Migrate to Unity Ads Bidding in MAX by January 31, 2025. Unity Ads will switch to bidding-only for mediation on AppLovin MAX starting January 31, 2025. Migrate all projects to bidding by this date to prevent revenue loss. For setup guidance, refer to the Bidding setup section of this document.
To get started using Unity in-app bidding with AppLovin MAX mediation, complete the following steps to connect the AppLovin MAX Dashboard and the Unity Ads Monetization dashboard:
- Create a new ad unit and set up a bidding placement for your app in the Monetization dashboard.
- Create ad units in the AppLovin MAX Dashboard.
- Map bidding placements from the Monetization dashboard to the AppLovin MAX Dashboard.
Prerequisites
To use AppLovin MAX as a bidding partner with Unity Ads, ensure you've completed the following prerequisites to get started:
- Install the latest version of the Unity Ads SDK.
- Install the MAX Mediation SDK with the Unity Ads adapter.
- Set AppLovin MAX 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 MAX for all platform developers are the following:
- Unity Ads SDK version: 4.9.2+
- MAX Unity Ads adapter: 4.9.2.1+
- If using Interstitial and Rewarded ads: 4.6.0.0+
- If using Banner and MREC ads: 4.9.2.1+
Install the Unity Ads SDK
To implement AppLovin MAX mediation, you first need to install and initialize the latest version of the Unity Ads SDK, and set up the code base for your app.
For more information on installing, initializing, and implementing different ad types using the Unity Ads SDK for a specific developer platform, refer to the Unity Ads integration guides for Android developers, iOS developers, and Unity developers.
Install the MAX Mediation SDK with the Unity Ads adapter
To use MAX as a mediator for in-app bidding with the Unity Ads network, you'll need to download the MAX mediation SDK and integrate the Unity Ads adapter into your app. The method to do so 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 AppLovin preparing mediated networks development guides for Android, iOS, or Unity.
Set AppLovin MAX as your mediation partner in the Monetization dashboard
To enable MAX mediation in the Monetization dashboard for your project, set AppLovin MAX as your mediation partner by doing the following in the Monetization dashboard:
For current projects:
- Go to your project, then Settings.
- Edit the Mediation Partner section and select AppLovin MAX as your mediation partner.
- Click Save.
For new projects:
- Create a new project, then enter the required information to complete the setup and access the Monetization dashboard.
- Click Enable Ads from the navigation menu.
- Select I use mediation as your mediation solution, then AppLovin MAX as your mediation partner.
- Click Next and complete the configurations for your project information, placement set up, and Store ID, then click Add Project.
Create a new ad unit and bidding placement in the Monetization dashboard
The first step to use in-app bidding with MAX 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 AppLovin MAX dashboard.
The Unity Ads network can only be set up for bidding or waterfall, not both simultaneously. If both bidding and waterfall placements are created, bidding placements take precedence by default for ad fill requests over waterfall placements. You can't repurpose waterfall placements for in-app bidding because you need to generate a bidding Placement ID from the Monetization dashboard.
Follow the bidding setup steps to create a new ad unit and a bidding placement in the Monetization dashboard.
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 AppLovin bidding placement in the MAX dashboard.
Create new ad units in the AppLovin MAX dashboard
The next step to use in-app bidding with MAX mediation in Unity Ads requires you to set up new ad units that you'll then map to your bidding placement in the Monetization dashboard.
The bidding Placement ID you enter in the AppLovin MAX dashboard must match the bidding Placement ID you created in the Unity Ads Monetization dashboard to ensure a correct connection.
For instructions on how to create new ad units in the AppLovin MAX Dashboard, refer to the Create an Ad Unit article in the AppLovin documentation.
Map bidding placements from the Monetization dashboard to the AppLovin MAX Dashboard
The last step to get started using Unity Ads in-app bidding with AppLovin is to map your bidding placements between the MAX Dashboard and the Monetization dashboard. You will need your bidding Placement ID from the Monetization dashboard to complete this final step.
For instructions on how to map bidding placements from the Monetization dashboard to the MAX dashboard, refer to the Unity Ads Integration Guide in the AppLovin documentation.
You must enter a bidding Placement ID from the Monetization dashboard in the bidding Placement ID field in the MAX dashboard to connect your placements. Ensure you're entering a bidding Placement ID from Unity, not a waterfall Placement ID, or your setup will fail.