Google AdSense to change how it counts impressions: Begin-to-Render

Google notified AdSense publishers that it is switching how it counts impressions for display ads.  Google will switch to a Begin-to-Render methodology that will count an impression only once the ad has loaded and rendered on the user’s device.

What’s changing. Google wrote:

• “Currently, AdSense counts an impression when an ad starts to download to a user’s device.”
• “Beginning on February 17, 2027, we will move to the Begin-to-Render methodology. This means an impression will only be counted once the ad has successfully loaded and has started to render on the user’s device.”

Google will only count the impression when the ad fully loads.

The impact. Google said that when this change goes live, “you may see a change in total impressions.” Google said “this is because impressions that started to download but never actually rendered will no longer be counted (e.g., if a user left the page before the ad began to render).”

More details. Google posted a help document with more details that says “Currently, Ad Manager and AdSense already use or are compliant with begin-to-render for native, app, and video inventory impression counting. The shift to count display ads via BTR unifies our impression counting methodologies.”

Why we care. If you run AdSense ads on your site, expect impressions and maybe earnings to be lower after February 17, 2027. Advertisers may notice more engagement on their ads for less money, I assume.

This is a big change for AdSense display ads and we have several months to prepare for it.