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Get started with Unity Ads in-app bidding in Google (AdMob and Ad Manager)

Integrate Unity Ads in-app bidding with Google (AdMob and Ad Manager).
Read time 6 minutesLast updated 3 days ago
To get started using Unity in-app bidding with Google mediation, with either AdMob or Ad Manager, complete the following steps to connect Google and Unity Monetization Dashboard:
  1. Complete the prerequisites: Verify SDK compatibility and set up your app in the Monetization dashboard.
  2. Create a new ad unit and set up a bidding placement for your app in the Monetization dashboard.
  3. Configure the Unity Ads network in Google by enabling SDK Bidding and Secure signal sharing.
  4. Map the bidding placements from the Monetization dashboard to the Google dashboard.

Prerequisites

To use Google (AdMob or Ad Manager) as a bidding partner with Unity Ads, complete the following prerequisites:
  1. Include the latest version of the Unity Ads SDK in your build.
  2. Install the Google Mediation SDK with the Unity Ads adapter.
  3. Set Google (AdMob or Ad Manager) as the Mediation Partner for your project in the Monetization dashboard.

Minimum compatible SDK and adapter versions

The recommended best practice is to use the latest Unity Ads SDK for all publishers to ensure optimal performance.
The minimum compatible SDK and adapter versions required to use in-app bidding with Google for all platform developers are the following:
  • Unity Ads SDK version: 4.11.3+
  • Google Mobile Ads SDK versions:
    • iOS: 11.5.0+
    • Android: 23.0.0+
  • Google Unity Ads adapter:
    • iOS: 4.11.3.1+
    • Android: 4.11.3.0+
Note
Both iOS and Android adapters share the same underlying SDK, with minor version differences.

Install the Unity Ads SDK##

Your build must include the Unity Ads SDK in addition to the mediation adapter, because the adapter doesn't contain the network SDK. In most cases your mediation partner installs the SDK for you: the Unity Ads adapter pulls in the network SDK and its dependencies when you add the adapter to your project.
Important
Don't follow the Unity Ads direct-integration setup. The mediation SDK initializes the Unity Ads adapter for you, so calling Unity Ads initialization from your own code risks a duplicate initialization. Install and initialize the Unity Ads SDK yourself only when your mediation partner's adapter documentation tells you to, such as on an open-source adapter path.
For Google mediation (AdMob or Ad Manager), the Unity Ads adapter integrates the Unity Ads SDK and its dependencies for you. Refer to Install the Google Mobile Ads SDK with the Unity Ads adapter.

Install the Google Mobile Ads SDK with the Unity Ads adapter

To use Google as a mediator for in-app bidding with the Unity Ads network, you'll need to download the Google Mobile Ads SDK and integrate the Unity Ads adapter into your app. The method depends on which developer platform you use for your app, and the level of customization and control you want over the integration process.
For more information, refer to the Google preparing mediated networks development guides for AdMob or Ad Manager, per platform:

Set Google Admob/Ad Manager as your mediation partner in the Monetization dashboard

To enable Google mediation in the Monetization dashboard for your project, set Google (AdMob/Ad Manager) as your mediation partner by doing the following in the Monetization dashboard:
For current projects:
  1. Go to your project, then Settings.
  2. Edit the Mediation Partner section and select Google (AdMob/Ad Manager) as your mediation partner.
  3. Select Save.
For new projects:
  1. Create a new project, then enter the required information to complete the setup and access the Monetization dashboard.
  2. Select Enable Ads from the navigation menu.
  3. Select I use mediation as your mediation solution, then Google (AdMob/Ad Manager) as your mediation partner.
  4. Select Next and complete the configurations for your project information, placement set up, and Store ID, then select Add Project.

Create a new ad unit and bidding placement in the Monetization dashboard

The first step to use in-app bidding with Google mediation in the Unity Ads SDK requires you to create a new ad unit and a bidding placement in the Monetization dashboard. You'll use this new bidding placement from the Monetization dashboard to create your mapped bidding placements on the Google (AdMob or Ad Manager) dashboard. Follow the bidding setup steps to create a new ad unit and a bidding placement in the Monetization dashboard.
Note
The Unity Ads network should be set up only for bidding or waterfall, not both simultaneously. If both bidding and waterfall placements are created, bidding placements take precedence over waterfall placements by default for ad fill requests. You can't repurpose waterfall placements for in-app bidding because you need to generate a bidding Placement ID from the Monetization dashboard.
Important
Remember to locate the bidding placement you created and copy the associated bidding placement ID. You'll need this Unity bidding Placement ID to map to the Google bidding placement in the Admob or Ad Manager dashboard.

Configure the Unity Ads network for SDK Bidding in Google

Google SDK Bidding requires setting up the Unity Ads network once per account to enable Secure signal sharing and Placement mapping.
Unity requires both these features to be enabled and will not bid without them.
Note
To ensure Unity returns bids, keep data processing enabled in U.S. states under the Privacy and Messaging settings. Unity complies with state legal regulations, refer to the Unity Privacy documentation for details.
For guidance on setting up SDK bidding with Google, refer to Google's documentation on verifying your SDK bidding setup.
Important
When using Unity Ads as a bidder in Google AdMob or Google Ad Manager mediation, all earnings from SDK bidding are paid out by Google, not Unity. Only earnings from Unity Ads waterfall placements are paid by Unity. As a result, bidding revenue won't appear in the Unity Monetization Dashboard or Finance section. To see your payment details, refer to your Google account.

Map your ad units in the Google dashboard

The next step to use in-app bidding with Google mediation in Unity Ads requires you to connect your Google AdMob or Ad Manager ad units to Unity's Placement ID in the Monetization Dashboard.
For instructions on how to create new ad units in the Google (Admob or Ad Manager) Dashboard refer to Google's Integrate Unity Ads with Mediation documentation. For help mapping them to Unity, refer to Google's Ad unity mapping for SDK Bidding documentation.

Best practices for mapping ad units

When you map your ad units, consider the following:
  • To connect your placements, you must enter a bidding Placement ID from the Monetization dashboard in the bidding Placement ID field in the Google dashboard. Ensure you're entering a bidding Placement ID from Unity, not a waterfall Placement ID, or your setup fails.
  • If Unity receives a request that isn't mapped correctly, Unity fills it as an automatic placement, using the ad format signals that Google provides in the bid request. You receive fill and payment instead of a silent no-bid. Unity reports these requests as 
    Automatic_Interstitial
    , 
    Automatic_Rewarded
    , or 
    Automatic_Banner
    . If you see them in your reports, find and correct the mapping errors in the Google dashboard.
  • Unity doesn't support hybrid auctions that use both bidding and waterfall in the same user session. To run an A/B test, split user sessions into 100% waterfall or 100% bidding, or adopt 100% bidding from the start.