Google AdSense adds positioning controls for anchor and side rail ads

Google launched enhanced positioning controls for anchor and side rail advertisements on May 20, 2025, addressing publisher requests for greater flexibility in overlay ad format management. The update provides granular control options within the AdSense Auto ads system, marking two days since the announcement as publishers begin implementing the positioning features.

According to Google's AdSense Help documentation, the company developed these controls after receiving feedback requesting "more flexibility and control over the overlay ad formats in Auto ads." The implementation represents a significant expansion of publisher autonomy within the automated advertising ecosystem.

The anchor ad positioning system introduces three distinct placement options. Publishers can now select "Top or bottom" positioning to maintain current functionality, "Top only" placement for upper screen positioning, or "Bottom only" configuration for lower screen advertisement display. According to the documentation, these settings operate independently of existing ad code modifications that disable top-positioned anchor ads, preserving custom publisher implementations.

Side rail advertisement positioning receives similar granular control through three placement configurations. The "Left and right" option maintains dual-side positioning across widescreen displays, while "Left only" and "Right only" selections provide single-side placement control. These side rail advertisements specifically target desktop and widescreen device experiences, according to Google's technical specifications.

The configuration process requires publishers to access their AdSense accounts through a standardized pathway. Publishers must navigate to the Ads section, select "Edit" adjacent to their target site within the site table, and access "Overlay formats" within Auto ads settings. The "Advanced settings" panel expansion reveals the positioning controls, where publishers can configure both anchor and side rail advertisement positions before applying changes site-wide.

Technical implementation reveals sophisticated targeting mechanisms underlying these overlay formats. Anchor advertisements maintain sticky positioning at screen edges with dismissible functionality, serving primarily on mobile devices while extending to desktop platforms. The system incorporates automatic frequency capping per user to maintain optimal user experience while maximizing advertising effectiveness.

Vignette advertisements complement the anchor and side rail formats within the overlay category. These full-screen advertisements appear during page transitions rather than upon page arrival, minimizing user experience disruption. According to Google's specifications, vignettes display when users navigate away from pages or return to them, utilizing hyperlink triggers created by HTML anchor tags with href attributes.

The advanced settings architecture provides additional control layers for experienced publishers. Collapsible anchor advertisement options allow publishers to disable expandable formats if desired. Desktop anchor advertisement serving on screens exceeding 1000 pixels can be controlled through dedicated toggle options, providing platform-specific advertisement management.

Side rail advertisement advanced settings mirror anchor ad controls with position-specific configurations. Publishers can select left-only, right-only, or bilateral side rail positioning through dedicated interface controls. The system recognizes widescreen device specifications, automatically adjusting advertisement display based on viewport dimensions.

Vignette advertisement frequency controls represent another significant addition within the advanced settings framework. Publishers can configure time intervals between vignette advertisement displays during user navigation events. Desktop vignette serving on screens wider than 1000 pixels receives similar toggle control functionality.

The overlay advertisement system integrates with Google's broader Auto ads ecosystem, which includes intent-driven formats and in-page advertisements. Intent-driven formats utilize user action triggers to display search results with integrated advertisements in dismissible dialog boxes. Ad intents automatically place links, anchors, and chips throughout existing content based on contextual relevance.

In-page advertisement formats operate within content areas based on page layout analysis and content volume assessment. Banner advertisements and Multiplex native ad grids complement the overlay formats, creating comprehensive monetization coverage across publisher websites. Related search functionality provides additional user engagement through contextually relevant search term suggestions.

The fine-tuning controls within in-page formats allow publishers to configure advertisement density and spacing requirements. Publishers can adjust advertisement load through slider controls while maintaining optimal user experience standards. The optimize existing ads feature enables Google to coordinate existing ad units with Auto ads placement for maximum performance.

Excluded areas and pages functionality provides publishers with granular content control. Publishers can designate specific page areas or entire pages as advertisement-free zones, maintaining editorial control while maximizing monetization opportunities elsewhere on their sites.

These positioning controls arrive amid broader AdSense format evolution. Google previously introduced side rail advertisements in December 2022 as widescreen-specific overlay formats. Anchor advertisements expanded to desktop displays in July 2021, demonstrating Google's progressive approach to cross-platform advertising integration.

The announcement timing coincides with increasing publisher demands for advertisement placement control amid changing user behavior patterns. Mobile device usage continues dominating web traffic, while desktop experiences require different advertising approaches. The positioning controls address these platform-specific requirements through unified interface management.

Publishers implementing these controls must consider user experience implications alongside revenue optimization. Anchor advertisements at screen edges provide persistent visibility while maintaining dismissible functionality. Side rail placements utilize unused screen space on widescreen displays without interfering with primary content consumption.

The technical architecture supporting these controls demonstrates Google's commitment to publisher autonomy within automated systems. Rather than replacing manual advertisement placement, these tools enhance automated placement with publisher-defined parameters. This hybrid approach balances automation efficiency with editorial control requirements.

Revenue implications for publishers implementing positioning controls depend on site-specific user behavior patterns and content types. Bottom-only anchor placement may reduce visibility compared to flexible positioning but could improve user experience metrics. Single-side rail placement provides cleaner layouts while potentially reducing advertisement exposure.

The marketing community significance extends beyond individual publisher implementations. These controls represent Google's acknowledgment that automated advertising requires publisher input for optimal performance. The trend toward granular control options suggests future AdSense developments will continue prioritizing publisher autonomy.

Advertisement blocking behavior varies significantly across user demographics and device types. The positioning controls enable publishers to experiment with placement strategies that minimize user resistance while maintaining advertising effectiveness. This experimentation capability provides valuable data for broader advertising ecosystem optimization.

The implementation represents a balancing act between user experience preservation and advertising revenue maximization. Publishers can now align advertisement placement with their specific audience preferences and content consumption patterns. This alignment capability addresses long-standing concerns about automated advertising systems overriding editorial judgment.

Technical support for these features includes comprehensive documentation and preview functionality. Publishers can visualize positioning changes before implementation, reducing potential negative user experience impacts. The preview system demonstrates Google's recognition that advertisement placement requires careful consideration rather than automatic implementation.

The positioning controls establish a foundation for future overlay advertisement evolution. As user behavior continues changing across platforms and devices, these granular controls provide publishers with adaptation mechanisms. The system architecture appears designed to accommodate additional positioning options as they become necessary.

For marketing professionals, these controls signal broader industry movement toward publisher-centric automated advertising. The balance between automation efficiency and editorial control represents a sustainable approach to digital advertising ecosystem development. Publishers gain agency within automated systems while maintaining the scale benefits of programmatic advertising.

The May 20 announcement date provides publishers with immediate access to these positioning controls. Implementation requires no technical expertise beyond standard AdSense account management, democratizing access to sophisticated advertisement placement tools. This accessibility ensures rapid adoption across diverse publisher segments.

Timeline

May 20, 2025: Google announces new positioning controls for anchor and side rail ads in AdSense Auto ads

November 2024: Google AdSense launches enhanced mobile Anchor Ads with collapsible feature - Introduction of collapsible anchors for improved mobile viewability

November 2024: Google AdSense unveils enhanced features for 2024 holiday season monetization - Comprehensive holiday season optimization features announced

September 2024: Google AdSense expands language support for Related Search in Auto Ads - French, Spanish, and Japanese language support added

April 2024: Google unveils Ad Intents, a new AdSense ad format - AI-powered contextual advertising format launch

March 2024: Google Ad Manager eases ad implementation with Codeless Ad Units - Simplified anchor and interstitial ad implementation for large publishers

January 2023: Google updates design of the anchor ads in AdSense - Visual appearance modifications to anchor ad format

December 2022: Google AdSense introduces a new ad format in widescreen monitors - Side Rail Ads format introduction for desktop displays

July 2021: Google to show anchor ads on desktop screens - Expansion of anchor ads beyond mobile to widescreen devices