🔧 Issue with AdMob Ads Not Closing on Slow Internet

[Harsh BHADANI]

👋 Hello Google Mobile Ads SDK Team,

I’m encountering a critical issue related to AdMob ad behavior in my Android app when users are on poor or unstable internet connections.

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🐞 Issue Description:

When the device has slow network speed or intermittent connectivity:

• 🚫 Interstitial, Rewarded, Rewarded Interstitial, and App Open Ads do not respond to the close ("❌") button.

• 👉 Tapping the close button has no effect. After a delay, the only way to dismiss the ad is by pressing the Android Back button (for interstitial-type ads).

• 🔁 App Open Ads show a loading spinner indefinitely and never timeout or fallback, effectively freezing the screen.

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✅ Expected Behavior:

• The ❌ close button should work reliably, regardless of the current ad load state.

• App Open Ads should implement a timeout mechanism and gracefully return to app content if the ad does not load in a reasonable time (e.g., 5–10 seconds).

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📱 Environment:

• SDK Version: 23.3.0

• Android Version: 15 (Motorola Edge 60 Fusion)

• Ad Types Affected: App Open, Interstitial, Rewarded, Rewarded Interstitial

• Reproducible: ✅ Yes — consistently on poor/unstable network

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🧪 Steps to Reproduce:

1. Simulate a poor internet connection (e.g., using throttling or toggling airplane mode).

2. Attempt to load and then close:

   • Interstitial ad

   • Rewarded ad

   • App Open ad

3. 🎯 Observe:

   • Close button (❌) is non-functional

   • App Open Ads hang on loading spinner indefinitely

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🚨 Impact:

• ❌ Poor user experience — users are stuck with unresponsive ads

• 📉 Leads to higher app abandonment

• ⏱️ Wastes user time and reduces trust in the app

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🙏 Request:

Please investigate this issue and advise:

• Are there recommended workarounds (e.g., custom timeout, listener for stuck states)?

• Is there a way to force dismiss the ad after a timeout manually?

• Should we handle such behavior via SDK callbacks or error listeners?

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting the Mobile Ads SDK Support team.

We tested the Google sample project with the latest SDK on a low bandwidth network with throttling enabled in Charles, and observed that ads are closing immediately without any delay. 

I would suggest to upgrade your SDK to the latest version 24.4.0 and try to replicate the issue, If it still occur then reach out again along with updated Charles logs replicating issue.
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Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

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[2025-07-23 14:46:13Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01swUUO:ref" (ADR-00319892)

[Harsh BHADANI]

Thank you for your response and for testing the issue.
We have updated to SDK version 24.5.0 and tested on our side, and the ads are now working fine without any delays.

Appreciate your support.

Best regards,
[Harsh Bhadani]