Interstitial ads

    Select platform: Android iOS Unity Flutter

    Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that cover the interface of an app until closed by the user. They're typically displayed at natural transition points in the flow of an app, such as between activities or during the pause between levels in a game. When an app shows an interstitial ad, the user has the choice to either tap on the ad and continue to its destination or close it and return to the app. Case study .

    This guide shows you how to integrate interstitial ads into an iOS app.

    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 iOS interstitials: ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/4411468910

    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 the Mobile Ads SDK's test ads work, see Test Ads .

    Implementation

    The main steps to integrate interstitial ads are:

    1. Load an ad.
    2. Register for callbacks.
    3. Display the ad.

    Load an ad

    Loading an ad is accomplished using the load(adUnitID:request) method on the GADInterstitialAd class.

    Swift

      fileprivate 
  
 func 
  
 loadInterstitial 
 () 
  
 async 
  
 { 
  
 do 
  
 { 
  
 interstitial 
  
 = 
  
 try 
  
 await 
  
 InterstitialAd 
 . 
 load 
 ( 
  
 with 
 : 
  
 "ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/4411468910" 
 , 
  
 request 
 : 
  
 Request 
 ()) 
  
 interstitial 
 ?. 
 fullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 = 
  
 self 
  
 } 
  
 catch 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 "Failed to load interstitial ad with error: 
 \( 
 error 
 . 
 localizedDescription 
 ) 
 " 
 ) 
  
 } 
 } 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 swift

    SwiftUI

      import 
  
 GoogleMobileAds 
 class 
  
 InterstitialViewModel 
 : 
  
 NSObject 
 , 
  
 FullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 { 
  
 private 
  
 var 
  
 interstitialAd 
 : 
  
 InterstitialAd 
 ? 
  
 func 
  
 loadAd 
 () 
  
 async 
  
 { 
  
 do 
  
 { 
  
 interstitialAd 
  
 = 
  
 try 
  
 await 
  
 InterstitialAd 
 . 
 load 
 ( 
  
 with 
 : 
  
 "ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/4411468910" 
 , 
  
 request 
 : 
  
 Request 
 ()) 
  
 interstitialAd 
 ?. 
 fullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 = 
  
 self 
  
 } 
  
 catch 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 "Failed to load interstitial ad with error: 
 \( 
 error 
 . 
 localizedDescription 
 ) 
 " 
 ) 
  
 } 
  
 } 
 
      InterstitialViewModel 
 . 
 swift

    Objective-C

      [ 
 GADInterstitialAd 
  
 loadWithAdUnitID 
 : 
 @"ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/4411468910" 
  
 request 
 :[ 
 GADRequest 
  
 request 
 ] 
  
 completionHandler 
 : 
 ^ 
 ( 
 GADInterstitialAd 
  
 * 
 ad 
 , 
  
 NSError 
  
 * 
 error 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 if 
  
 ( 
 error 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"Failed to load interstitial ad with error: %@" 
 , 
  
 [ 
 error 
  
 localizedDescription 
 ]); 
  
 return 
 ; 
  
 } 
  
 self 
 . 
 interstitial 
  
 = 
  
 ad 
 ; 
  
 self 
 . 
 interstitial 
 . 
 fullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 = 
  
 self 
 ; 
  
 }]; 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 m

    Register for callbacks

    In order to receive notifications for presentation events, you must assign the GADFullScreenContentDelegate to the fullScreenContentDelegate` property of the returned ad:

    Swift

      interstitial 
 ?. 
 fullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 = 
  
 self 
     ViewController 

     
     
 . 
 swift

    SwiftUI

      interstitialAd 
 ?. 
 fullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 = 
  
 self 
     InterstitialViewModel 

     
     
 . 
 swift

    Objective-C

      self 
 . 
 interstitial 
 . 
 fullScreenContentDelegate 
  
 = 
  
 self 
 ; 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 m

    The GADFullScreenContentDelegate protocol handles callbacks for when the ad presents successfully or unsuccessfully, and when it is dismissed. The following code shows how to implement the protocol:

    Swift

      func 
  
 adDidRecordImpression 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adDidRecordClick 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 ad 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 , 
  
 didFailToPresentFullScreenContentWithError 
  
 error 
 : 
  
 Error 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called with error: 
 \( 
 error 
 . 
 localizedDescription 
 ) 
 " 
 ) 
  
 // Clear the interstitial ad. 
  
 interstitial 
  
 = 
  
 nil 
 } 
 func 
  
 adWillPresentFullScreenContent 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adWillDismissFullScreenContent 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adDidDismissFullScreenContent 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
  
 // Clear the interstitial ad. 
  
 interstitial 
  
 = 
  
 nil 
 } 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 swift

    SwiftUI

      func 
  
 adDidRecordImpression 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adDidRecordClick 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 ad 
 ( 
  
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 , 
  
 didFailToPresentFullScreenContentWithError 
  
 error 
 : 
  
 Error 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adWillPresentFullScreenContent 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adWillDismissFullScreenContent 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
 } 
 func 
  
 adDidDismissFullScreenContent 
 ( 
 _ 
  
 ad 
 : 
  
 FullScreenPresentingAd 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 print 
 ( 
 " 
 \( 
 #function 
 ) 
 called" 
 ) 
  
 // Clear the interstitial ad. 
  
 interstitialAd 
  
 = 
  
 nil 
 } 
 
      InterstitialViewModel 
 . 
 swift

    Objective-C

      - 
 ( 
 void 
 ) 
 adDidRecordImpression: 
 ( 
 id<GADFullScreenPresentingAd> 
 ) 
 ad 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"%s called" 
 , 
  
 __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ 
 ); 
 } 
 - 
 ( 
 void 
 ) 
 adDidRecordClick: 
 ( 
 id<GADFullScreenPresentingAd> 
 ) 
 ad 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"%s called" 
 , 
  
 __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ 
 ); 
 } 
 - 
 ( 
 void 
 ) 
 ad: 
 ( 
 id<GADFullScreenPresentingAd> 
 ) 
 ad 
  
 didFailToPresentFullScreenContentWithError 
 :( 
 NSError 
  
 * 
 ) 
 error 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"%s called with error: %@" 
 , 
  
 __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ 
 , 
  
 error 
 . 
 localizedDescription 
 ); 
  
 // Clear the interstitial ad. 
  
 self 
 . 
 interstitial 
  
 = 
  
 nil 
 ; 
 } 
 - 
 ( 
 void 
 ) 
 adWillPresentFullScreenContent: 
 ( 
 id<GADFullScreenPresentingAd> 
 ) 
 ad 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"%s called" 
 , 
  
 __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ 
 ); 
 } 
 - 
 ( 
 void 
 ) 
 adWillDismissFullScreenContent: 
 ( 
 id<GADFullScreenPresentingAd> 
 ) 
 ad 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"%s called" 
 , 
  
 __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ 
 ); 
 } 
 - 
 ( 
 void 
 ) 
 adDidDismissFullScreenContent: 
 ( 
 id<GADFullScreenPresentingAd> 
 ) 
 ad 
  
 { 
  
 NSLog 
 ( 
 @"%s called" 
 , 
  
 __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ 
 ); 
  
 // Clear the interstitial ad. 
  
 self 
 . 
 interstitial 
  
 = 
  
 nil 
 ; 
 } 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 m

    GADInterstitialAd is a one-time-use object. This means that once an interstitial ad is shown, it cannot be shown again. A best practice is to load another interstitial ad in the adDidDismissFullScreenContent: method on GADFullScreenContentDelegate so that the next interstitial ad starts loading as soon as the previous one is dismissed.

    Display the ad

    Interstitials should be displayed during natural pauses in the flow of an app. Between levels of a game is a good example, or after the user completes a task.

    Swift

      ad 
 . 
 present 
 ( 
 from 
 : 
  
 self 
 !) 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 swift

    SwiftUI

    Listen to UI events in the view to determine when to show the ad.

      var 
  
 body 
 : 
  
 some 
  
 View 
  
 { 
  
 // ... 
  
 } 
  
 . 
 onChange 
 ( 
 of 
 : 
  
 countdownTimer 
 . 
 isComplete 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 newValue 
  
 in 
  
 showGameOverAlert 
  
 = 
  
 newValue 
  
 } 
  
 . 
 alert 
 ( 
 isPresented 
 : 
  
 $ 
 showGameOverAlert 
 ) 
  
 { 
  
 Alert 
 ( 
  
 title 
 : 
  
 Text 
 ( 
 "Game Over" 
 ), 
  
 message 
 : 
  
 Text 
 ( 
 "You lasted 
 \( 
 countdownTimer 
 . 
 countdownTime 
 ) 
 seconds" 
 ), 
  
 dismissButton 
 : 
  
 . 
 cancel 
 ( 
  
 Text 
 ( 
 "OK" 
 ), 
  
 action 
 : 
  
 { 
  
 viewModel 
 . 
 showAd 
 () 
  
 })) 
 
      InterstitialContentView 
 . 
 swift

    Present the interstitial ad from the view model:

      func 
  
 showAd 
 () 
  
 { 
  
 guard 
  
 let 
  
 interstitialAd 
  
 = 
  
 interstitialAd 
  
 else 
  
 { 
  
 return 
  
 print 
 ( 
 "Ad wasn't ready." 
 ) 
  
 } 
  
 interstitialAd 
 . 
 present 
 ( 
 from 
 : 
  
 nil 
 ) 
 } 
 
      InterstitialViewModel 
 . 
 swift

    Objective-C

      [ 
 self 
 . 
 interstitial 
  
 presentFromRootViewController 
 : 
 self 
 ]; 
 
      ViewController 
 . 
 m

    Best practices

    Consider whether interstitial ads are the right type of ad for your app.
    Interstitial ads work best in apps with natural transition points. The conclusion of a task within an app, like sharing an image or completing a game level, creates such a point. Because the user is expecting a break in the action, it's easy to present an interstitial ad without disrupting their experience. Make sure you consider at which points in your app's workflow you'll display interstitial ads and how the user is likely to respond.
    Remember to pause the action when displaying an interstitial ad.
    There are a number of different types of interstitial ads: text, image, video, and more. It's important to make sure that when your app displays an interstitial ad, it also suspends its use of some resources to allow the ad to take advantage of them. For example, when you make the call to display an interstitial ad, be sure to pause any audio output being produced by your app. You can resume playing sounds in the adDidDismissFullScreenContent: event handler, which will be invoked when the user has finished interacting with the ad. In addition, consider temporarily halting any intense computation tasks (such as a game loop) while the ad is being displayed. This will ensure that the user doesn't experience slow or unresponsive graphics or stuttered video.
    Allow for adequate loading time.
    Just as it's important to make sure you display interstitial ads at an appropriate time, it's also important to make sure the user doesn't have to wait for them to load. Loading the ad in advance before you intend to show can ensure that your app has a fully loaded interstitial ad at the ready when the time comes to display one.
    Don't flood the user with ads.
    While increasing the frequency of interstitial ads in your app might seem like a great way to increase revenue, it can also degrade the user experience and lower clickthrough rates. Make sure that users aren't so frequently interrupted that they're no longer able to enjoy the use of your app.
    Don't use the load completion callback to show the interstitial.
    This can cause a poor user experience. Instead, pre-load the ad before you need to show it. Then check the canPresentFromRootViewController:error: method on GADInterstitialAd to find out if it is ready to be shown.

    Additional resources

    Examples on GitHub

    View the full interstitial ads examples in your preferred language:

    Mobile Ads Garage video tutorials

    Success stories

    Next steps

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