Follow Google Ads changes with dated source evidence, contributor credits and practical context for campaign decisions.
Google Ads
Google has released v2.0 of the Google Ads API Developer Assistant, a major upgrade to the Gemini-powered extension. The update includes agentic conversion troubleshooting with a new /conversions_support_data command that analyses your conversion setup and generates diagnostic reports.
Google Ads
A new interface for viewing location assets has been spotted in Google Ads, suggesting updates to how location extensions are displayed and managed.
Google Ads
Google Ads will update its Gambling and games policy for the United Arab Emirates on March 10, 2026. The update will allow entities authorised by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) to advertise internet gaming and sports wagering services in the UAE.
Google Ads
Google is planning to integrate VEO 3, its latest video generation model, into Google Ads Asset Studio at no additional cost. This will allow advertisers to generate AI-powered video assets directly within their campaign workflow.
Google Ads
Google is introducing the ability to apply for certain certifications directly within your Google Ads account, starting February 2026. The feature covers cryptocurrency exchanges and software wallets, cryptocurrency hardware wallets, cryptocurrency coin trusts, and complex speculative financial products.
Google Ads
Advertisers can now add negative keywords to PMax campaigns directly via Campaigns → Negative keywords. This addresses one of the key control gaps that has frustrated advertisers in Google's PMax implementation.
Google Ads
The new customer acquisition goals, previously in open beta, are now generally available globally for advertisers using "purchase" conversion goals.
Google Ads
Google is streamlining access to crypto and complex speculative financial product advertising by allowing some advertisers to apply for certification directly within their Google Ads accounts. Previously, certification required a separate application process outside the platform - an administrative hurdle that added friction for legitimate advertisers in the space.
Google Ads
Google is fundamentally changing how Lookalike segments work in its advertising platform, moving from strict audience targeting to a more flexible, signal-based approach. The change, first spotted by Dario Zannoni last week, means that Lookalike audiences will increasingly serve as optimisation signals rather than hard-targeting constraints, following the pattern Google has established with other audience types.
Google Ads
Google Ads has updated its support request process to require an "Authorisation" checkbox before submission. The checkbox grants Google Ads specialists access to your account and the ability to make changes for troubleshooting purposes.
Google Ads
The Google Ads API team has scheduled a release highlights event for v23.1 on February 26 at 11:00 AM EST, available on Discord and YouTube. The release is a minor update with additional features that don't require major migration.
Google Ads
After years of opacity around where Performance Max ads actually appear, the "Where Ads Showed" report is beginning to populate with data in some accounts. Thomas Eccel reports seeing placement information for the first time, including the surprising appearance of Ecosia as a Google Search Partner.
Google Ads
Google has begun notifying advertisers of a significant change to how ad scheduling interacts with budget pacing. Starting in March, the system will attempt to spend the full monthly budget regardless of when campaigns are scheduled to run.
Google Ads
Nonprofits using Google Ad Grants can now set shop visits as an account-level goal - a capability that previously returned an error in Ad Grant accounts. For organisations with physical locations, such as museums, community centres, or service locations, this enables optimising campaigns based on actual footfall rather than proxy metrics.
Google Ads
Google has changed how it attributes conversions for app campaigns, now crediting the day of install rather than the day of the ad interaction. The shift should reduce discrepancies between Google Ads data and mobile measurement partner (MMP) reporting, which has long been a source of frustration for app marketers trying to reconcile figures across platforms.
Google Ads
Google has added visual examples that demonstrate how the "Landing Page Images" optimisation works in Performance Max campaigns. When enabled, the feature allows Google to automatically pull images from your landing pages and transform them into ad creatives - effectively making your website a direct input into the PMax creative system.
Google Ads
In her third annual letter, Google VP Vidhya Srinivasan outlined the 2026 roadmap for Ads & Commerce. Google is testing a new shopping ad format in AI Mode that surfaces sponsored retailers alongside organic recommendations.
Google Ads
Google Ads now lets you set the conversion value for new customers by specifying the target ROAS. The system will then automatically propose a value based on your settings.
Google Ads
In the latest episode of the Ads Decoded podcast, Ginny Marvin sits down with Brandon Ervin, Director of Product Management for Search Ads, to discuss campaign consolidation. Ervin clarifies that consolidation is not the end goal: equal or better performance with less granularity is.
Google Ads
Google Ads is testing a new beta feature allowing advertisers to connect external data sources like BigQuery or MySQL directly to their Google tag within conversion action details. The feature aims to enhance conversion metrics and measurement signals.
Google Ads
Starting in March 2026, Lookalike audiences in Demand Gen campaigns will see changes to how they function. Advertisers should review their audience configurations before the update takes effect.
Google Ads
Google Ads' internal "Low activity system bulk changes" tool can now enable keywords, not just pause them. Francesco Cifardi reported seeing paused keywords being automatically reactivated in Change History: the first time he'd observed this behaviour.
Google Ads
Google Ads now displays recommended experiments directly on the Experiments page, tailored to your account setup and performance data. Each recommendation includes a preconfigured setup you can apply immediately or customise.
Google Ads
Google Ads now displays campaign eligibility directly in the Status column of the Products section. This update complements the Product-Level Campaign View introduced in January.
Google Ads
Google Ads has updated its Support interface with a new design currently in beta testing. The refreshed layout aims to streamline how advertisers access help resources.
Google Ads
Google has acknowledged delays in reviewing applications for Google Ads API developer tokens following the release of Explorer Access, the MCP Server, and the Developer Assistant. Additional reviewers have been assigned to clear the backlog.
Google Ads
Google has introduced a security update to address MCC account hijacking attacks that have increased recently. The update introduces Multi-Party Approval, requiring a second administrator to approve sensitive changes like adding/removing users or changing roles within ~20 days.
Google Ads
Google Ads has stopped pre-selecting Performance Max as the default when setting up a new Shopping campaign. You now choose the campaign type without a default applied.
Google Ads
Google Ads will now automatically collect a broader range of event data from websites to improve measurement with less manual setup. Advertisers may notice additional network requests to Google domains when events are transmitted (e.g., /aagrp/prod/model_person_country_code_US_person_region_code).
Google Ads
Google now allows Call Assets to appear inside Vehicle Ads in Search results. Users can call the dealer directly from the ad without clicking through to the website.
