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Unique Device ID

Retrieving a Unique Device ID is as simple as calling the uniqueId() function. The process is asynchronous due to certain identifiers potentially taking time to generate or retrieve (particularly if you specify the SERVICE identifier).

SystemInfo.instance.uniqueId( 
    UniqueIDType.VENDOR,    // Identifier type
    true,                   // Persistence
    function (id:String):void
    {
        trace( "Unique ID (VENDOR): " + id );
    }
);

Identifier Types​

There are two types of identifier available under certain circumstances. Most cases the default, or VENDOR identifier is the only identifier available. The details on the identifier returned is platform dependent as described below.

Android​

On Android there are two identifiers available.

  • VENDOR: the value of the ANDROID_ID

The ANDROID_ID is randomly generated when the user first sets up the device and should remain constant for the lifetime of the user's device, The value may change if a factory reset is performed on the device. It will be the same for all application independent of the developer.

  • SERVICE: uses the Google Play Services AppSet library

iOS​

On iOS this is the value of the UIDevice identifierForVendor property.

On iOS the value of this property is the same for apps that come from the same vendor running on the same device. A different value is returned for apps on the same device that come from different vendors, and for apps on different devices regardless of vendor.

The value in this property remains the same while the app (or another app from the same vendor) is installed on the iOS device. The value changes when the user deletes all of that vendor’s apps from the device and subsequently reinstalls one or more of them.

macOS​

On macOS this returns the value of the IOPlatformUUID from the registry.

The IOPlatformUUID is a unique identifier assigned to a specific Mac's logic board and does not change under normal circumstances. It is a persistent hardware identifier intended to uniquely identify the physical machine itself.

Windows​

On Windows this returns the MachineGuid from the registry. It will fallback to the drive volume serial if the machine guid cannot be retrieved.

Persistance​

If you want to persist the identifier set the second parameter to true. This will ask the extension to attempt to store the next generated identifier in some form of persistent storage where it can be retrieved on subsequent accesses. Again the details of this persistence is platform dependent.

Android​

Currently not implemented.

iOS​

On iOS the value of the identifier is stored in the user's keychain which will persist if the application is uninstalled.

macOS​

On macOS the value of the identifier is stored in the user's keychain which will persist if the application is uninstalled.

Windows​

On windows the identifier is stored in a registry entry for your application for the current user and should persist if the application is uninstalled.