According to Google AdMob's latest announcement, made on December 23, 2024, significant changes are coming to the app monetization process. Starting January 2025, developers adding new applications to the AdMob platform must implement app-ads.txt verification before their apps can fully participate in ad serving.
The implementation of app-ads.txt, a text file containing authorized ad network credentials, marks a substantial shift in AdMob's verification protocol. This technical requirement aims to establish clear authorization parameters for ad network accounts permitted to sell advertising space within applications.
The verification process encompasses multiple technical components. According to the official documentation, developers must complete a two-step verification procedure. The initial step requires the creation and formatting of an app-ads.txt file, which must be properly configured on the developer's website. Following this, AdMob's systems perform regular crawls to verify the presence and formatting of this file.
Technical specifications indicate that the verification status appears in multiple locations within the AdMob interface. Publishers can monitor their verification status through the App dashboard and the All apps page, where detailed status information is displayed in the Status details column.
For applications listed exclusively in third-party stores, rather than the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, the current implementation differs. According to AdMob's documentation, these applications are temporarily exempt from the app-ads.txt verification requirement. However, this exception may be subject to future policy updates.
The timeline for implementation follows a phased approach. While January 2025 marks the beginning of mandatory verification for new applications, existing applications will face different requirements. According to AdMob's announcement, the verification requirement will gradually expand to include all existing applications throughout 2025, with publishers receiving advance notification through their AdMob accounts when verification becomes mandatory for their specific applications.
The technical verification process integrates with AdMob's existing app readiness review system. Applications must successfully complete both the app-ads.txt verification and the standard app readiness review before gaining full access to ad serving capabilities. This dual-verification approach adds an additional layer of technical oversight to the app monetization process.
Performance implications for non-compliant applications are significant. According to the announcement, applications failing to implement proper verification face restricted ad serving capabilities, potentially impacting revenue generation. The documentation emphasizes that publishers should prepare for this requirement well in advance of adding new applications to their AdMob accounts.
The verification system also introduces enhanced communication channels. Successfully verified applications receive policy center notifications, even when linked to different AdMob accounts, facilitating improved policy compliance monitoring across application portfolios.
Implementation guidance provided by AdMob outlines specific technical steps. Publishers must navigate to their App settings page and select the "Verify app" option to initiate the verification process. The system then performs a verification check, with results displayed in real-time through the interface.
For applications requiring verification after initial setup, AdMob has implemented multiple notification points. These include alerts in the App dashboard and the All apps page, ensuring publishers remain informed of their applications' verification status and requirements.
Statistical data regarding current implementation rates or the number of affected applications has not been included in the announcement. However, the documentation suggests that the requirement will affect a substantial portion of the AdMob publisher ecosystem throughout 2025.
The technical implementation allows publishers to verify applications through multiple pathways within the AdMob interface. Publishers can initiate verification from the App overview dashboard when encountering a "Requires review" status, or through the All apps page by selecting the "Verify app" option in the Status details column.
This systematic approach to application verification represents a significant technical enhancement to AdMob's publisher verification infrastructure, implementing additional layers of authentication and authorization verification for application monetization.