Release notes for the Google Mobile Ads SDK for Android

[Eric Leichtenschlag (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi all,

We'll post in this thread every time a new version of the Google Mobile Ads SDK for Android is released. If you wish to receive these updates by e-mail, click the Topic Options arrow at the top of this thread and click E-mail updates to me.

The release notes are also available at https://firebase.google.com/docs/admob/release-notes#android

If you have any questions regarding a particular release or an issue running the SDK, just post a new topic in this forum.

Thanks,

Eric, Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Eric Leichtenschlag (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Version 10.2 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on 2/15/17 

Notes:

• Added support for video assets for Native Advanced content and custom template ads.
• Added the getVideoController(), setVideoOptions(), and getVideoOptions() methods to the PublisherAdView class.
• Added the AdChoicesView class.
• Added the getAdChoicesContent() and setAdChoicesContent() methods to theNativeAdMapper class.
• Added the InitializableMediationRewardedVideoAdAdapter interface for rewarded video mediation adapters that want to opt in to early initialization before an ad request is made.

[Eric Leichtenschlag (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Version 11.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on 6/7/17

Release Notes:

• Added the onAdClicked() and onAdImpression() methods to the AdListener class. These methods are only invoked for native app install and native content ads.
• Removed the getInAppPurchaseListener() and setInAppPurchaseListener() methods from the AdView, InterstitialAd, and NativeExpressAdView classes. Also removed related in-app purchase classes.
• Added the OnVideoMute(), OnVideoPause(), OnVideoPlay() and OnVideoStart() methods to the VideoController.VideoLifecycleCallbacks class.
• Added the ability to enable immersive mode on full-screen ads by adding the setImmersiveMode()method to the PublisherInterstitialAd and RewardedVideoAd classes.
• Added the OnPublisherAdViewLoadedListener interface, PublisherAdViewOptions class, andPublisherAdViewOptions.Builder class for use with AdLoader for native-plus-banner requests.
• Added the optional OnImmersiveModeUpdatedListener interface that mediation adapters can implement to be informed of immersive mode updates.
• Added the getMediationAdapterClassName() method to the RewardedVideoAd class.

[Andrew Brogdon (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Version 11.2.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was release on 8/14/17.

Release notes:

• Added the loadAds() method to the AdLoader class, which allows apps to load multiple unique ads in a single request.
• When you upgrade your app to version 11.2.0 or later of the Google Mobile Ads SDK, your app's build.gradle must also be updated to specify a compileSdkVersion of at least 26 (Android O). This does not change the way your app runs. You will not be required to updatetargetSdkVersion.
• Beginning with version 11.2.0, the Google Mobile Ads SDK is available via Google's Maven repository. For more information, see the Google Play services release notes.

[Andrew Brogdon (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Version 11.4.0 of the Android Google Mogile Ads SDK was released today, 9/19/2017. As with version 11.2.0, this release is available on Google's maven repo, https://maven.google.com.

Release notes:

• Added getMediationAdapterClassName() methods to the NativeAppInstallAd and NativeContentAd classes. The method of the same name in AdLoader will be deprecated.    
  
• Added an onVideoEnd() method to the MediationNativeListener class, hasVideoContent(), setHasVideoContent(), and setMediaView() methods to the NativeAdMapper class, and getAdVolume() and isAdMuted() methods to the NativeMediationAdRequest class to support native video mediation.
  
• Removed the `SearchAdRequest` class.
  

[Andrew Brogdon (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Version 11.6.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released today, 11/7/2017. It's available on Google's maven repo, https://maven.google.com.

Release notes:

• Added the NativeAdViewHolder class and related methods in NativeAppInstallAd and NativeContentAd.
  
• Deprecated AdLoader.getMediationAdapterClassName (publishers should instead use the methods of the same name in NativeAppInstallAd and NativeContentAd).

[Andrew Brogdon (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Version 11.8.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released yesterday, 12/18/2017. It's available on Google's maven repo, https://maven.google.com.

Release notes:

• Miscellaneous bug fixes and stability improvements.

[madd...@gmail.com]

Version 17.2.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released 3/11/2019.

Relase notes:

• Rewarded Video: Added a new set of rewarded APIs (see the rewarded package) that enable you to load multiple rewarded ads concurrently.
• Mediation: Added a new set of mediation adapter APIs that support initialization. Adapters implementing the new API implement the Adapter class.
• Publishers using firebase-analytics along with version 17.2.0 of any of the ads library (e.g., com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:17.2.0) must use com.google.firebase:firebase-analytics:16.3.0.

[Mobile Ads DevRel]

Version 18.0.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released 6/17/2019.

Release notes:

• Migration from Android Support Libraries to Jetpack (AndroidX) Libraries. Refer to the Google Play services release notes for more information.
• To avoid a crash that occurs on first launch after app install from the play store, this release requires publishers to declare additional dependencies in their build.gradle:

com.google.android.gms:play-services-measurement:17.0.0
com.google.android.gms:play-services-measurement-sdk:17.0.0

[Mobile Ads DevRel]

Version 18.0.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released 7/9/2019.

Release notes:

• Official release for App Measurement support.
• App measurement initializes and sends data on app start by default. Added an option to delay app measurement until the Google Mobile Ads SDK is explicitly called.
• Added a new initialization method, MobileAds.initialize(Context, OnInitializationCompleteListener), that notifies you when the Google Mobile Ads SDK and all configured mediation adapters have completed initialization.
• Added MobileAds.getInitializationStatus() to provide initialization status of all ad networks configured for your app.
• Added MobileAds.getRequestConfiguration(). Targeting parameters set on this configuration object are used for all ad requests.
• Native ads: Added the NativeAdOptions.Builder.setMediaAspectRatio() method to request a specific aspect ratio for a native ad's media asset. This option takes precedence over the now deprecated setImageOrientation() method.
• Native ads: For non-video ads, the MediaView’s image scale type can now be set using using MediaView.setImageScaleType().
• Native ads: Added UnifiedNativeAd.getMediaContent(). Publishers who only load images via URLs can now get the ad’s media content, supply an image to it, and call MediaView.setMediaContent() to populate image data through MediaView for non-video ads.
• Native ads Mediation: Adapters can now provide aspect ratio via UnifiedNativeAdMapper.setMediaContentAspectRatio().
• Added dependencies on play-services-measurement and play-services-measurement-sdk. Apps no longer need to add these dependencies explicitly.

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor Prod]

Version 18.1.1 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released 7/23/2019.

Release notes:

• Mediation: Adapters are now initialized when apps call MobileAds.initialize(Context, OnInitializationCompleteListener).
• Mediation: Adapter exceptions whose stack traces include the Google Mobile Ads SDK are now caught and handled by the Google Mobile Ads SDK.

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCajBX:ref

[Mobile Ads DevRel]

Version 18.2.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released 8/29/2019.

• Added APIs for the AppOpenAd format. This feature is currently in private beta. Reach out to your account manager to request access.

[madd...@gmail.com]

Version 19.8.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on 3/15/2021.

Release notes:

• Added a dependency on the User Messaging Platform SDK.
• Added the onAdImpression() callback to FullScreenContentCallback.
• Deprecated the InstreamAd format.
• Mediation Adapters:
  • Deprecated MediationBannerAdapter, MediationInterstitialAdapter, and MediationNativeAdapter. New adapters should implement the Adapter class to load these formats. Note: These deprecated mediation adapter classes won't be removed in version 20.0.0 in order to give mediation adapters time to transition to the new API.
  • Open Bidding adapters can now implement distinct load methods in the Adapter class for RTB-specific formats.

[madd...@gmail.com]

Version 20.0.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on April 5, 2021.

Release notes:

This release is a MAJOR version update with several breaking changes. See the prepare for SDK v20 guide for more information on how to migrate.

• Breaking changes:
  • Removed legacy Interstitial API.
  • Removed legacy RewardedVideoAd API.
  • Removed classes prefixed with Publisher (e.g.: PublisherAdView).
  • Removed CustomRenderedAd.
  • Removed InstreamAd.
  • Removed SearchAdRequest.
  • Removed AdListener.onAdLeftApplication().
  • Removed NativeAppInstallAd, NativeContentAd, and UnifiedNativeAd. There is now one native ad format named NativeAd.
  • RewardedAd is now an abstract class. Use the RewardedAd.load() static method to load a rewarded ad.
• Added ad inspector (Beta).
• Deprecated AdSize.SMART_BANNER in favor of adaptive banner ads.
• Added explicit nullability annotations on all public APIs.

[madd...@gmail.com]

Version 20.1.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on April 29, 2021.

Release notes:

• Adaptive Banner: Added AdSize.getInlineAdaptiveBannerAdSize() to request inline adaptive banner ads with a maximum height.
• Added AdError.toString() for easier logging.

[madd...@gmail.com]

Version 20.2.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on June 8, 2021.

Release notes:

• Added ad inspector (Beta) support for Google Ad Manager publishers.

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Version 20.4.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on September 22, 2021.

Release notes:

• Added the onAdClicked() callback to FullScreenContentCallback.
• Enabled the onAdClicked() callback in the AdListener class for native ad format.

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCajBX:ref

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Version 20.5.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on November 18, 2021.

Release notes:

• Added support for Android 12 devices for apps targeting API 31.
• Added support for app set ID for use cases such as reporting and fraud prevention.

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCajBX:ref

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Version 20.6.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on February 22, 2022.

Release notes:

• Deprecated all the custom event interfaces . Use the Adapter class and MediationAdLoadCallback interface instead.

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCajBX:ref

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Version 21.0.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on May 25, 2022.

Release notes:

This release is a MAJOR version update with several breaking changes. See the Migrate to SDK v21 guide for more information on how to migrate.

• Breaking changes:
  • Google Mobile Ads SDK now requires all apps to be on a minimum Android API level 19 to run.
  • Added @NonNull annotations in every method that previously did not explicitly define nullability.
  • Removed AdRequest.Builder.addNetworkExtras() method. Use AdRequest.Builder.addNetworkExtrasBundle() instead.
  • Removed the following location methods:
    • setLocation() on AdRequest.Builder
    • getLocation() on AdRequest
    • getLocation() on MediationAdConfiguration
• Added manifest flags to optimize initialization and ad loading, see Optimize initialization and ad loading guide for more details.
• Deprecated MobileAds.getVersionString(). Use MobileAds.getVersion() instead.
• Added the getLoadedAdapterResponseInfo() method in ResponseInfo.
• Added the following methods in AdapterResponseInfo:
  • getAdSourceName()
  • getAdSourceId()
  • getAdSourceInstanceName()
  • getAdSourceInstanceId()
• Added support for custom events in ad inspector.

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCajBX:ref

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Version 21.1.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on July 14, 2022.

Release notes:

• Added support for ad monetization within WebView. See Integrate the WebView API for ads for more details.
• Added getResponseExtras() to ResponseInfo which may return extra information about the ad response.

ref:_00D1U1174p._5001UCajBX:ref

[Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers]

Version 21.3.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on October 10, 2022.

Release notes:

• Ad Inspector: Added SDK support for requesting and showing ads requested through Ad Inspector UI.
  • Note: The Ad Inspector UI will roll out this feature at a later date, requiring a minimum SDK version of 21.3.0.
• Native Ads:
  • Added getMediaContent() to MediaView.
• Custom Native Ads:
  • Added getMediaContent() to NativeCustomFormatAd.
  • Deprecated getVideoMediaView(). Create your own MediaView and use NativeCustomFormatAd.getMediaContent() instead.
  • Deprecated getVideoController(). Use NativeCustomFormatAd.getMediaContent().getVideoController() instead.

[Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers]

Version 22.0.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on March 29, 2023.

This release is a MAJOR version update with several breaking changes. See Migrate to SDK v22 for more information on how to migrate.

Release notes:

• Breaking changes:
  • Removed NativeCustomFormatAd.getVideoController() and NativeCustomFormatAd.getVideoMediaView() in favor of NativeCustomFormatAd.getMediaContent().
  • Removed MobileAds.getVersionString() in favor of MobileAds.getVersion().
  • Removed AdRequest.Builder.setAdInfo() in favor of AdRequest.Builder.setAdString().
  • AdManager.Builder.setAdString() now returns an AdRequest.Builder type.
  • Removed MediationRewardedVideoAdAdapter and associated APIs in favor of Adapter.
• Added AdRequest.getRequestAgent().
• Mediation: The return value for Adapter.getVersionInfo() and Adapter.getSDKVersionInfo() changed from type com.google.android.gms.ads.mediation.VersionInfo to com.google.android.gms.ads.VersionInfo. We recommend adapters return the new type since com.google.android.gms.ads.mediation.VersionInfo is deprecated.

[Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers]

Version 22.1.0 of the Android Google Mobile Ads SDK was released on May 18, 2023.

Release notes:

• Ad inspector: Enabled ability to trigger ad requests from the ad inspector UI on devices that don't have Google Play services.