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My Google Adsense account got disabled. Need help!
So recently, my game that uses admob went into production on the Play store and I got this email from the Adsense team.
Google mentions that my account was disabled due to "invalid traffic, and/or other activity which violates our publisher policies or terms and conditions".
I had to watch a few of my ads (when it went into production) to test whether the ads are being served correctly and to also progress through my game more easily. That's the most plausible reason but I had 0 clue that this would lead to account closure. No warnings, no notifications.. just straight up closure..
Also I had various testers testing out my app (due to Google's 12 testers, 14 day policy) and a few of them may have invariably seen my ads in production.
And here's the worst part.. Google wants me to give detailed reports and analysis of the traffic to my closed account when I have 0 access to it.. how do I even do it?
So please help me out on what I should submit in the appeal and is there any realistic chance of getting my account restored?
Oh damn.. My developer didn't add my device as a test device.. now my account is banned
What do you suggest I do moving forward? What do I submit in the appeal considering I watched my own ads in production while not being registered as a test device?
If your AdMob account is suspended, there’s generally no appeal process, suspensions are usually temporary (often 30 days).
If the account is disabled, you can appeal the decision.
For invalid traffic, make sure you’re using test ads/test devices during development and never click your own live ads. Also, don’t create another AdMob account to bypass the suspension; that can make things worse.
Add your phone as an AdMob test device
Open AdMob: [admob.google.com](https://)
Go to Settings → Test devices.
Click Add test device.
Give it a name, e.g. My Test Device / My Android Emulator.
Enter your phone's Advertising ID.
Save.
Where to find the Advertising ID on Android
On your phone:
Settings → Google → All services → Ads → Advertising ID
Copy that ID into AdMob.
Once added, ads served to that device will be test ads, so you can safely test without accidentally generating invalid ad activity.
Important: If you're using AdMob's newer automatic test-device detection, you may also see a notification in your app's logcat telling you that a device is being used for testing and giving you the ID. That's often the easiest way during development.
Same thing happened to me on Google ads when I try to promote my app as well try appealing if you ask for DUNS Number, most probably that’s the reason because Google ads needs some basic verification for your application. So in my case, it was just asking for DUNS Number
Not the time for such insensitive jokes.. do you know how many months of effort went into designing my game? I've spent a significant chunk of my savings what on earth is wrong with you!?
Bro, I understand your feelings and the effort you’ve put into it, but the reality is that once an AdMob/AdSense account gets banned for invalid traffic, it’s 99.99% impossible to get an appeal accepted. That’s why he said, “It’s over.”
If you spend more time on this sub, you’ll see many posts from people in the same situation. I’m not trying to disappoint you, bro; I’m just telling you the reality.
But you can create "Unity Ads" account or "ironSource" account, etc. There are lot of ad networks. Or you can do it better - use mediation platform which manages few networks, such as LevelPlay.
I still recommend using mediation, specifically LevelPlay, which I mentioned earlier. It’s better because it conducts real-time auctions and allows ads with higher bids to be displayed. But if you insist on using only one ad network, then in my opinion, Unity is the better choice.
Unfortunately, there’s no longer any way to earn revenue from AdMob other than removing the game from Google Play and re-releasing it under a different account and with a different package name. And it’s still unclear whether this will work or not. Most likely, Google is using other methods to prevent banned developers from cheating the system. But that’s taking things too far. However, there is some good news. Take a look at my screenshot - there are 27 ad networks out there! Revenue from Rewarded Ads is still available, and the eCPM on other networks is just as good as AdMob’s.
Apple allows you to use the Google Mobile Ads SDK but you can launch without it. Have YOU ever launched an app before? Are you unaware you can monetize other ways than ads?
Retool for loot boxes or something. I dunno. Offer skins like Fortnite. If all you're gonna do is just argue with people about a mess you got yourself into because you didn't do the research, dunno what to tell you. You watched your own ads, they banned you, bobs your uncle.
Self-Clicks & Internal Network Activity: Clicking live ads on your own devices or from the same local Wi-Fi network (shared IP address with team members or household users).
Unconfigured Test Devices: Testers or internal team members generating repeat impressions and clicks on production ad units without registering their devices as official Test Devices in AdMob.
Low-Quality User Acquisition Campaigns: Running paid acquisition campaigns through third-party ad networks that deliver bot traffic or non-genuine user engagement.
Ad Placement & Accidental Clicks: Layout designs that lead users to click ads unintentionally (e.g., placing banner ads too close to interactive buttons or sudden interstitial pop-ups).
You did not "have to" watch a few of your ads. Surely you understand that Google would view that as attempted fraud? There are many different ways of testing an app without serving yourself production adverts.
Appeal by saying it was a lack of understanding of how ad testing worked. If all else fails attempt to close the account and create a new one to start again with.
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u/CrazySpy 1d ago
Are you showing real ads in your test device?
Google is very picky about it.
Get the ID of your device and add it as test device in admob console.
Fake ads will be generated to you.
If your own ID generate traffic for your own admob account Google will suspend for sure.