[📚] initialize method is inconsistent between the documentation and the example

[F170x]

Documentation Feedback

Hello, I was improving the startup performance of our app and noticed that when we test with a very slow connection (128 kbps), the initialize method takes about 10 seconds to respond.

The documentation says:

Initialize the Google Mobile Ads SDK

Before loading ads, have your app initialize the Google Mobile Ads SDK by calling initialize which initializes the SDK and returns a promise once initialization is complete (or after a 30-second timeout). This needs to be done only once, ideally at app launch.

Source: https://docs.page/invertase/react-native-google-mobile-ads#initialize-the-google-mobile-ads-sdk

I have a few questions:

The example only calls the initialize method on Android, does not wait for the promise, and mentions that it's only used for the debug menu:

  constructor() {
    // Android requires SDK initialization before opening the Debug Menu
    Platform.OS === 'android' && MobileAds().initialize().catch(console.error);
  }

Source: https://github.com/invertase/react-native-google-mobile-ads/blob/main/RNGoogleMobileAdsExample/App.tsx#L1119C1-L1122C4

I tested removing it, and everything still seems to work fine, at least test ads are loading correctly.

My question is: Is it required to use the initialize method, or is it safe to remove it? Alternatively, should I still call it but avoid waiting for the promise before loading ads?

Also, the documentation mentions a 30 seconds timeout, but in my case I consistently get a response after 10 seconds. Does this mean the current timeout is actually 10 seconds instead of 30?

Thanks,

[dylancom]

Mentions come directly from the official docs, so see details there: https://developers.google.com/admob/android/quick-start#initialize_the_mobile_ads_sdk

[F170x]

I got it, it says:

Note: If you're using AdMob Mediation, wait until the completion handler is called before loading ads. This ensures that all mediation adapters are initialized.

So, if I'm not using AdMob Mediation, I don't need to wait for the promise to complete before showing ads.

Also, the example seems incorrect since it only calls the initialize method on Android, but Google also mentions this in the iOS SDK here: https://developers.google.com/admob/ios/quick-start#initialize_the_mobile_ads_sdk