October 22, 2024

How to Fix Google Ads Policy Issues: Step-by-Step Guide

Dealing with Google Ads compliance issues can be frustrating, especially when ads get disapproved and you’re unsure how to fix them.

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This guide will help you navigate through Google ad disapprovals, understand the process of Google Ads compliance, and offer solutions to resolve disapproved ads. Whether you're facing 404 errors, unresponsive websites, or prohibited content issues, follow this guide to keep your campaigns compliant and running smoothly.

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Watch the video below for a complete visual walkthrough on resolving disapproved ads in Google Ads:
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Google Ads Policy Issues? Here’s How to Fix Them Quickly

Understanding Google Ads Disapprovals

When your Google ads are disapproved, it means they don’t meet Google ad compliance standards. This could happen for several reasons, such as issues with prohibited content, misleading claims, or technical problems like a 404 error on your landing page. Knowing how to fix disapproved ads in Google Ads is essential to maintain the performance of your campaigns and avoid further penalties from Google.

Common reasons why Google ads get disapproved include:

  • Prohibited content violations
  • URL issues (such as your site being unresponsive or a 404 error)
  • Misleading claims or incorrect information

To avoid having your ads disapproved, always make sure they comply with Google ad compliance standards and are regularly monitored for any policy updates.

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Step 1: Checking Ad Disapproval Notifications

The first step in fixing disapproved ads is to check the notification that Google provides in your account. These notifications appear whenever an ad doesn’t meet compliance standards. Sometimes, Google ads have been disapproved due to your site being unresponsive or returning 404 errors, so it's important to address these issues quickly to avoid further penalties.

To locate the disapproved ads in your account:

Google Ads dashboard showing ad performance metrics including clicks (200), conversions (8), cost per conversion ($388), and total cost ($3.11K) from October 1 to October 15, 2024. Notifications are displayed at the top: '1 ad disapproved' with a 'Fix it' button, and 'Protect your account from unauthorized activity.' A graph outlines daily performance. Recommendations suggest improving responsive search ads. The dashboard also highlights conversion data, auction insights, and demographic ad performance across devices.
Google Ads Dashboard with Disapproved Ad Notification and Performance Metrics
  • Go to your Google Ads account dashboard.
  • Look for any disapproval notifications at the top of the page.
  • Click on the notification to see which ads have been disapproved and the reason why.

From here, you can start working on editing and fixing these ads according to the provided information.

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Handling URL and Destination Issues

If your ad is disapproved due to destination issues, such as a 404 error or unresponsive page, you’ll want to fix this immediately. Ensure your landing page is live, fully functional, and accessible to both users and Google’s crawlers. You can find more detailed steps on how to fix disapproved ads in Google Ads here.

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Step 2: Using the Google Ads Policy Manager

For a complete overview of all disapproved ads in your account, the Google Ads Policy Manager is the most efficient tool. This feature provides a centralized view of all policy violations across your campaigns and ad groups, helping you identify which ads are non-compliant and what actions need to be taken.

Google Ads dashboard showing key campaign metrics, with 'Policy manager' highlighted for managing ad compliance. Metrics like clicks, conversions, and costs are displayed, along with insights on performance, recommendations, and auction participation. The 'Policy manager' helps address ad disapprovals due to issues like unresponsive landing pages or 404 errors.
Google Ads Dashboard Highlighting Policy Manager for Ad Compliance and Disapproval Resolution

To access the Policy Manager:

  • Go to the “Tools” section in Google Ads.
  • Select “Troubleshooting” and click on “Policy Manager.”
  • Review all disapproved ads and the respective policy issues affecting them.

This is an essential tool for maintaining Google Ads compliance, as it helps you track and manage all policy violations across multiple campaigns. For further insight on how to use the Policy Manager effectively, check our Complete Guide to Qualified Lead Generation on Google AdWords 2024.

Google Ads Policy Manager dashboard showing ad compliance issues. One ad is labeled 'Approved (limited)' for a 'Free desktop software' campaign. The flagged ad component is under 'Headlines.' A right sidebar includes quick help options like 'Fix ads with policy violations' and 'Policy issues,' which were viewed on October 8, 2024.
Google Ads Policy Manager Displaying Limited Approval for Ad Campaign

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FAQs

1. Why do my Google Ads get disapproved? Google Ads are disapproved when they don’t comply with Google’s advertising policies. This could include issues like prohibited content, misleading claims, or technical problems with your website such as 404 errors.

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2. How do I fix disapproved ads in Google Ads? Start by checking the disapproval notification in your Google Ads dashboard. From there, you can edit the ad to comply with Google’s policies or address any issues with your landing page, such as fixing 404 errors.

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3. What is the Google Ads Policy Manager? The Google Ads Policy Manager is a tool within Google Ads that helps you track and manage all policy violations across your campaigns. It provides a detailed overview of why ads were disapproved and what actions you can take to fix them.

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4. How can I avoid future Google ad disapprovals? Regularly review Google’s ad compliance standards, avoid prohibited content, and ensure your landing pages are responsive without 404 errors. Staying up to date with Google’s policy changes will also help avoid future disapprovals.

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5. Can I appeal a disapproved Google Ad? Yes, you can appeal disapproved ads if you believe the decision was incorrect or if you’ve made necessary changes to comply with Google’s policies. Use the appeal process in the Google Ads dashboard, but avoid appealing the same ad multiple times as it can flag your account.

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