diff --git a/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/assets/branch.json b/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/assets/branch.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a73a41bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/assets/branch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+{
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/java/io/branch/branchandroidtestbed/MainActivity.java b/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/java/io/branch/branchandroidtestbed/MainActivity.java
index d2d0d3f1d..cc7d1a4d2 100644
--- a/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/java/io/branch/branchandroidtestbed/MainActivity.java
+++ b/Branch-SDK-TestBed/src/main/java/io/branch/branchandroidtestbed/MainActivity.java
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ protected void onStart() {
         Branch.getInstance().addFacebookPartnerParameterWithName("ph", getHashedValue("6516006060"));
         Log.d("BranchSDK_Tester", "initSession");
 
-        initSessionsWithTests();
+        //initSessionsWithTests();
 
         // Branch integration validation: Validate Branch integration with your app
         // NOTE : The below method will run few checks for verifying correctness of the Branch integration.
diff --git a/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/Branch.java b/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/Branch.java
index 153f11e7c..1713cb89e 100644
--- a/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/Branch.java
+++ b/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/Branch.java
@@ -377,6 +377,8 @@ synchronized public static Branch getAutoInstance(@NonNull Context context) {
             // Should only be set in json config
             deferInitForPluginRuntime(BranchUtil.getDeferInitForPluginRuntimeConfig(context));
 
+            BranchUtil.setAPIBaseUrlFromConfig(context);
+
             BranchUtil.setTestMode(BranchUtil.checkTestMode(context));
             branchReferral_ = initBranchSDK(context, BranchUtil.readBranchKey(context));
             getPreinstallSystemData(branchReferral_, context);
@@ -404,6 +406,8 @@ public static Branch getAutoInstance(@NonNull Context context, @NonNull String b
             // Should only be set in json config
             deferInitForPluginRuntime(BranchUtil.getDeferInitForPluginRuntimeConfig(context));
 
+            BranchUtil.setAPIBaseUrlFromConfig(context);
+
             BranchUtil.setTestMode(BranchUtil.checkTestMode(context));
             // If a Branch key is passed already use it. Else read the key
             if (!isValidBranchKey(branchKey)) {
@@ -503,7 +507,16 @@ public static void expectDelayedSessionInitialization(boolean expectDelayedInit)
      * @param url The {@link String} URL base URL that the Branch API uses.
      */
     public static void setAPIUrl(String url) {
-        PrefHelper.setAPIUrl(url);
+        if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(url)) {
+            if (!url.endsWith("/")) {
+                url = url + "/";
+            }
+
+            PrefHelper.setAPIUrl(url);
+            BranchLogger.v("setAPIUrl: Branch API URL was set to " + url);
+        } else {
+            BranchLogger.w("setAPIUrl: URL cannot be empty or null");
+        }
     }
     /**
      * <p>Sets a custom CDN base URL.</p>
diff --git a/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchJsonConfig.java b/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchJsonConfig.java
index 51b2e6364..2d1eabbdb 100644
--- a/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchJsonConfig.java
+++ b/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchJsonConfig.java
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ public enum BranchJsonKey {
         liveKey,
         useTestInstance,
         enableLogging,
-        deferInitForPluginRuntime
+        deferInitForPluginRuntime,
+        apiUrl
     }
 
     /*
@@ -44,7 +45,8 @@ public enum BranchJsonKey {
             "liveKey":"key_live_hcnegAumkH7Kv18M8AOHhfgiohpXq5tB",
             "useTestInstance": true,
             "enableLogging": true,
-            "deferInitForPluginRuntime": true
+            "deferInitForPluginRuntime": true,
+            "apiUrl": "https://api2.branch.io"
        }
     */
 
@@ -167,8 +169,8 @@ private String getTestKey() {
         if (mConfiguration == null) return null;
 
         try {
-            if (!mConfiguration.has("testKey")) return null;
-            return mConfiguration.getString("testKey");
+            if (!mConfiguration.has(BranchJsonKey.testKey.toString())) return null;
+            return mConfiguration.getString(BranchJsonKey.testKey.toString());
         }
         catch (JSONException exception) {
             Log.e(TAG, "Error parsing branch.json: " + exception.getMessage());
@@ -186,4 +188,18 @@ private String getTestKey() {
             return false;
         }
     }
+
+    @Nullable
+    public String getAPIUrl() {
+        if (mConfiguration == null) return null;
+
+        try {
+            if (!mConfiguration.has(BranchJsonKey.apiUrl.toString())) return null;
+            return mConfiguration.getString(BranchJsonKey.apiUrl.toString());
+        }
+        catch (JSONException exception) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Error parsing branch.json: " + exception.getMessage());
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchUtil.java b/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchUtil.java
index 812c06edf..e45ff4ff1 100644
--- a/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchUtil.java
+++ b/Branch-SDK/src/main/java/io/branch/referral/BranchUtil.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import androidx.annotation.DrawableRes;
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 
+import android.text.TextUtils;
 import android.util.DisplayMetrics;
 
 import org.json.JSONArray;
@@ -139,6 +140,12 @@ public static boolean getDeferInitForPluginRuntimeConfig(Context context){
         return deferInitForPluginRuntime;
     }
 
+    public static void setAPIBaseUrlFromConfig(Context context) {
+        BranchJsonConfig jsonConfig = BranchJsonConfig.getInstance(context);
+        String apiUrl = jsonConfig.getAPIUrl();
+        Branch.setAPIUrl(apiUrl);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the value of "io.branch.sdk.TestMode" entry in application manifest or from String res.
      * This value can be overridden via. {@link Branch#enableTestMode()}