VAST Error 902: General InteractiveCreativeFile error
The modern interactive component (InteractiveCreativeFile, typically SIMID) hit a general failure — VPAID's successor reporting its own catch-all.
VAST 4.1 moved interactivity into <InteractiveCreativeFile> (usually SIMID), keeping the video and its interactive layer separate. Error 902 is that component's general failure code, for problems beyond the more specific 409 (not executed).
Unlike a VPAID failure, the underlying video can typically still play — the architecture was designed so a broken interactive layer doesn't take the impression down with it.
Why error 902 happens
SIMID unit errors after start
The interactive layer initialized but failed mid-session — script errors, broken postMessage transport, or resource loss.
Player's SIMID implementation gaps
SIMID support is younger and less uniform than basic playback; partial implementations fail units that use newer protocol features.
How to fix VAST error 902
- 1
Test the SIMID unit against a reference implementation
Validate the interactive file in a known-good SIMID player to separate unit bugs from player gaps.
- 2
Keep the video self-sufficient
Design the creative so full value is delivered by the video alone; treat interactivity as enhancement.
Seeing error 902 on a live tag?
Paste the tag URL or XML — the validator resolves the full wrapper chain, validates the schema, downloads every media file, and shows exactly which stage fails.
Validate your VAST tagVAST error 902 — frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 902 and 409?+
409 specifically means the interactive unit was not executed (never ran). 902 is the general error for the interactive file — including failures after it started.