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App Open Ads

  • App open ads are displayed on app launch or when resuming from background and are implemented using the Google Mobile Ads SDK.

  • An AppOpenAdManager handles ad loading, availability checks, and display logic, while Application.ActivityLifecycleCallbacks tracks the current activity for ad display.

  • Ads should be preloaded to minimize disruption and displayed during natural loading times, avoiding immediate display upon cold starts.

  • The DefaultLifecycleObserver's onStart() event is used to trigger ad display when the app returns to the foreground, ensuring ads are shown at appropriate times.

  • To maintain a positive user experience, delay showing the initial ad, respect user interaction, and dismiss loading screens promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.
Select platform: Android iOS Unity Flutter

This guide is intended for publishers integrating app open ads using Google Mobile Ads SDK.

App open ads are a special ad format intended for publishers wishing to monetize their app load screens. App open ads can be closed at any time, and are designed to be shown when your users bring your app to the foreground.

App open ads automatically show a small branding area so users know they're in your app. Here is an example of what an app open ad looks like:

Prerequisites

Always test with test ads

When building and testing your apps, make sure you use test ads rather than live, production ads. Failure to do so can lead to suspension of your account.

The easiest way to load test ads is to use our dedicated test ad unit ID for app open ads:

ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/9257395921

It's been specially configured to return test ads for every request, and you're free to use it in your own apps while coding, testing, and debugging. Just make sure you replace it with your own ad unit ID before publishing your app.

For more information about how Google Mobile Ads SDK test ads work, see Enable test ads.

Extend the Application class

Create a new class that extends the Application class. This provides a lifecycle-aware way to manage ads that are tied to the application's state rather than a single Activity:

Java

publicclass MyApplicationextendsApplication
implementsActivityLifecycleCallbacks,DefaultLifecycleObserver{
privateAppOpenAdManagerappOpenAdManager;
privateActivitycurrentActivity;
@Override
publicvoidonCreate(){
super.onCreate();
this.registerActivityLifecycleCallbacks(this);
ProcessLifecycleOwner.get().getLifecycle().addObserver(this);
appOpenAdManager=newAppOpenAdManager();
}

Kotlin

classMyApplication:
MultiDexApplication(),Application.ActivityLifecycleCallbacks,DefaultLifecycleObserver{
privatelateinitvarappOpenAdManager:AppOpenAdManager
privatevarcurrentActivity:Activity? =null
overridefunonCreate(){
super<MultiDexApplication>.onCreate()
registerActivityLifecycleCallbacks(this)
ProcessLifecycleOwner.get().lifecycle.addObserver(this)
appOpenAdManager=AppOpenAdManager()
}

Next, add the following code to your AndroidManifest.xml:

<!--TODO:Updatetoreferenceyouractualpackagename.-->
<application
android:name="com.google.android.gms.example.appopendemo.MyApplication"...>
...
</application>

Implement your utility component

Your ad should show quickly, so it's best to load your ad before you need to display it. That way, you'll have an ad ready to go as soon as your user enters into your app.

Implement a utility component AppOpenAdManager to encapsulate the work related to loading and showing App Open ads:

Java

privateclass AppOpenAdManager{
privatestaticfinalStringLOG_TAG="AppOpenAdManager";
privatestaticfinalStringAD_UNIT_ID="ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/9257395921";
privateAppOpenAdappOpenAd=null;
privatebooleanisLoadingAd=false;
privatebooleanisShowingAd=false;
/** Keep track of the time an app open ad is loaded to ensure you don't show an expired ad. */
privatelongloadTime=0;
/** Constructor. */
publicAppOpenAdManager(){}

Kotlin

privateinnerclassAppOpenAdManager{
privatevarappOpenAd:AppOpenAd? =null
privatevarisLoadingAd=false
varisShowingAd=false
/** Keep track of the time an app open ad is loaded to ensure you don't show an expired ad. */
privatevarloadTime:Long=0

To use the AppOpenAdManager, call the public wrapper methods on the singleton MyApplication instance. The Application class interfaces with the rest of the code, delegating the work of loading and showing the ad to the manager.

Load an ad

The next step is to fill out the loadAd() method and handle the ad load callbacks.

Java

AppOpenAd.load(
context,
"AD_UNIT_ID",
newAdRequest.Builder().build(),
newAppOpenAdLoadCallback(){
@Override
publicvoidonAdLoaded(AppOpenAdad){
// Called when an app open ad has loaded.
Log.d(LOG_TAG,"App open ad loaded.");
appOpenAd=ad;
isLoadingAd=false;
loadTime=(newDate()).getTime();
}
@Override
publicvoidonAdFailedToLoad(LoadAdErrorloadAdError){
// Called when an app open ad has failed to load.
Log.d(LOG_TAG,"App open ad failed to load with error: "+loadAdError.getMessage());
isLoadingAd=false;
}
});

Kotlin

AppOpenAd.load(
context,
"AD_UNIT_ID",
AdRequest.Builder().build(),
object:AppOpenAdLoadCallback(){
overridefunonAdLoaded(ad:AppOpenAd){
// Called when an app open ad has loaded.
Log.d(LOG_TAG,"App open ad loaded.")
appOpenAd=ad
isLoadingAd=false
loadTime=Date().time
}
overridefunonAdFailedToLoad(loadAdError:LoadAdError){
// Called when an app open ad has failed to load.
Log.d(LOG_TAG,"App open ad failed to load with error: "+loadAdError.message)
isLoadingAd=false
}
},
)

Replace AD_UNIT_ID with your own ad unit ID.

Show the ad

The most common app open implementation is to attempt to show an app open ad near app launch, start app content if the ad isn't ready, and preload another ad for the next app open opportunity. See App open ad guidance for implementation examples.

The following code shows and subsequently reloads an ad:

Java

publicvoidshowAdIfAvailable(
@NonNullfinalActivityactivity,
@NonNullOnShowAdCompleteListeneronShowAdCompleteListener){
// If the app open ad is already showing, do not show the ad again.
if(isShowingAd){
Log.d(TAG,"The app open ad is already showing.");
return;
}
// If the app open ad is not available yet, invoke the callback then load the ad.
if(appOpenAd==null){
Log.d(TAG,"The app open ad is not ready yet.");
onShowAdCompleteListener.onShowAdComplete();
// Load an ad.
return;
}
isShowingAd=true;
appOpenAd.show(activity);
}

Kotlin

funshowAdIfAvailable(activity:Activity,onShowAdCompleteListener:OnShowAdCompleteListener){
// If the app open ad is already showing, do not show the ad again.
if(isShowingAd){
Log.d(TAG,"The app open ad is already showing.")
return
}
// If the app open ad is not available yet, invoke the callback then load the ad.
if(appOpenAd==null){
Log.d(TAG,"The app open ad is not ready yet.")
onShowAdCompleteListener.onShowAdComplete()
// Load an ad.
return
}
isShowingAd=true
appOpenAd?.show(activity)
}

Set the FullScreenContentCallback

The FullScreenContentCallback handles events related to displaying your AppOpenAd. Before showing AppOpenAd, make sure to set the callback:

Java

appOpenAd.setFullScreenContentCallback(
newFullScreenContentCallback(){
@Override
publicvoidonAdDismissedFullScreenContent(){
// Called when full screen content is dismissed.
Log.d(TAG,"Ad dismissed fullscreen content.");
// Don't forget to set the ad reference to null so you
// don't show the ad a second time.
appOpenAd=null;
isShowingAd=false;
onShowAdCompleteListener.onShowAdComplete();
// Load an ad.
}
@Override
publicvoidonAdFailedToShowFullScreenContent(@NonNullAdErroradError){
// Called when full screen content failed to show.
Log.d(TAG,adError.getMessage());
appOpenAd=null;
// Don't forget to set the ad reference to null so you
// don't show the ad a second time.
isShowingAd=false;
onShowAdCompleteListener.onShowAdComplete();
// Load an ad.
}
@Override
publicvoidonAdShowedFullScreenContent(){
Log.d(TAG,"Ad showed fullscreen content.");
}
@Override
publicvoidonAdImpression(){
// Called when an impression is recorded for an ad.
Log.d(TAG,"The ad recorded an impression.");
}
@Override
publicvoidonAdClicked(){
// Called when ad is clicked.
Log.d(TAG,"The ad was clicked.");
}
});

Kotlin

appOpenAd?.fullScreenContentCallback=
object:FullScreenContentCallback(){
overridefunonAdDismissedFullScreenContent(){
// Called when full screen content is dismissed.
Log.d(TAG,"Ad dismissed fullscreen content.")
// Don't forget to set the ad reference to null so you
// don't show the ad a second time.
appOpenAd=null
isShowingAd=false
onShowAdCompleteListener.onShowAdComplete()
// Load an ad.
}
overridefunonAdFailedToShowFullScreenContent(adError:AdError){
// Called when full screen content failed to show.
Log.d(TAG,adError.message)
// Don't forget to set the ad reference to null so you
// don't show the ad a second time.
appOpenAd=null
isShowingAd=false
onShowAdCompleteListener.onShowAdComplete()
// Load an ad.
}
overridefunonAdShowedFullScreenContent(){
Log.d(TAG,"Ad showed fullscreen content.")
}
overridefunonAdImpression(){
// Called when an impression is recorded for an ad.
Log.d(TAG,"The ad recorded an impression.")
}
overridefunonAdClicked(){
// Called when ad is clicked.
Log.d(TAG,"The ad was clicked.")
}
}

Consider ad expiration

To make sure you don't show an expired ad, add a method to the AppOpenAdManager that checks how long it has been since your ad reference loaded. Then, use that method to check if the ad is still valid.

Java

/** Check if ad was loaded more than n hours ago. */
privatebooleanwasLoadTimeLessThanNHoursAgo(longnumHours){
longdateDifference=(newDate()).getTime()-loadTime;
longnumMilliSecondsPerHour=3600000;
return(dateDifference < (numMilliSecondsPerHour*numHours));
}
/** Check if ad exists and can be shown. */
privatebooleanisAdAvailable(){
// For time interval details, see: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/9341964
returnappOpenAd!=null && wasLoadTimeLessThanNHoursAgo(4);
}

Kotlin

/** Check if ad was loaded more than n hours ago. */
privatefunwasLoadTimeLessThanNHoursAgo(numHours:Long):Boolean{
valdateDifference:Long=Date().time-loadTime
valnumMilliSecondsPerHour:Long=3600000
returndateDifference < numMilliSecondsPerHour*numHours
}
/** Check if ad exists and can be shown. */
privatefunisAdAvailable():Boolean{
// For time interval details, see: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/9341964
returnappOpenAd!=null && wasLoadTimeLessThanNHoursAgo(4)
}

Keep track of current activity

To show the ad, you'll need an Activity context. To keep track of the most current activity being used, register for and implement the Application.ActivityLifecycleCallbacks.

Java

@Override
publicvoidonActivityCreated(@NonNullActivityactivity,@NullableBundlesavedInstanceState){}
@Override
publicvoidonActivityStarted(@NonNullActivityactivity){
// An ad activity is started when an ad is showing, which could be AdActivity class from Google
// SDK or another activity class implemented by a third party mediation partner. Updating the
// currentActivity only when an ad is not showing will ensure it is not an ad activity, but the
// one that shows the ad.
if(!appOpenAdManager.isShowingAd){
currentActivity=activity;
}
}
@Override
publicvoidonActivityResumed(@NonNullActivityactivity){}
@Override
publicvoidonActivityPaused(@NonNullActivityactivity){}
@Override
publicvoidonActivityStopped(@NonNullActivityactivity){}
@Override
publicvoidonActivitySaveInstanceState(@NonNullActivityactivity,@NonNullBundleoutState){}
@Override
publicvoidonActivityDestroyed(@NonNullActivityactivity){}

Kotlin

overridefunonActivityCreated(activity:Activity,savedInstanceState:Bundle?){}
overridefunonActivityStarted(activity:Activity){
// An ad activity is started when an ad is showing, which could be AdActivity class from Google
// SDK or another activity class implemented by a third party mediation partner. Updating the
// currentActivity only when an ad is not showing will ensure it is not an ad activity, but the
// one that shows the ad.
if(!appOpenAdManager.isShowingAd){
currentActivity=activity
}
}
overridefunonActivityResumed(activity:Activity){}
overridefunonActivityPaused(activity:Activity){}
overridefunonActivityStopped(activity:Activity){}
overridefunonActivitySaveInstanceState(activity:Activity,outState:Bundle){}
overridefunonActivityDestroyed(activity:Activity){}

registerActivityLifecycleCallbacks lets you listen for all Activity events. By listening for when activities are started and destroyed, you can keep track of a reference to the current Activity, which you then will use in presenting your app open ad.

Listen for app foregrounding events

To listen for app foreground events, do the following steps:

Add the libraries to your gradle file

To be notified of app foregrounding events, you need to register a DefaultLifecycleObserver. Add its dependency to your app-level build file:

Kotlin

dependencies{
implementation("com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:24.7.0")
implementation("androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-process:2.8.3")
}

Groovy

dependencies{
implementation'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:24.7.0'
implementation'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-process:2.8.3'
}

Implement the lifecycle observer interface

You can listen for foregrounding events by implementing the DefaultLifecycleObserver interface.

Implement the onStart() to show the app open ad.

Java

@Override
publicvoidonStart(@NonNullLifecycleOwnerowner){
DefaultLifecycleObserver.super.onStart(owner);
// Show the ad (if available) when the app moves to foreground.
appOpenAdManager.showAdIfAvailable(currentActivity);
}

Kotlin

overridefunonStart(owner:LifecycleOwner){
super.onStart(owner)
currentActivity?.let{
// Show the ad (if available) when the app moves to foreground.
appOpenAdManager.showAdIfAvailable(it)
}
}

Cold starts and loading screens

The documentation thus far assumes that you only show app open ads when users foreground your app when it is suspended in memory. "Cold starts" occur when your app is launched but was not previously suspended in memory.

An example of a cold start is when a user opens your app for the first time. With cold starts, you won't have a previously loaded app open ad that's ready to be shown right away. The delay between when you request an ad and receive an ad back can create a situation where users are able to briefly use your app before being surprised by an out of context ad. This should be avoided because it is a bad user experience.

The preferred way to use app open ads on cold starts is to use a loading screen to load your game or app assets, and to only show the ad from the loading screen. If your app has completed loading and has sent the user to the main content of your app, don't show the ad.

Best practices

App open ads help you monetize your app's loading screen, when the app first launches and during app switches, but it's important to keep best practices in mind so that your users enjoy using your app. It's best to:

  • Show your first app open ad after your users have used your app a few times.
  • Show app open ads during times when your users would otherwise be waiting for your app to load.
  • If you have a loading screen under the app open ad, and your loading screen completes loading before the ad is dismissed, you may want to dismiss your loading screen in the onAdDismissedFullScreenContent() method.

Examples on GitHub

Next steps

Explore the following topics:

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Last updated 2025年10月15日 UTC.