Bug: Admob+Unity-adapter+subscription -> crash of GatewayException

[Liran Barsisa]

I use Admob with mediation and various ad networks as sources for it.
One of them is Unity.
I've noticed recently that only on the release version of various of my apps, when I choose to purchase subscription, the app crashes with logs related to Admob's Unity adapter.

I've noticed this issue via Crashlytics, here, here and here, meaning on these apps:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.vocalearn
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.backup_plus
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.get_my_phone_number

To reproduce, install one of these apps (I tested recently on VocaLearn) just purchase subscription. You don't even need to show any ad before. I can add your email to the test users, so that subscription would be for free. I don't know if this will occur on promo codes, and I don't know if it always occur, but it's quite often at least for me.
If it doesn't occur, cancel the subscription, uninstall the app, and when the subscription ends, start the steps again.

I've attached here a video of how to reproduce on VocaLearn app.

The relevant dependencies are:
    implementation("com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:24.7.0")
    implementation("com.unity3d.ads:unity-ads:4.16.3")
    implementation("com.google.ads.mediation:unity:4.16.3.0")
    implementation("com.android.billingclient:billing-ktx:8.1.0")

The exception is:

 GatewayException(message=unknown error, throwable=java.lang.IllegalStateException: unknown error, reason=gateway_universal, reasonDebug=unknown error)
  at com.unity3d.ads.core.domain.AndroidHandleGatewayUniversalResponse.invoke(AndroidHandleGatewayUniversalResponse.kt:18)
  at com.unity3d.ads.gatewayclient.CommonGatewayClient.executeWithRetry(CommonGatewayClient.kt:81)
  at com.unity3d.ads.gatewayclient.CommonGatewayClient.access$executeWithRetry(CommonGatewayClient.kt:44)
  at com.unity3d.ads.gatewayclient.CommonGatewayClient$executeWithRetry$1.invokeSuspend(CommonGatewayClient.kt)
  at kotlin.coroutines.jvm.internal.BaseContinuationImpl.resumeWith(ContinuationImpl.kt:34)
  at kotlinx.coroutines.DispatchedTask.run(DispatchedTask.kt:100)
  at kotlinx.coroutines.scheduling.CoroutineScheduler.runSafely(CoroutineScheduler.kt:586)
  at kotlinx.coroutines.scheduling.CoroutineScheduler$Worker.executeTask(CoroutineScheduler.kt:829)
  at kotlinx.coroutines.scheduling.CoroutineScheduler$Worker.runWorker(CoroutineScheduler.kt:717)
  at kotlinx.coroutines.scheduling.CoroutineScheduler$Worker.run(CoroutineScheduler.kt:704)
  Suppressed: kotlinx.coroutines.internal.DiagnosticCoroutineContextException: [s1{Cancelling}@70c2c62, Dispatchers.Default]

[Liran Barsisa]

As this is related to Unity and Google IAP, I've reported to them too. Here's on the issue tracker:

https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/460166664

Hopefully one will solve this. To me it seems like some Proguard issue of one of the dependencies could solve this, but still shouldn't occur...

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Mobile Ads SDK support team.

As per the logs, it seems like the issue is not related to Mobile Ads SDK. So, we recommend contacting the appropriate team to ensure this issue is resolved.

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

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[2025-11-12 23:57:33Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01vTKlH:ref" (ADR-00339177)

[Liran Barsisa]

Who's the "appropriate team" and how can I contact them? 

Also, why do you think it's not related to Admob SDK with Unity ?
Isn't Admob responsible of the adapter of Unity , as it's officially supported on the list here:
https://developers.google.com/admob/android/choose-networks
https://github.com/googleads/googleads-mobile-android-mediation

I now tested your claim, and removing the unity dependency doesn't cause the issue, so it's incorrect to say it's not related to Admob with Unity.

This is what I removed:

    implementation("com.unity3d.ads:unity-ads:4.16.3")
    implementation("com.google.ads.mediation:unity:4.16.3.0")

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

 

Thank you for getting back to us.

I understand your concern but please note that our Mobile Ads SDK Support team is not able to test or debug apps distributed through TestFlight or production builds.

I have tested Google Sample Project with the provided dependencies but not able to replicate the reported issue. Could you confirm whether the mentioned issue is reproducible in our sample project after adding the relevant code? If so, please share the following details via reply to author option? for further investigation:

• sample project that replicates the issue

• Steps to reproduce the issue 

• Affected device information if its happening on specific devices

If the file(s) you are looking to share are less than 25mb in total you can attach them to this case on your next reply. If you are having trouble attaching your file to this case or if your file(s) are larger than 25mb, you can share your files with me by performing the following steps:

1. Navigate to

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkAiXMeYP-fw1W3Z-tT9uwmATEKO5X6S-th0gR2ezdKaaqfg/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.400550049=Mobile+Ads+SDK&entry.460850823=500Ht00001vTKlHIAW&entry.80707362=00339177

2. Fill out all fields, and attach your file(s).

3. Please reply back to this thread when you have uploaded your file(s). Please do not share this link.

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

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[2025-11-13 07:10:53Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01vTKlH:ref" (ADR-00339177)

[Liran Barsisa]

I've already provided the information of each of these, and also attached videos, bug reports and logs if you just visit the link on the issue tracker:

https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/460166664

I will answer again:

You can't run on your sample project, because it has to have these conditions:
1. Need to be on the Play Store, to allow in-app-purchases

2. Need to have subscription option

3. Need to have Admob with mediation and Unity adapter and an account there, mapped to various ads.

4. Need to be signed as release.

• sample project that replicates the issue
  

• Any of these, as it requires a published app on the Play Store that is signed as a release version:

• 
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.vocalearn
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.backup_plus
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.get_my_phone_number

• Steps to reproduce the issue
  After installation, purchase a subscription. Doesn't matter which.
  
  

• Affected device information if its happening on specific devices

It occurs on various devices. I already showed a video of this and links on Crashlytics.
What I have though is Pixel 6 with Android 16.

I'm not sure what you want me to send on the link, so I've sent you the APK file of the VocaLearn app.

[Liran Barsisa]

Seems this was fixed on "Unity Ads SDK 4.16.4" according to Unity

[johnmollar]

  Sounds like a release-only (R8/ProGuard/minify) Unity Ads mediation + Billing conflict—try updating Unity Ads + the AdMob Unity adapter to the latest, then add the Unity Ads ProGuard keep rules / test with minify off to confirm.  

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Liran,

After reviewing the crash logs and the issue description, this doesn't seem to be a bug in the Google Mobile Ads SDK.

The crash is caused by R8/ProGuard code stripping in the release build configuration. The logs indicate that internal classes required by both the Google UMP SDK and Unity Ads SDK are being removed or obfuscated during the compilation process, which explains why the app functions correctly in Debug mode but crashes in Release.

• UMP SDK crash: The error java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError rooted in com.google.android.gms.internal.consent_sdk.zzdt confirms that the SDK cannot initialize because its internal consent classes have been stripped.

• Unity Ads crash: The GatewayException and IllegalStateException indicate that the Unity SDK is failing to access internal coroutine classes.

Your build is likely stripping the SDK classes due to R8 Full Mode, aggressive warning suppression, or a Unity export misconfiguration, could you confirm this also provide an example project?

You can also try to manually add the following keep rules to effectively 'whitelists' the SDK classes, forcing the compiler to respect them regardless of the aggressive settings. For example:

-keep class com.google.android.gms.ads.** { *; }

-keep class com.google.ads.mediation.** { *; }

However, please note that the broad rule can potentially increase the size of their app.

If the file(s) you are looking to share are less than 25mb in total you can attach them to this case on your next reply. If you are having trouble attaching your file to this case or if your file(s) are larger than 25mb, you can share your files with me by performing the following steps:

1. Navigate to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkAiXMeYP-fw1W3Z-tT9uwmATEKO5X6S-th0gR2ezdKaaqfg/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.400550049=Mobile+Ads+SDK&entry.460850823=500Ht00001vTKlHIAW&entry.80707362=00339177

2. Fill out all fields, and attach your file(s).

3. Please reply back on this thread when you have uploaded your file(s). Please do not share this link.

Thanks,

 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

Feedback
How was our support today?

               

[2025-12-19 11:29:25Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01vTKlH:ref" (ADR-00339177)

[Liran Barsisa]

Guys I already wrote above that it seems to be fixed. Why do you write about it?

Also, how could I even send you anything, if I already explained that I got it from Crashlytics... What do you expect me to send you...