What is PLS by App Referrer
PLS by App Referrer shows how fast your page feels to load based on which external app referred the user to your website. This can include social platforms, messaging apps, embedded browsers, or other installed applications.
Different apps may load your site under different conditions — some open in lightweight in-app browsers, while others launch the system browser with more available resources. This affects how users perceive load time.
Healthy PLS by App Referrer sample
Should you worry
In a healthy PLS by App Referrer view, users from all major referring apps experience fast perceived load speeds. There are no major spikes in slower segments, and engagement tends to be consistent across sources.
This suggests your website is well-optimized regardless of how users arrive.
Unhealthy PLS by App Referrer sample
An unhealthy distribution often shows that one or more app referrers — such as Facebook, Instagram, or embedded messengers — yield significantly higher perceived load times.
This can be due to limited browser features, injected scripts, or additional rendering delays introduced by the app itself. In some cases, tracking scripts or cookie prompts load differently inside these environments, affecting how fast the page feels.
Resolving unhealthy PLS by App Referrer
Go-to action plan to resolve an unhealthy PLS by App Referrer:
Ask Uxi to analyze your PLS by App Referrer and suggest improvements.
Use Filters to narrow down to affected segments and cross-reference with device and browser type.
Simulate LCP of the suspected lens to see if fixing it will resolve the PLS by App Referrer. If yes, this is where the resolution focus should be.
Use an automated optimization tool like Navigation AI to improve your PLS by App Referrer.
Once you’ve improved PLS, set an alert to be the first to know if it starts worsening again.
Try it yourself
Discover how your website performs with real user data.