Google AdSense Removes Back Button Trigger For Vignette Ads Over Hijack Penalty

"Starting June 15, 2026, the browser back button will no longer trigger a vignette ad. This change will apply automatically for all publishers who have opted in to "Allow additional triggers for vignette ads" and will take effect across all supported browsers (including Chrome, Edge, and Opera)," Google added."

"Google Search recently introduced a new policy against "back button hijacking" - a practice where websites or scripts interfere with a user's ability to navigate back to their previous page. To ensure our publishers remain compliant with these latest user experience and search quality guidelines, we are removing the trigger that shows a vignette ad when the user navigates backward from the suite of vignette ad triggers."

"Google AdSense will drop it on June 15, 2026, the day the search penalty goes into effect. I am not surprised by this move, since we covered the issue here and I spoke with both the Google Search team and the Google AdSense team about it. Google Search's team wasn't going to back down and the AdSense team made it sound like they will make changes - and they will."

"I am told this will also be applied to Ad Manager as well, more details on that next week. Google even wrote why they are making the change, saying: Google Search recently introduced a new policy against "back button hijacking" - a practice where websites or scripts interfere with a user's ability to navigate back to their previous page."

Google AdSense will remove the browser back button trigger for vignette ads on June 15, 2026, when a new Google Search policy against back button hijacking takes effect. The change applies automatically to publishers who opted in to “Allow additional triggers for vignette ads” and will work across supported browsers including Chrome, Edge, and Opera. Google also indicates the same adjustment will be applied to Google Ad Manager, with more details expected later. The stated reason is to remain compliant with user experience and search quality guidelines by eliminating a trigger that shows a vignette ad when users navigate backward. Publishers may see earnings impacts for those relying on this trigger.

Read at Search Engine Roundtable