Admob doesn't load ads for iOS 10 iMessage app extension

Question

Instead, just a blank view is appearing.

Here's how I load the ad request:

GADMobileAds.configure(withApplicationID: "ca-app-pub-9213331484438711~8534798836") // actual app id
bannerView.delegate = self
bannerView.rootViewController = self
bannerView.adSize = kGADAdSizeLargeBanner
// unit id taken from guide: https://firebase.google.com/docs/admob/ios/quick-start
// Actual unit id doesn't work either.
bannerView.adUnitID = "ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/2934735716"
let request = GADRequest()
request.testDevices = [kDFPSimulatorID]
bannerView.layoutIfNeeded()
bannerView.load(request)

I've set Allow Arbitrary Loads to YES, but this didn't help. Delegate methods don't even get called. Am I missing something? Has anyone been able to get Admob working in an iMessage extension?

A sample project can be found here.

Gerkman

Ever figure this out? Or did you choose a different ad network... – Terrific

@Terrific nope, still don't know what to do. – Gerkman

Any news on this one? – Jones

Admob banner ads didn't work for me either inside of an iMessage app. Had better luck with using native ads where you have more control over how the ads are displayed. – Veliz

Answer 1

I'm not sure it is possible to have ads in an app extension. Either way, there is a review guideline prohibiting it. From iAds don't work in Action Extension or Share Extension?:

Review criteria 25.3: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#advertising

• 25.3: Apps hosting extensions that include marketing, advertising, or in-app purchases in their extension view will be rejected

Weksler

Is this criteria about apps hosting extensions, not extensions themselves? Otherwise, what's the point of creating extensions if you are unable to monetize them. – Gerkman

@AndreyGordeev Its about the actual extensions it sounds like, "in their extension view will be rejected". For example, having an application that displays ads is ok, but having the applications embedded today extension/notification center widget display ads is not. – Weksler

@AndreyGordeev The point is good user experience. Find other ways to monetize. – Doubleganger

@LeoNatan You are both referring to the old guideline. Please check out your link, it doesn't have such criteria. The correct link would be: developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/2016-06-13/… which is an archive link. – Gerkman

It should be noted that this is about Apple Extensions, not iMessage Apps which have their own set of standards laid out by Apple. (Haven't seen any rulings on ads but they DO allow for in-app purchases (unlike stand-alone extensions) – Deboer

Answer 2

While this is not an answer to the question asked, I want to point out that review criteria 25.3 wasn't written with iMessage apps in mind. From iMessage app FAQ.

Can my iMessage app or sticker pack have in-app purchases?

You may implement in-app purchases for your iMessage app or iOS apps with an iMessage extension.

This explicitly allows in-app purchases (which are forbidden by 25.3) although it does not say anything about advertising. Once AdMob or another ad library is working with an iMessage extension I believe it would be worth a try to submit the app.

Apoplectic

Has anyone been able to add ads with admob or any other network thus far? It's been a while since this thread was updated – Jones

Answer 3

From the AdMob team as of Aug 7, 2017:

Thanks for reaching out to us. Our SDK does not support Messages extension. You can keep an eye out for our release notes or monitor our blogs if this ever changes.

Regards, Deepika Uragayala Mobile Ads SDK Team

Triad