Adobe Media SDK (versions 1.x and 2.x) end-of-life FAQ
Adobe Media SDK 2.x reached end of support on August 31, 2021. Video Heartbeat Library (VHL) 1.x is deprecated and has not been supported for several years.
What is happening?
The original Video Heartbeat Library (VHL), later renamed Media SDK, provided client-side tracking for audio and video analytics. Adobe has transitioned tracking capabilities to newer, more capable implementations:
- Media SDK 3.x (Analytics-only): Currently supported. Tracks media using the Media Collection API. Recommended for existing 2.x users who cannot yet move to the Edge Network.
- Streaming Media for Edge Network (recommended): The current recommended implementation. Uses the Adobe Experience Platform Web SDK, Mobile SDK, or Media Edge API to send media data through the Edge Network, enabling use across Adobe Analytics, Customer Journey Analytics, Real-Time CDP, and Adobe Journey Optimizer.
What is included in end-of-life, and what is not?
End-of-life (no longer supported):
- Video Heartbeat Library (VHL) 1.x — all platforms (Android, iOS, JavaScript, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, TVML)
- Media SDK 2.x — Android, iOS, JavaScript
Not end-of-life (still supported):
- Media SDK 3.x — JavaScript, Chromecast, Roku (Analytics-only)
- Streaming Media for Edge Network — all supported platforms
Why were versions 1.x and 2.x retired?
Starting with version 3.0, the Media SDK was redesigned to use the Media Collection API directly, eliminating the need for a delegate pattern and simplifying tracker creation. The older 1.x and 2.x SDKs relied on a heartbeat server architecture that has since been superseded.
Adobe also introduced the Edge Network implementation to provide a single data collection pipeline capable of feeding multiple downstream Adobe applications, which the legacy heartbeat SDKs could not support.
Where can I find the archived documentation?
Legacy documentation has been archived on GitHub and is available for reference:
What are my transition options?
Option 1: Migrate to Media SDK 3.x (Analytics-only)
If you are on 2.x and use Adobe Analytics exclusively, migrating to 3.x is the simplest path. See the 2.x to 3.x migration guide for a full API comparison and code examples.
Option 2: Migrate to Streaming Media for Edge Network (recommended)
For new implementations or when you want to use data across multiple Adobe applications, use the Adobe Experience Platform Edge Network:
FAQs
Migration effort depends on each customer’s implementation and will vary. After reviewing the migration documentation, engage consulting or customer care for additional support: