Monitor ad buffering events
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This guide explains how to take action based on ad buffering state.
Using buffer events in your app
You can use the following delegate methods on IMAAdsManagerDelegate to add an
activity indicator to your app when ads pause to buffer:
- (void)adsManagerAdDidStartBuffering(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager: Called
when an ad that already started playing has stopped to buffer.- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager adDidBufferToMediaTime:(NSTimeInterval)mediaTime:
Called as an ad buffers. This method is called repeatedly as long as an ad is
buffering.- (void)adsManagerAdPlaybackReady:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager: Called when
the current ad is sufficiently buffered such that ad playback is not likely to
outrun the buffer.
Example
All additions are based on the
IMA SDK Advanced Sample
(for both iOS and tvOS):
@interface VideoViewController () <IMAAdsManagerDelegate,...>
...
@end
@implementation VideoViewController
...
- (void)adsManagerAdDidStartBuffering:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {
// Show your activity indicator above the video player - ad playback has
// stopped to buffer.
}
- (void)adsManagerAdPlaybackReady:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {
// Hide your activity indicator - as playback resumes.
}
FAQ
Can I show an activity indicator before my ad starts playing?
Yes, but we recommend relying on different delegate methods for that
use case. You can show the activity indicator when you call [adsManager start],
and hide the activity indicator when you catch kIMAAdEvent_STARTED in
- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager didReceiveAdEvent:(IMAAdEvent *)event.
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Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThis guide provides instructions on how to leverage ad buffer events to display an activity indicator during ad buffering.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eDevelopers can utilize the \u003ccode\u003eIMAAdsManagerDelegate\u003c/code\u003e methods, such as \u003ccode\u003eadsManagerAdDidStartBuffering\u003c/code\u003e, \u003ccode\u003eadsManager:adDidBufferToMediaTime:\u003c/code\u003e, and \u003ccode\u003eadsManagerAdPlaybackReady\u003c/code\u003e, to manage the activity indicator's visibility based on the ad's buffering state.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe provided code example demonstrates how to integrate these methods into an iOS or tvOS application, using the IMA SDK Advanced Sample as a basis.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWhile displaying an activity indicator before ad playback is possible, it's recommended to use different delegate methods and events like \u003ccode\u003e[adsManager start]\u003c/code\u003e and \u003ccode\u003ekIMAAdEvent_STARTED\u003c/code\u003e for that purpose.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Monitor ad buffering events\n\nThis guide explains how to take action based on ad buffering state.\n\nUsing buffer events in your app\n-------------------------------\n\nYou can use the following delegate methods on `IMAAdsManagerDelegate` to add an\nactivity indicator to your app when ads pause to buffer:\n\n- `- (void)adsManagerAdDidStartBuffering(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager`: Called when an ad that already started playing has stopped to buffer.\n- `- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager adDidBufferToMediaTime:(NSTimeInterval)mediaTime`: Called as an ad buffers. This method is called repeatedly as long as an ad is buffering.\n- `- (void)adsManagerAdPlaybackReady:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager`: Called when the current ad is sufficiently buffered such that ad playback is not likely to outrun the buffer.\n\n### Example\n\nAll additions are based on the\n[IMA SDK Advanced Sample](//github.com/googleads/googleads-ima-ios/tree/master/Objective-C/AdvancedExample)\n(for both iOS and tvOS): \n\n```objective-c\n @interface VideoViewController () \u003cIMAAdsManagerDelegate,...\u003e\n\n ...\n\n @end\n\n @implementation VideoViewController\n\n ...\n\n - (void)adsManagerAdDidStartBuffering:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {\n // Show your activity indicator above the video player - ad playback has\n // stopped to buffer.\n }\n\n - (void)adsManagerAdPlaybackReady:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {\n // Hide your activity indicator - as playback resumes.\n }\n```\n\nFAQ\n---\n\n### Can I show an activity indicator before my ad starts playing?\n\nYes, but we recommend relying on different delegate methods for that\nuse case. You can show the activity indicator when you call `[adsManager start]`,\nand hide the activity indicator when you catch `kIMAAdEvent_STARTED` in\n`- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager didReceiveAdEvent:(IMAAdEvent *)event`."]]