Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that cover the interface of their host app.
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.
Read one of our case studies.
This guide explains how to integrate interstitial ads into an Android
app.
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
Android interstitials:
ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712
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.
Load an ad
To load an interstitial ad, call the InterstitialAd
static
load() method and pass in an
InterstitialAdLoadCallback to receive the loaded
ad or any possible errors. Notice that like other format load callbacks,
InterstitialAdLoadCallback leverages
LoadAdError to provide higher fidelity error details.
Java
importcom.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAd;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAdLoadCallback;publicclassMainActivityextendsActivity{privateInterstitialAdmInterstitialAd;privatestaticfinalStringTAG="MainActivity";@OverrideprotectedvoidonCreate(BundlesavedInstanceState){super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);AdRequestadRequest=newAdRequest.Builder().build();InterstitialAd.load(this,"ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712",adRequest,newInterstitialAdLoadCallback(){@OverridepublicvoidonAdLoaded(@NonNullInterstitialAdinterstitialAd){// The mInterstitialAd reference will be null until// an ad is loaded.mInterstitialAd=interstitialAd;Log.i(TAG,"onAdLoaded");}@OverridepublicvoidonAdFailedToLoad(@NonNullLoadAdErrorloadAdError){// Handle the errorLog.d(TAG,loadAdError.toString());mInterstitialAd=null;}});}}
The FullScreenContentCallback handles events related to displaying your
InterstitialAd. Before showing InterstitialAd, make sure to set the
callback:
Java
mInterstitialAd.setFullScreenContentCallback(newFullScreenContentCallback(){@OverridepublicvoidonAdClicked(){// Called when a click is recorded for an ad.Log.d(TAG,"Ad was clicked.");}@OverridepublicvoidonAdDismissedFullScreenContent(){// Called when ad is dismissed.// Set the ad reference to null so you don't show the ad a second time.Log.d(TAG,"Ad dismissed fullscreen content.");mInterstitialAd=null;}@OverridepublicvoidonAdFailedToShowFullScreenContent(AdErroradError){// Called when ad fails to show.Log.e(TAG,"Ad failed to show fullscreen content.");mInterstitialAd=null;}@OverridepublicvoidonAdImpression(){// Called when an impression is recorded for an ad.Log.d(TAG,"Ad recorded an impression.");}@OverridepublicvoidonAdShowedFullScreenContent(){// Called when ad is shown.Log.d(TAG,"Ad showed fullscreen content.");}});
Kotlin
mInterstitialAd?.fullScreenContentCallback=object:FullScreenContentCallback(){overridefunonAdClicked(){// Called when a click is recorded for an ad.Log.d(TAG,"Ad was clicked.")}overridefunonAdDismissedFullScreenContent(){// Called when ad is dismissed.Log.d(TAG,"Ad dismissed fullscreen content.")mInterstitialAd=null}overridefunonAdFailedToShowFullScreenContent(adError:AdError?){// Called when ad fails to show.Log.e(TAG,"Ad failed to show fullscreen content.")mInterstitialAd=null}overridefunonAdImpression(){// Called when an impression is recorded for an ad.Log.d(TAG,"Ad recorded an impression.")}overridefunonAdShowedFullScreenContent(){// Called when ad is shown.Log.d(TAG,"Ad showed fullscreen content.")}}
Show the ad
Interstitial ads 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.
To show an interstitial, use the
show() method.
Java
if(mInterstitialAd!=null){mInterstitialAd.show(MyActivity.this);}else{Log.d("TAG","The interstitial ad wasn't ready yet.");}
Kotlin
if(mInterstitialAd!=null){mInterstitialAd?.show(this)}else{Log.d("TAG","The interstitial ad wasn't ready yet.")}
Some 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. 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.
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 by calling
load() before you intend to call
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.
Source code
MyActivity.java
/**Copyright(C)2013Google,Inc.**LicensedundertheApacheLicense,Version2.0(the"License");*youmaynotusethisfileexceptincompliancewiththeLicense.*YoumayobtainacopyoftheLicenseat**http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0**Unlessrequiredbyapplicablelaworagreedtoinwriting,software*distributedundertheLicenseisdistributedonan"AS IS"BASIS,*WITHOUTWARRANTIESORCONDITIONSOFANYKIND,eitherexpressorimplied.*SeetheLicenseforthespecificlanguagegoverningpermissionsand*limitationsundertheLicense.*/packagecom.google.android.gms.example.interstitialexample;importandroid.annotation.SuppressLint;importandroid.os.Bundle;importandroid.os.CountDownTimer;importandroid.util.Log;importandroid.view.Menu;importandroid.view.MenuItem;importandroid.view.View;importandroid.widget.Button;importandroid.widget.PopupMenu;importandroid.widget.TextView;importandroid.widget.Toast;importandroidx.annotation.NonNull;importandroidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.AdError;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.AdRequest;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.FullScreenContentCallback;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.LoadAdError;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.MobileAds;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.RequestConfiguration;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAd;importcom.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAdLoadCallback;importjava.util.Arrays;importjava.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;/**MainActivity.Inflatesmainactivityxml.*/@SuppressLint("SetTextI18n")publicclassMyActivityextendsAppCompatActivity{//CheckyourlogcatoutputforthetestdevicehashedIDe.g.//"Use RequestConfiguration.Builder().setTestDeviceIds(Arrays.asList("ABCDEF012345"))//togettestadsonthisdevice" or//"Use new ConsentDebugSettings.Builder().addTestDeviceHashedId("ABCDEF012345") to set this as//adebugdevice".publicstaticfinalStringTEST_DEVICE_HASHED_ID="ABCDEF012345";privatestaticfinallongGAME_LENGTH_MILLISECONDS=3000;privatestaticfinalStringAD_UNIT_ID="ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712";privatestaticfinalStringTAG="MyActivity";privatefinalAtomicBooleanisMobileAdsInitializeCalled=newAtomicBoolean(false);privateGoogleMobileAdsConsentManagergoogleMobileAdsConsentManager;privateInterstitialAdinterstitialAd;privateCountDownTimercountDownTimer;privateButtonretryButton;privatebooleangamePaused;privatebooleangameOver;privatebooleanadIsLoading;privatelongtimerMilliseconds;@OverrideprotectedvoidonCreate(BundlesavedInstanceState){super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);setContentView(R.layout.activity_my);//LogtheMobileAdsSDKversion.Log.d(TAG,"Google Mobile Ads SDK Version: "+MobileAds.getVersion());googleMobileAdsConsentManager=GoogleMobileAdsConsentManager.getInstance(getApplicationContext());googleMobileAdsConsentManager.gatherConsent(this,consentError-> {if(consentError!=null){//Consentnotobtainedincurrentsession.Log.w(TAG,String.format("%s: %s",consentError.getErrorCode(),consentError.getMessage()));}startGame();if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.canRequestAds()){initializeMobileAdsSdk();}if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.isPrivacyOptionsRequired()){//Regeneratetheoptionsmenutoincludeaprivacysetting.invalidateOptionsMenu();}});//Thissampleattemptstoloadadsusingconsentobtainedintheprevioussession.if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.canRequestAds()){initializeMobileAdsSdk();}//Createthe"retry"button,whichtriestoshowaninterstitialbetweengameplays.retryButton=findViewById(R.id.retry_button);retryButton.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);retryButton.setOnClickListener(newView.OnClickListener(){@OverridepublicvoidonClick(Viewview){showInterstitial();}});}publicvoidloadAd(){//Requestanewadifoneisn't already loaded.if(adIsLoading||interstitialAd!=null){return;}adIsLoading=true;AdRequestadRequest=newAdRequest.Builder().build();InterstitialAd.load(this,AD_UNIT_ID,adRequest,newInterstitialAdLoadCallback(){@OverridepublicvoidonAdLoaded(@NonNullInterstitialAdinterstitialAd){//ThemInterstitialAdreferencewillbenulluntil//anadisloaded.MyActivity.this.interstitialAd=interstitialAd;adIsLoading=false;Log.i(TAG,"onAdLoaded");Toast.makeText(MyActivity.this,"onAdLoaded()",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();interstitialAd.setFullScreenContentCallback(newFullScreenContentCallback(){@OverridepublicvoidonAdDismissedFullScreenContent(){//Calledwhenfullscreencontentisdismissed.//Makesuretosetyourreferencetonullsoyoudon't//showitasecondtime.MyActivity.this.interstitialAd=null;Log.d("TAG","The ad was dismissed.");}@OverridepublicvoidonAdFailedToShowFullScreenContent(AdErroradError){//Calledwhenfullscreencontentfailedtoshow.//Makesuretosetyourreferencetonullsoyoudon't//showitasecondtime.MyActivity.this.interstitialAd=null;Log.d("TAG","The ad failed to show.");}@OverridepublicvoidonAdShowedFullScreenContent(){//Calledwhenfullscreencontentisshown.Log.d("TAG","The ad was shown.");}});}@OverridepublicvoidonAdFailedToLoad(@NonNullLoadAdErrorloadAdError){//HandletheerrorLog.i(TAG,loadAdError.getMessage());interstitialAd=null;adIsLoading=false;Stringerror=String.format(java.util.Locale.US,"domain: %s, code: %d, message: %s",loadAdError.getDomain(),loadAdError.getCode(),loadAdError.getMessage());Toast.makeText(MyActivity.this,"onAdFailedToLoad() with error: "+error,Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();}});}privatevoidcreateTimer(finallongmilliseconds){//Createthegametimer,whichcountsdowntotheendofthelevel//andshowsthe"retry"button.if(countDownTimer!=null){countDownTimer.cancel();}finalTextViewtextView=findViewById(R.id.timer);countDownTimer=newCountDownTimer(milliseconds,50){@OverridepublicvoidonTick(longmillisUnitFinished){timerMilliseconds=millisUnitFinished;textView.setText("seconds remaining: "+((millisUnitFinished/1000)+1));}@OverridepublicvoidonFinish(){gameOver=true;textView.setText("done!");retryButton.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);}};countDownTimer.start();}@OverridepublicvoidonResume(){//Startorresumethegame.super.onResume();resumeGame();}@OverridepublicvoidonPause(){super.onPause();pauseGame();}@OverridepublicbooleanonCreateOptionsMenu(Menumenu){getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.action_menu,menu);returntrue;}@OverridepublicbooleanonOptionsItemSelected(MenuItemitem){ViewmenuItemView=findViewById(item.getItemId());PopupMenupopup=newPopupMenu(this,menuItemView);popup.getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.popup_menu,popup.getMenu());popup.show();popup.getMenu().findItem(R.id.privacy_settings).setVisible(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.isPrivacyOptionsRequired());popup.setOnMenuItemClickListener(popupMenuItem-> {if(popupMenuItem.getItemId()==R.id.privacy_settings){pauseGame();//Handlechangestouserconsent.googleMobileAdsConsentManager.showPrivacyOptionsForm(this,formError-> {if(formError!=null){Toast.makeText(this,formError.getMessage(),Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();}resumeGame();});returntrue;}elseif(popupMenuItem.getItemId()==R.id.ad_inspector){MobileAds.openAdInspector(this,error-> {//Errorwillbenon-nullifadinspectorclosedduetoanerror.if(error!=null){Toast.makeText(this,error.getMessage(),Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();}});returntrue;}returnfalse;});returnsuper.onOptionsItemSelected(item);}privatevoidshowInterstitial(){//Showtheadifit's ready. Otherwise restart the game.if(interstitialAd!=null){interstitialAd.show(this);}else{startGame();if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.canRequestAds()){loadAd();}}}privatevoidstartGame(){//Hidethebutton,andkickoffthetimer.retryButton.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);createTimer(GAME_LENGTH_MILLISECONDS);gamePaused=false;gameOver=false;}privatevoidresumeGame(){if(gameOver||!gamePaused){return;}//Createanewtimerforthecorrectlength.gamePaused=false;createTimer(timerMilliseconds);}privatevoidpauseGame(){if(gameOver||gamePaused){return;}countDownTimer.cancel();gamePaused=true;}privatevoidinitializeMobileAdsSdk(){if(isMobileAdsInitializeCalled.getAndSet(true)){return;}//Setyourtestdevices.MobileAds.setRequestConfiguration(newRequestConfiguration.Builder().setTestDeviceIds(Arrays.asList(TEST_DEVICE_HASHED_ID)).build());newThread(()-> {//InitializetheGoogleMobileAdsSDKonabackgroundthread.MobileAds.initialize(this,initializationStatus-> {});//Loadanadonthemainthread.runOnUiThread(()-> loadAd());}).start();}}
MainActivity.kt
packagecom.google.android.gms.example.interstitialexampleimportandroid.os.Bundleimportandroid.os.CountDownTimerimportandroid.util.Logimportandroid.view.Menuimportandroid.view.MenuItemimportandroid.view.Viewimportandroid.widget.PopupMenuimportandroid.widget.Toastimportandroidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivityimportcom.google.android.gms.ads.*importcom.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAdimportcom.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAdLoadCallbackimportcom.google.android.gms.example.interstitialexample.databinding.ActivityMainBindingimportjava.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBooleanimportkotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScopeimportkotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchersimportkotlinx.coroutines.launchclassMainActivity:AppCompatActivity(){privatevalisMobileAdsInitializeCalled=AtomicBoolean(false)privatelateinitvarbinding:ActivityMainBindingprivatelateinitvargoogleMobileAdsConsentManager:GoogleMobileAdsConsentManagerprivatevarinterstitialAd:InterstitialAd?=nullprivatevarcountdownTimer:CountDownTimer?=nullprivatevargamePaused=falseprivatevargameOver=falseprivatevaradIsLoading:Boolean=falseprivatevartimerMilliseconds=0LoverridefunonCreate(savedInstanceState:Bundle?){super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)binding=ActivityMainBinding.inflate(layoutInflater)valview=binding.rootsetContentView(view)//LogtheMobileAdsSDKversion.Log.d(TAG,"Google Mobile Ads SDK Version: "+MobileAds.getVersion())googleMobileAdsConsentManager=GoogleMobileAdsConsentManager.getInstance(this)googleMobileAdsConsentManager.gatherConsent(this){consentError->
if(consentError!=null){//Consentnotobtainedincurrentsession.Log.w(TAG,"${consentError.errorCode}: ${consentError.message}")}//Kickoffthefirstplayofthe"game".startGame()if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.canRequestAds){initializeMobileAdsSdk()}if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.isPrivacyOptionsRequired){//Regeneratetheoptionsmenutoincludeaprivacysetting.invalidateOptionsMenu()}}//Thissampleattemptstoloadadsusingconsentobtainedintheprevioussession.if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.canRequestAds){initializeMobileAdsSdk()}//Createthe"retry"button,whichtriggersaninterstitialbetweengameplays.binding.retryButton.visibility=View.INVISIBLEbinding.retryButton.setOnClickListener{showInterstitial()}}overridefunonCreateOptionsMenu(menu:Menu?):Boolean{menuInflater.inflate(R.menu.action_menu,menu)returnsuper.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu)}overridefunonOptionsItemSelected(item:MenuItem):Boolean{valmenuItemView=findViewById<View>(item.itemId)valactivity=thisPopupMenu(this,menuItemView).apply{menuInflater.inflate(R.menu.popup_menu,menu)menu.findItem(R.id.privacy_settings).setVisible(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.isPrivacyOptionsRequired)show()setOnMenuItemClickListener{popupMenuItem->
when(popupMenuItem.itemId){R.id.privacy_settings-> {pauseGame()//Handlechangestouserconsent.googleMobileAdsConsentManager.showPrivacyOptionsForm(activity){formError->
if(formError!=null){Toast.makeText(activity,formError.message,Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()}resumeGame()}true}R.id.ad_inspector-> {MobileAds.openAdInspector(activity){error->
//Errorwillbenon-nullifadinspectorclosedduetoanerror.error?.let{Toast.makeText(activity,it.message,Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()}}true}//Handleotherbrancheshere.else-> false}}returnsuper.onOptionsItemSelected(item)}}privatefunloadAd(){//Requestanewadifoneisn't already loaded.if(adIsLoading||interstitialAd!=null){return}adIsLoading=truevaladRequest=AdRequest.Builder().build()InterstitialAd.load(this,AD_UNIT_ID,adRequest,object:InterstitialAdLoadCallback(){overridefunonAdFailedToLoad(adError:LoadAdError){Log.d(TAG,adError.message)interstitialAd=nulladIsLoading=falsevalerror="domain: ${adError.domain}, code: ${adError.code}, "+"message: ${adError.message}"Toast.makeText(this@MainActivity,"onAdFailedToLoad() with error $error",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT,).show()}overridefunonAdLoaded(ad:InterstitialAd){Log.d(TAG,"Ad was loaded.")interstitialAd=adadIsLoading=falseToast.makeText(this@MainActivity,"onAdLoaded()",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()}},)}//Createthegametimer,whichcountsdowntotheendofthelevel//andshowsthe"retry"button.privatefuncreateTimer(milliseconds:Long){countdownTimer?.cancel()countdownTimer=object:CountDownTimer(milliseconds,50){overridefunonTick(millisUntilFinished:Long){timerMilliseconds=millisUntilFinishedbinding.timer.text="seconds remaining: ${ millisUntilFinished / 1000 + 1 }"}overridefunonFinish(){gameOver=truebinding.timer.text="done!"binding.retryButton.visibility=View.VISIBLE}}countdownTimer?.start()}//Showtheadifit's ready. Otherwise restart the game.privatefunshowInterstitial(){if(interstitialAd!=null){interstitialAd?.fullScreenContentCallback=object:FullScreenContentCallback(){overridefunonAdDismissedFullScreenContent(){Log.d(TAG,"Ad was dismissed.")//Don't forget to set the ad reference to null so you//don't show the ad a second time.interstitialAd=null}overridefunonAdFailedToShowFullScreenContent(adError:AdError){Log.d(TAG,"Ad failed to show.")//Don't forget to set the ad reference to null so you//don't show the ad a second time.interstitialAd=null}overridefunonAdShowedFullScreenContent(){Log.d(TAG,"Ad showed fullscreen content.")//Calledwhenadisdismissed.}}interstitialAd?.show(this)}else{startGame()if(googleMobileAdsConsentManager.canRequestAds){loadAd()}}}//Hidethebutton,andkickoffthetimer.privatefunstartGame(){binding.retryButton.visibility=View.INVISIBLEcreateTimer(GAME_LENGTH_MILLISECONDS)gamePaused=falsegameOver=false}privatefunpauseGame(){if(gameOver||gamePaused){return}countdownTimer?.cancel()gamePaused=true}privatefunresumeGame(){if(gameOver||!gamePaused){return}createTimer(timerMilliseconds)gamePaused=true}privatefuninitializeMobileAdsSdk(){if(isMobileAdsInitializeCalled.getAndSet(true)){return}//Setyourtestdevices.MobileAds.setRequestConfiguration(RequestConfiguration.Builder().setTestDeviceIds(listOf(TEST_DEVICE_HASHED_ID)).build())CoroutineScope(Dispatchers.IO).launch{//InitializetheGoogleMobileAdsSDKonabackgroundthread.MobileAds.initialize(this@MainActivity){}runOnUiThread{//Loadanadonthemainthread.loadAd()}}}//Resumethegameifit's in progress.publicoverridefunonResume(){super.onResume()resumeGame()}publicoverridefunonPause(){super.onPause()pauseGame()}companionobject{//ThisisanadunitIDforatestad.ReplacewithyourowninterstitialadunitID.privateconstvalAD_UNIT_ID="ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712"privateconstvalGAME_LENGTH_MILLISECONDS=3000LprivateconstvalTAG="MainActivity"//CheckyourlogcatoutputforthetestdevicehashedIDe.g.//"Use RequestConfiguration.Builder().setTestDeviceIds(Arrays.asList("ABCDEF012345"))//togettestadsonthisdevice" or//"Use new ConsentDebugSettings.Builder().addTestDeviceHashedId("ABCDEF012345") to set this as//adebugdevice".constvalTEST_DEVICE_HASHED_ID="ABCDEF012345"}}
[null,null,["Last updated 2024-11-18 UTC."],[[["Interstitial ads are full-screen ads displayed at natural transition points within an Android app, such as between activities or game levels."],["Before publishing your app, replace the test ad unit ID (`ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712`) with your own ad unit ID to display live ads."],["To avoid overwhelming users and maintain a positive experience, ensure you implement interstitial ads at natural pauses in the app flow and avoid excessive frequency."],["The provided source code offers a comprehensive example of integrating interstitial ads, covering ad loading, display, error handling, and best practices for implementation within an Android activity."],["Remember to implement consent management and allow users to access privacy settings and the ad inspector, as demonstrated in the provided source code."]]],[]]