should consistently log the "Disabled from Info.plist" status on every initialization (both cold and warm starts) so developers can verify the state at any time.
• The SDK should suppress the "Ads account not linked" error when the feature is explicitly disabled locally.

Reproducing the issue

1. In Info.plist, add the key GOOGLE_ADS_ON_DEVICE_CONVERSION_EVENT_DATA_ENABLED with a Boolean value of NO.
2. Enable debug logging by adding -FIRAnalyticsDebugEnabled to scheme's launch arguments.
3. Perform a Fresh Install: Delete the app from the Simulator/Device and run it.
4. Observation: Note the log [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023295] Conversion service disabled from Info.plist. (Correct behavior).
5. Perform a Warm Start: Stop the app and run it again (or build the app when the old Firebase version app e.g. 11.6.0 is installed on the simulator).
6. Observation: The "Disabled from Info.plist" log is not present, although there are logs such as [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023280] Conversion service will not attempt a fetch.
7. Observation: The error [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023308] ... Ads account not linked to Google Analytics appears, falsely suggesting a configuration problem.

Firebase SDK Version

12.7.0

Xcode Version

26.1.1

Installation Method

Swift Package Manager

Firebase Product(s)

Analytics, Crashlytics, Installations, Remote Config, Performance

Targeted Platforms

iOS

Relevant Log Output

- First ever app launch with on-device conversion DISABLED in plist:
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023253] On-device conversion measurement is ready to initiate
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023278] Conversion service GoogleAdsOnDeviceConversion framework is linked
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023295] Conversion service disabled from Info.plist.
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023281] Conversion service returned empty value
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023308] Failed to initiate on-device conversion measurement for retrieving aggregate first-party data. Ads account not linked to Google Analytics.

- Next app launch with on-device conversion DISABLED in plist:
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023253] On-device conversion measurement is ready to initiate
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023278] Conversion service GoogleAdsOnDeviceConversion framework is linked
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023280] Conversion service will not attempt a fetch
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023308] Failed to initiate on-device conversion measurement for retrieving aggregate first-party data. Ads account not linked to Google Analytics.

- First ever app launch with on-device conversion ENABLED in plist:
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023253] On-device conversion measurement is ready to initiate
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023278] Conversion service GoogleAdsOnDeviceConversion framework is linked
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023275] Conversion service disabled. Remote config disabled. Check ads account linked to Google Analytics.
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023281] Conversion service returned empty value
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023308] Failed to initiate on-device conversion measurement for retrieving aggregate first-party data. Ads account not linked to Google Analytics.

- Next app launch with on-device conversion ENABLED in plist:
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023253] On-device conversion measurement is ready to initiate
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023278] Conversion service GoogleAdsOnDeviceConversion framework is linked
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023280] Conversion service will not attempt a fetch
12.7.0 - [FirebaseAnalytics][I-ACS023308] Failed to initiate on-device conversion measurement for retrieving aggregate first-party data. Ads account not linked to Google Analytics.

If using Swift Package Manager, the project's Package.resolved

Expand Package.resolved snippet

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If using CocoaPods, the project's Podfile.lock

Expand Podfile.lock snippet

Replace this line with the contents of your Podfile.lock!

[google-oss-bot]

I couldn't figure out how to label this issue, so I've labeled it for a human to triage. Hang tight.

[rizafran]

Hi @cantopm, I was able to reproduce the same behavior. With this, I'll be raising the issue to our engineers to confirm if it's a bug and see what we can do here. Thanks.

[rizafran]

Hey @cantopm, per engineer, this is working as expected. Analytics has an integration with Ads called on-device conversion measurement, in which there are two variants: The first-party data and event data. The plist flag affects the event data flows only, but not the first-party data flows (as also mentioned on the docs).

I'm now going to close the ticket, but feel free to reply if you have questions. Thanks.

[cantopm]

Hi @rizafran

Just to confirm my understanding:

1. Since we have set GOOGLE_ADS_ON_DEVICE_CONVERSION_EVENT_DATA_ENABLED to NO in our Info.plist, the Event Data flow (automatic collection) is strictly disabled.
2. The [I-ACS023308] Ads account not linked error we see on every launch is related to the First-Party Data flow. Since we are not using this feature (and haven't implemented the code for it), we can safely ignore this error log as it indicates the feature is inactive.

Is it correct?

Thank you,
Best regards

[rizafran]

Yes, it's correct.