Open workspace

Implementation guide

Auto ads

Auto ads

You paste a single code and Google decides on its own where to show ads, within the limits you set in the AdSense dashboard.

  • AdSense
  • mobile and desktop
Learn the formatCheck my site
Desktop
Mobile

Understand it in 1 minute

What Auto ads are

Auto ads are like hiring a decorator for your house. You hand over the key, they look at each room and decide where a picture would look good. In AdSense it works like this: you paste a single code on all pages of the site, and Google analyzes each page and places ads in the spots where they are most likely to work well.

To decide, Google understands the structure of the page, looks at the layout, sees how much content there is and notices whether there are already Google ads there. If you change the site or create new pages, it notices, analyzes again and repositions the ads. The formats come in three families. Intent-based formats, which are ad intents. Overlay formats, which sit on top of the content: anchor ads, pinned to the top or bottom of the screen; vignette ads, full-screen between one page and another, which the person can skip; and side rail ads, on the sides of wide screens. And in-page formats, which go in the middle of the page: banner ads and Multiplex ads.

You stay in control. In the dashboard there are two controls for in-page ads: Maximum number of ads on a page and Minimum distance between ads on a page. Under Excluded areas you mark parts of the page where an in-page ad should not go. Under Excluded pages you stop specific pages of the site from showing auto ads.

Google created Auto ads for people who want to show ads without choosing each position by hand. They adjust on their own to all screen sizes. They are worth it if you have many pages, little time, or want to discover new spaces. But AdSense policies still apply, so check the preview before you apply.

Step by step

How to implement

  1. Paste the AdSense codeCopy the AdSense code from your account and paste it between the head tags of all pages of the site.
  2. Open the site settingsIn AdSense, click Ads. In the sites table, click Edit next to your site. A preview opens with the settings.
  3. Turn on Auto adsUnder Ad settings, turn on Auto ads.
  4. Choose formats and limitsIf you want, adjust Intent-based formats, Overlay formats and In-page formats, such as the maximum number of ads and the minimum distance between them.
  5. Mark what stays outUnder Excluded areas, mark the parts of the page that should not get in-page ads. Under Excluded pages, choose the pages of the site that should not show auto ads.
  6. ApplyClick Apply to site and choose Apply now and Save, or Run experiment first. Changes can take up to an hour.

Implemented example

The code and how it looks on screen

This code goes between the head tags, on all pages of the site. The rest is configured in the AdSense dashboard.
<!-- Código do AdSense: vai entre <head> e </head>, em todas as páginas -->
<script async
     src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-0000000000000000"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
On desktopBanners appear in the middle of the content and, if you allow it, side rail ads on the sides and full-screen vignettes between pages. Anchors and vignettes on screens wider than 1000 pixels can be turned off.
On mobileBanners show up in the middle of the text, anchor ads stay stuck to the top or bottom of the screen and can be closed easily by the visitor, and full-screen vignettes show between one page and another.

What Google recommends

Do and don't

Allowed

  • Limit the maximum number of in-page ads per page and the minimum distance between them, using the dashboard sliders.
  • Exclude areas of the page, which only applies to in-page ads, and stop specific pages from showing auto ads.
  • Choose the position of anchor ads (top or bottom, top only, bottom only) and of side rails (left and right, left only, right only).
  • Set the frequency of vignettes and turn off anchors and vignettes on screens wider than 1000 pixels, such as computers.
  • Use it together with the ad units you already have. Google detects these ads, and you can turn on Allow Google to optimize existing ads.
  • Test before applying, with the Run experiment first option.

Not allowed

  • Showing ads on pages without content.
  • Having pop-ups or pop-unders on the site that get in the way of browsing.
  • Ask for clicks or offer any reward for clicks, even with the ads placed by Google.
  • Clicking your own ads, for any reason.
  • Placing AdSense code in pop-ups, emails or software.

Tips

To do it right

Watch out

Common errors

Code on only a few pages

Auto ads use the AdSense code pasted on the pages. Google advises pasting this code on all pages of the site, between the head tags.

Create an ad unit for auto ads

For auto ads, you only need the AdSense code. You do not need to create ad units for them.

Anchor in the excluded area

Excluding an area only blocks in-page ads. Overlay formats, such as the anchor ad, can still appear.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Auto ads together with units I placed by hand?

Yes. Google detects the Google ads that already exist on the page and takes that into account when choosing new positions.

How many ads will appear?

It depends on the layout and content of the page and on the sliders Maximum number of ads on a page and Minimum distance between ads on a page.

How do I remove ads from a page?

In the site's ad settings, use Excluded pages to stop specific pages from showing auto ads. Then click Apply to site.

How long does a change take to take effect?

The new settings can take up to an hour to be applied.

Library

Official Google source

Everything on this page follows Google's official documentation. Read it straight from the source:

Does your site use this format the right way?

The audit reads the site as a visitor would, without clicking anything, and shows what to fix.

Run an audit