Is Google adsense available for localhost?

Question

Is it possible to run google adsense ads on a local server as a try out for a example application? I want to implement Google adsense ads in my web application which is running on a localost befor implementing in a live website. If possible then please suggest me the way.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Yes it is possible. There is a special parameter, to use Adsense on Localhost without risks.

Today the AdSense code is different. If you want to add the adtest-parameter use data-adtest="on" within an ins block. Here is an example code:

<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- XYZ 336 x 280 -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
 style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
 data-ad-client="ca-pub-XXXXXXXXXXXXX"
 data-adtest="on"
 data-ad-slot="XXXXXXXXXXX"></ins>
<script>
  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

Found this on Google AdManager Help:

It shows a basic tutorial on how to achieve this.

Test Ad Exchange tags without charging advertisers or recording clicks and impressions

Add the google_adtest = on; parameter to your ad tag to specify that this is a test implementation. Make sure you set this parameter to "on" to ensure that clicks and impressions aren't recorded and advertisers aren't charged. The default value is "off".

Answer 2

You can put this as the first line of the code:

google_adtest = "on";

test-adsense-ads-on-your-site

Note that you must put the semicolon (;) at the end of this line.

Once you add this line to the code, for the adsense unit, it will be displayed as a test unit and its impressions won’t be counted.

Very Important Note - Once you are satisfied with the adsense unit, don't forget to remove this line from the code.

Check out this link: http://www.hacktrix.com/2-ways-to-safely-test-google-adsense-ads-on-your-site

Answer 3

I was able to make Adsense ads work on localhost by following the next steps:

1) Add ads.txt file in root of myDomain

https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/7532444?hl=en-GB

The file should be available for GET at myDomain.com/ads.txt

(I am not sure if the ads would work without this step)

2) Edit the hosts system file:

in Linux and macOS you can find it at /etc/hosts

There add a line like this 127.0.0.1 mylocalstuff.myDomain.com

run sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

A browser restart might also be needed.

Without this step you will probably get a 403

3) Use the data-adtest="on" in the ins tag so the impressions are not affected.

Access mylocalstuff.myDomain.com in the browser (or mylocalstuff.myDomain.com<:PORT_NUMBER> if your local server is available at a port number different than 80).

The steps where inspired from sources:

https://medium.com/@jeffersonlicet/testing-ads-on-localhost-300215b415d6

https://stackoverflow.com/a/34389120/1979861

Note: pay also attention to the space for ads (styles). If that is too restricted by some width or height you can get an error and you will see a blanc space.