Google AdMob outage traps users on black screens with no way to close ads
Google is investigating an issue with AdMob interstitial video ads that leaves users stuck on black screens with unresponsive close buttons across both iOS and Android devices.
What’s happening. According to Google’s incident announcement, affected AdMob users can still access the platform but may experience error messages, high latency and unexpected behaviour.
- Interstitial video ads fail to render, displaying a solid black screen instead.
- The ad’s close button becomes unresponsive, preventing users from returning to the app.
- The issue affects both iOS and Android applications.
The catch. Google says there is currently no workaround. Users must force close the affected application to escape the black screen.
Why we care. Beyond disrupting the user experience, the issue could affect ad engagement and monetisation for publishers relying on interstitial video ads.
It also raises concerns about user frustration and app abandonment when ads become impossible to dismiss.
What’s next. Google says it is investigating the reports and will provide more information shortly.
No estimated resolution time has been announced.
The bottom line. An ad format designed to capture attention is instead trapping users inside apps, with force closing the only available escape until Google resolves the issue.
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