Native ads have many advanced features that allow you to make additional customizations and make the best possible ad experience. This guide shows you how to use the advanced features of native ads.
Prerequisites
- Integrate the Native ad format.
Asset controls
Preferred media aspect ratio controls
Media Aspect Ratio Controls let you specify a preference for the aspect ratio of ad creatives.
Call NativeAdOptions.Builder.setMediaAspectRatio()
with a NativeAdOptions.MediaAspectRatio
value.
When unset, the returned ad can have any media aspect ratio.
When set, you will be able to improve the user experience by specifying the preferred type of aspect ratio.
The following example instructs the SDK to prefer a return image or video with a specific aspect ratio.
NativeAdOptions nativeAdOptions = new NativeAdOptions.Builder()
.setMediaAspectRatio(NativeAdOptions.NATIVE_MEDIA_ASPECT_RATIO_LANDSCAPE)
.build();
AdLoader loader = new AdLoader.Builder(this, '/21775744923/example/native')
.withNativeAdOptions(nativeAdOptions)
.build();
Image download control
Image download control lets you decide if image assets or only URIs are returned by the SDK.
Call NativeAdOptions.Builder.setReturnUrlsForImageAssets()
with a boolean value.
Image download control are disabled by default.
When disabled, the Google Mobile Ads SDK populates both the image and the URI for you.
When enabled, the SDK instead populates just the URI, allowing you to download the actual images at your discretion.
The following example instructs the SDK to return just the URI.
NativeAdOptions nativeAdOptions = new NativeAdOptions.Builder()
.setReturnUrlsForImageAssets(true)
.build();
AdLoader loader = new AdLoader.Builder(this, '/21775744923/example/native')
.withNativeAdOptions(nativeAdOptions)
.forNativeAd(nativeAd -> {
List<Uri> imageUris = new ArrayList<>();
for (Image image : nativeAd.getImages()) {
imageUris.add(image.getUri());
}
})
.build();
AdChoices placements
AdChoices position controls
The AdChoices position controls lets you choose which corner to render the AdChoices icon.
Call NativeAdOptions.Builder.setAdChoicesPlacement()
with a NativeAdOption.AdChoicesPlacement
value.
If unset, the AdChoices icon position is set to the top right.
If set, AdChoices is placed at the custom position as requested.
The following example demonstrates how to set a custom AdChoices image position.
NativeAdOptions nativeAdOptions = new NativeAdOptions.Builder()
.setAdChoicesPlacement(NativeAdOptions.ADCHOICES_BOTTOM_RIGHT)
.build();
AdLoader loader = new AdLoader.Builder(this, '/21775744923/example/native')
.withNativeAdOptions(nativeAdOptions)
.build();
AdChoices custom view
The AdChoices custom view feature lets you position the AdChoices icon in a custom location. This is different from AdChoices position controls, which only allows specification of one of the four corners.
Call NativeAdView.setAdChoicesView()
with a AdChoicesView
value.
The following example demonstrates how to set a custom AdChoices view, with the
AdChoices icon rendered inside the AdChoicesView.
public void onNativeAdLoaded(NativeAd ad) {
NativeAdView nativeAdView = new NativeAdView(getApplicationContext());
AdChoicesView adChoicesView = new AdChoicesView(this);
nativeAdView.setAdChoicesView(adChoicesView);
}
Video controls
Start mute behavior
The start muted behavior lets you disable or enable a video's starting audio.
Call VideoOptions.Builder.setStartMuted()
with a boolean value.
The start muted behavior is enabled by default.
When disabled, your app requests the video should begin with audio.
When enabled, your app requests that the video should begin with audio muted.
The following example shows how to start the video with un-muted audio.
VideoOptions videoOptions = new VideoOptions.Builder()
.setStartMuted(false)
.build();
NativeAdOptions adOptions = new NativeAdOptions.Builder()
.setVideoOptions(videoOptions)
.build();
AdLoader loader = new AdLoader.Builder(this, '/21775744923/example/native')
.withNativeAdOptions(adOptions).build();
Custom playback controls
This lets you request custom video input controls to play, pause, or mute the video.
Call VideoOptions.Builder.setCustomControlsRequested()
with a boolean value.
Custom playback control are disabled by default.
When disabled, your video will show SDK rendered input controls.
If the ad does have video content and custom controls are enabled, you should then display your custom controls along with the ad, as the ad won't show any controls itself. The controls can then call the relevant methods on the
The following example shows how request a video with custom playback controls.
VideoOptions videoOptions = new VideoOptions.Builder()
.setCustomControlsRequested(true)
.build();
NativeAdOptions adOptions = new NativeAdOptions.Builder()
.setVideoOptions(videoOptions)
.build();
AdLoader loader = new AdLoader.Builder(this, '/21775744923/example/native')
.withNativeAdOptions(adOptions).build();
Check if custom controls are enabled
Because it's not known at request time whether the returned ad will allow custom video controls, you must check whether it has custom controls enabled.
Kotlin
NativeAd.OnNativeAdLoadedListener { ad ->
val mediaContent = ad.mediaContent
if (mediaContent != null) {
val videoController = mediaContent.videoController
val canShowCustomControls = videoController.isCustomControlsEnabled
}
}
Java
@Override
public void onNativeAdLoaded(NativeAd nativeAd) {
MediaContent mediaContent = nativeAd.getMediaContent();
if (mediaContent != null) {
VideoController videoController = mediaContent.getVideoController();
boolean canShowCustomControls = videoController.isCustomControlsEnabled();
}
}
Render custom video controls
Render custom video controls using the following best practices:
- Render the custom controls view as a child of the native ad view. This approach ensures that open measurement viewability calculations considers the custom controls as a friendly obstruction.
- Avoid rendering an invisible overlay over the entire media view. Overlays block clicks on the media view, negatively impacting native ads performance. Instead, create a small overlay that is just large enough to fit the controls.
Custom click gestures
Custom click gestures is a native ads feature that enables swipes on ad views to be registered as ad clicks. It is designed to work with apps that use swipe gestures for content navigation. This guide shows how to enable custom click gestures on your native ads.
Listen for swipe gesture events
When a swipe gesture click is recorded, the Google Mobile Ads SDK invokes the
onAdSwipeGestureClicked() method on AdListener, in addition to the existing
onAdClicked() method.
AdLoader adLoader = builder
.withAdListener(
new AdListener() {
// Called when a swipe gesture click is recorded.
@Override
public void onAdSwipeGestureClicked() {
Log.d(TAG, "A swipe gesture click has occurred.")
}
// Called when a swipe gesture click or a tap click is recorded, as
// configured in NativeAdOptions.
@Override
public void onAdClicked() {
Log.d(TAG, "A swipe gesture click or a tap click has occurred.")
}
})
.build();
Mediation
Custom click gestures only work on native ads that Google Mobile Ads SDK renders. Ad sources that require third-party SDKs for rendering, don't respond to the custom click directions setting.