Expo get unique device id without ejecting

Question

This library allows you to get unique device id / Mac address of Android devices, which doesn't change after reinstallation.

Expo.Constants.deviceId changes after every reinstallation (even if the app version number is the same).

Is there a way to get an unique id for Android that doesn't change after reinstallation (at least for if it's the same version), without ejecting?

Does Expo.Constants work both on iOS and Android standalone apps? — Jeaf Gilbert, Jan 29 '19 at 14:11
You can find more information about that topic in the Github issue. Looks like this is for privacy reasons not wanted. https://github.com/expo/expo/issues/825 — Laszlo Schürg, Sep 15 '19 at 13:11
does https://github.com/react-native-device-info/react-native-device-info#getuniqueid not provide exactly this? — therightstuff, Feb 06 '21 at 12:58
Yes, but that requires ejecting from Expo (in the old ejection days). — Avery235, Feb 08 '21 at 01:16
`react-native-device-info` will usually not work with Expo unless your using the expo barebone app. — Morris S, Jul 28 '21 at 02:10

Morris S · Answer 1 · 2022-04-05T16:05:57.087

25

For Expo IOS theres currently very limited options, Since Apple forbids getting private device info. We will need to create our own unique identifier below.

Solution:

My solution is a combination of uuid and Expo SecureStore works for IOS and Android.

import * as SecureStore from 'expo-secure-store';
import 'react-native-get-random-values';
import { v4 as uuidv4 } from 'uuid';


let uuid = uuidv4();
await SecureStore.setItemAsync('secure_deviceid', JSON.stringify(uuid));
let fetchUUID = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('secure_deviceid');
console.log(fetchUUID)

This solution will work even if app gets reinstalled, or if user switches devices and copy's all data to new device. (Expo.Constants.deviceId is deprecated and will be removed in Expo SDK 44).

Full Example:

To check if you already stored the uuid in SecureStore

import * as SecureStore from 'expo-secure-store';
import 'react-native-get-random-values';
import { v4 as uuidv4 } from 'uuid';

let uuid = uuidv4();
let fetchUUID = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('secure_deviceid');
  //if user has already signed up prior
  if (fetchUUID) {
    uuid = fetchUUID
  }
await SecureStore.setItemAsync('secure_deviceid', JSON.stringify(uuid));
console.log(uuid)

edited Apr 05 '22 at 16:05

answered Jul 28 '21 at 02:23

Morris S

2,337
25
30

1

I guess the 'secure_deviceid' kept after app updates but not between installs ? – Michael Bahl Jul 28 '21 at 09:22
1

It will be kept even for reinstalls since `SecureStore` is stored to the system keychain and according to Expo docs will be kept around "data stored with expo-secure-store can persist across app installs". https://docs.expo.io/versions/latest/sdk/securestore/ – Morris S Jul 28 '21 at 18:48
Will it persist between app installs on Android too? Doc says: Please note that for iOS standalone apps, data stored with expo-secure-store can persist across app installs. But nothing is mentionned for Android – yemd Jan 13 '22 at 00:39
@yemd `SecureStore` for Android is stored in `SharedPreferences` this might be helpful https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24650870/sharedpreferences-values-do-not-persist – Morris S Jan 13 '22 at 16:42
it give different values each time for same device I need to implement same unique id for one device – Ibad Ur Rehman Feb 26 '22 at 11:50
1

@IbadUrRehman `uuid` gives a new unique id each time called. for your case you will need to check if theres already a uuid first and retrieve from `SecureStore`. – Morris S Apr 05 '22 at 15:53
the docs say that it will persist on iOS specifically, which implies that it wont for android – ICW Jan 07 '23 at 01:38

Dmitro_ · Answer 2 · 2022-03-03T06:59:37.967

6

Use Application.androidId from expo-application. Id will not change after reinstall or update. The value may change if a factory reset is performed on the device or if an APK signing key changes. https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/sdk/application/#applicationandroidid

Example:

import * as Application from 'expo-application';
import { Platform } from 'expo-modules-core';
import * as SecureStore from 'expo-secure-store';
import Constants from 'expo-constants';

const getDeviceId = async () => {
  if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
    return Application.androidId;
  } else {
    let deviceId = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('deviceId');

    if (!deviceId) {
      deviceId = Constants.deviceId; //or generate uuid
      await SecureStore.setItemAsync('deviceId', deviceId);
    }

    return deviceId;
  }
}

edited Mar 03 '22 at 06:59

answered Mar 01 '22 at 08:37

Dmitro_

451
2
8

but what about ios? It says it will return null on ios. I need something that works on both platform – Abhishek Anand Mar 03 '22 at 02:00
@AbhishekAnand i added an example – Dmitro_ Mar 03 '22 at 07:02
1

For iOS we an use this https://docs.expo.dev/versions/v45.0.0/sdk/application/#applicationgetiosidforvendorasync – Rajendran Nadar May 10 '22 at 23:25

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 21 '20 at 14:05

0

Guess you can use facebook module for this purpose. https://docs.expo.io/versions/latest/sdk/facebook-ads/#currentdevicehash

Not sure what happens under hood - but looks like it unique between app reinstal, device restart etc.

answered Apr 21 '20 at 14:05

Keiser

44
1

2

Please add all relevant information to your answer instead of linking to external sources – Nico Haase Apr 21 '20 at 14:36

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 17 '23 at 10:04

Best way to do is use ANDROID_ID for android or IDFV for iOS.

For Expo here is package: https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/sdk/application/#applicationgetiosidforvendorasync

My code:

const newUniqueId = Platform.OS === 'android'
            ? Application.androidId ?? uuid.v4().toString()
            : await Application.getIosIdForVendorAsync() ?? uuid.v4().toString();

let uniqueId = null;
try {
    uniqueId = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('uniqueId');
} catch (error) {
    LoggerService.logToSentry(error);
}

try {
    if (!uniqueId) {
        uniqueId = newUniqueId;
        await SecureStore.setItemAsync('uniqueId', uniqueId);
    }
} catch (error) {
    uniqueId = newUniqueId;
    LoggerService.logToSentry(error);
}

return uniqueId;

If some one use only uuid.v4() and stores with SecureStore after app deletion all data will be deleted except iOS phones. On Android all App data will be deleted with stored keys

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 02 '21 at 21:15

-1

Just use getuniqueid() method from react-native-device-info. Works on iOS and android to uniquely identify a device .

answered Aug 02 '21 at 21:15

Bharat Varma

154
1
6

This won't work in the Expo managed workflow – pors Dec 22 '21 at 18:12

score -1 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 24 '22 at 10:15

-1

To get the device UniqueId in expo project,

npm install react-native-device-info
expo run:ios or expo run:android

Please note: expo start will throw an error

answered Mar 24 '22 at 10:15

nrooban

59
1
2

Expo get unique device id without ejecting

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