Google Display Ads Showing on Apps? How to Find and Exclude App Placements

Last checked 3 October 2026 against Google's documentation. By Muhammed Abdul Kalam. Wasted spend

Quick fix

Google display ads showing on apps are controlled with placement exclusions now, not the old adsenseformobileapps.com placement. Open Content in the Audiences, keywords, and content menu, go to Exclusions, and exclude the specific apps by app ID (mobileapp::1- for iPhone, mobileapp::2- for Android) at campaign or account level.

Check your placement report for app placements and adsenseformobileapps.com.
Decide whether to exclude at campaign, ad group or account level.
Note that the old mobile app content exclusion was replaced by device targeting.

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What this error means

Display campaigns can show in mobile apps as well as websites. Google removed the old shortcuts for blocking all apps, so you now control app exposure with device targeting, app categories and exclusions for individual apps.

Google lists device targeting, app category and individual app placement exclusions as the controls for app placements.

Why it happens

1Display reaches apps unless excluded

Display campaigns can serve in apps. The old content exclusion for mobile apps has been replaced by device targeting, so older exclusions may no longer block apps.

How to tell if this is you: Your placement report lists mobile apps.

2You relied on adsenseformobileapps.com

Google no longer supports using the adsenseformobileapps.com placement for app inventory, though it still appears in automatic placement reports.

How to tell if this is you: You excluded adsenseformobileapps.com and apps still appear.

3App placements cause accidental clicks

Ads placed close to buttons can cause accidental clicks; Google treats those as invalid traffic.

How to tell if this is you: App placements show clicks with near-instant exits.

How to fix it

Open Content.Campaigns then Audiences, keywords, and content then Content
Select Exclusions, then Edit Exclusions, and pick campaign, ad group or account level.
Exclude by app ID: mobileapp::1- plus the iTunes ID for iPhone apps, mobileapp::2- plus the package name for Android apps.
Or use Content suitability under the Tools menu, Excluded placements.

How long it takes

Google doesn't publish a timeline for this.

How to stop it happening again

Review placement reports regularly for new apps.
Use account-level exclusions for apps you never want; they also apply to the Search partner network.
Manage app categories as well as individual apps.

From my desk

There is no standard figure. In an audit I open the placements report, look at app placements and categories, and compare their spend with conversions. Then I exclude categories or placements that use budget without results.

Muhammed Abdul Kalam

When to get help

Display spend keeps leaking to apps after exclusions and you need a structural fix.
You run many display campaigns and need one exclusion strategy across them.

Stuck on this? Send me the details.Tell me what the platform shows and what you've tried so far.

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FAQs

Does excluding adsenseformobileapps.com still block apps?

No. Google no longer supports using that placement for app inventory, though it still appears in automatic placement reports.

How do I exclude an iPhone app?

Enter mobileapp::1- followed by the app's iTunes ID as a placement exclusion.

How do I exclude an Android app?

Enter mobileapp::2- followed by the package name from the Play Store URL, the part after id=.

Where do I add placement exclusions?

In Content under the Audiences, keywords, and content menu, then Exclusions; or in Content suitability under Tools.

Do account-level exclusions cover Search partners?

Yes. Account-level placement exclusions also apply to the Search partner network.