Ad placements should not make visitors mistake an ad for a site control. Review ads near menus, download buttons, video controls, pagination, and forms. Labels such as “Download,” “Next,” or “Start” should lead to the action they promise, not to an advertisement. Avoid layouts where ads overlap controls, shift unexpectedly, or appear so close to buttons that a normal tap can be misdirected.
Google’s ad placement guidance asks publishers to consider user experience and AdSense policies. Its program policies prohibit encouraging users to click ads and describe behavior that interferes with navigation. Read the current text for specific requirements because ad formats and policies may change.
Example: A page has a green “Continue” button followed immediately by an ad with the same color and dimensions. A visitor may not understand which element is the site action. Change spacing and visual treatment so the ad is clearly identified, and confirm that the actual “Continue” control works independently.
Check the page at common mobile widths, where space is limited and accidental taps are more likely. If ads are not yet live, review the planned layout and test after implementation. Do not click your own live ads while testing; use preview or testing tools provided by the ad platform.
Run SiteReadyScore to identify pages for review, then inspect actual ad placement in the browser. A public readiness scan cannot assess every live auction or predict the ad creative users will see. For account notices, use AdSense Policy Center.