# The search_ad_encoded parameter of POST /v1/open is deprecated

Branch API deprecated POST /v1/open, body parameter search_ad_encoded without giving a shutdown date yet.

Branch API deprecated the body parameter search_ad_encoded for POST /v1/open without a shutdown date. Calls passing this Base64-encoded string parameter will fail. Review requests sending the search_ad_encoded parameter to prevent attribution failures.

## What to use instead

Send apple_attribution_token, providing the AdServices attribution token within 24 hours, instead of search_ad_encoded.

- API: Branch API (api2.branch.io)
- Kind: Behaviour change
- Takes effect: no date given yet
- Calls after that day: fail
- Calls it hits: `POST /v1/open`, `body parameter search_ad_encoded`
- Source: [Announcement](https://help.branch.io/apidocs/attribution/overview.md)
- Verified: October 26, 2026, against Branch API's own pages
- Page: https://www.okapi.bot/providers/branch-api/breaking-changes/the-search-ad-encoded-parameter-of-post-v1-open-is-deprecated/

## Branch API's words

> search_ad_encoded String The Base64-encoded string of the entire response from the Apple Search Ads API. Deprecated

Okapi finds the calls this change hits in your repo and opens the pull request with the fix: https://github.com/apps/okapi-agent