📰 Google Ads news

Starting August 2026, Google automatically upgrades all TrueView In-stream and In-feed for Consideration campaigns to multi-format Video View Campaigns (VVC) powered by Google AI. The new campaigns include a mix of skippable in-stream, in-feed, and Shorts ads.

Starting August 24, 2026, Google Merchant Center is updating performance reports to improve clarity and align reporting definitions with Google Ads and YouTube. Changes include separating YouTube affiliate results for a more comprehensive view of product impact.

Google Ads has enhanced ad transparency by adding a "How this ad was made" section to My Ad Center. This panel discloses when an ad was created or edited using AI, helping users understand the origin and nature of AI-generated ads.

Microsoft has published a new guide called "Prepare for the Age of AI Shopping" to help advertisers navigate agentic commerce and AI-driven shopping experiences. The playbook covers three key areas, including how to get discovered through AI-ready product feeds in Microsoft Merchant Center.

Google has rolled out updates to its tagging tools to simplify website performance measurement for advertisers. The changes consolidate measurement settings, enabling advertisers to manage both Google Ads and Google Analytics from a single place through integrated tagging.

Google Merchant Center has introduced a new Event section within Promotions, allowing advertisers to create promotions tied to sales events such as discounts or special occasions. Advertisers can also attach event-related images and add dedicated event details during setup.

Google Ads has added two new options for loyalty program members within Customer Retention settings: the ability to bid higher for loyalty members and to show member benefits in eligible countries. These sit alongside the existing option to adjust bids to re-engage lapsed customers.

Google has announced major updates to Local Service Ads (LSAs), including the introduction of pre-badge ads that allow businesses to start receiving leads after passing preliminary checks while still completing onboarding. Google continues to invest in LSAs even as they transition into the Google Ads ecosystem.

Google is shutting down the standalone Local Services Ads dashboard and moving LSA campaigns into the Google Ads interface under a new Performance Max campaign type focused on pay-per-lead objectives. The rollout kicked off in August with US advertisers in verticals such as pet care, home services, wellness, and education.

Google Ads and AI Max are rolling out new experimentation and planning capabilities, including A/B tests, brand and location parameter controls, and enhanced forecasts in Performance Planner. These tools give advertisers more oversight and control over their automated campaigns.

Google Ads has started notifying Performance Max advertisers that it will use generative AI to create missing aspect ratio versions (vertical, square) from existing horizontal videos. Advertisers who don't want this to happen can opt out before September 4, 2026.

Advertisers setting up Performance Max and Shopping campaigns can now upload their business logo directly within Google Ads. If no logo is added, the system will fall back to the logo stored in Google Merchant Center, as it did previously. This update was flagged by Arpan Banerjee.

Google is expanding Search campaign experiments with the ability to test budgets and ROI targets across multiple campaigns in a single A/B test. Building on the one-click experiments introduced for AI Max in August 2025, the new feature — called "Budget or bidding target experiments for Search campaigns" — lets advertisers validate bidding and budget changes at scale before committing to them.

Google is updating Performance Planner with new tools that let advertisers preview the likely impact of campaign changes before pushing them live. Advertisers can now see how adjustments to bidding or budget targets might affect performance, and apply them directly if the projected outcomes align with their goals.

Google AI automatically creates video ads from your existing images and text in Demand Gen campaigns and serves them alongside your own creatives — sometimes without advertisers realising it. If you'd rather not have AI-generated videos running in your campaigns, here's how to disable the feature, with screenshots included.

Google Ads has rolled out a redesigned Asset Optimization panel with an improved interface. The new layout organises assets into three clear categories — Text, Image, and Video — each with its own specific optimization settings. Toggles for individual features make it easier to control how assets are optimised.

Google has updated its Attribution Reports help page to clarify a 7-day upload limit for offline conversions. The attribution engine will only process offline conversions uploaded within the last seven days — anything uploaded after that window will be excluded from attribution modelling.

Google has refreshed the Misleading Ad Design policy help article to include additional examples and clearer guidance for advertisers. This is a documentation update only — it does not change how the policy is enforced.

Google Ads is upgrading TrueView in-stream and in-feed consideration campaigns to Video View Campaigns (VVC), moving toward multi-format ads powered by Google AI. The change is designed to improve performance and reach across placements. Advertisers should note that campaign settings will be affected by the migration.

Google Ads has introduced a new feature that suggests sitelinks advertisers can add to their ad extensions. The feature was confirmed as live on August 21, 2026.

Google Ads can now suggest sitelinks for advertisers to add to their ad extensions. A new prompt in the Google Ads UI surfaces relevant sitelinks that link directly to specific pages on an advertiser's website, making it easier to enrich ads without manually hunting for URLs.

Microsoft Advertising is doubling down on its bidding and measurement capabilities. Advertisers using conversion-based strategies like tCPA and tROAS are finding it easier to hit their targets, while legacy controls like Max CPC are increasingly seen as disruptive to spend efficiency. Microsoft is removing Max CPC as an option for conversion-based bidding strategies.

Microsoft Advertising has begun rolling out AI Max globally to all accounts as an optional add-on for Search campaigns. AI Max combines search term matching, text customisation, and final URL expansion to extend reach beyond existing keywords, generate relevant ad messaging, and route users to the most appropriate landing pages.

Google is emailing advertisers to warn that from January 31, 2027, any product images in Merchant Center below 500x500 pixels will be disapproved and stop serving. This applies to the image_link attribute and potentially secondary image attributes. The recommended minimum image size going forward is 800x800 pixels.

Google is gradually rolling out the ability for some advertisers to apply for certain certifications directly within their Google Ads account, under Admin > Policy > Account, as an alternative to going through the Help Center. The rollout began in August 2026.

Google has introduced a new native_commerce attribute in Google Merchant Center that allows eligible product listings to participate in a "Buy Now" purchase flow directly within Google surfaces like Gemini and AI Mode in Search, without users having to visit an external website. A dedicated help page has now been published for this attribute.

Google has officially described Watch-While Ads, a new YouTube ad format that had been spotted earlier this month. Unlike traditional mid-roll ads, Watch-While Ads play without pausing the video, creating a non-disruptive experience for viewers. The format is supported across Demand Gen and Performance Max campaigns.

Google has released version 25.1 of the Google Ads API. Key additions include comprehensive support for conversion lift and brand lift measurement studies with new metrics and resources, as well as category scoping in BenchmarksService for more granular benchmark analysis.

From August 18, 2026, Google has started automatically enabling conversion-based customer lists for accounts that already use Enhanced Conversions and Customer Match but hadn't manually turned on this feature. Advertisers who didn't want this change needed to have opted out before that date.

Google has updated its documentation for Branded Searches, a conversion type that tracks brand-related searches on Google and YouTube following ad exposure on YouTube or Demand Gen. A notable change: the default conversion window has been shortened from 30 days to 7 days.

Google Ads appears to be rolling out a new Enhanced Matching option for Customer Match in account settings. When enabled, it could help advertisers extend the reach of their first-party audiences using consented publisher signals. The feature was first spotted on August 19, 2026.

Google Ads appears to be rolling out a new Enhanced Matching option for Customer Match under Account settings. When switched on, the setting can broaden audience reach by using connected user lists — matching consented users from publishers with your own first-party data.

Google Ads is enhancing Performance Max video assets with a new generative AI feature that automatically creates versions of your videos in missing aspect ratios. The goal is to improve ad reach and viewing experience by ensuring your video creative is properly formatted for every placement.

Google has tightened its vehicle ads landing page requirements. Dealerships must now show essential information — including dealership name, location, price, VIN, and availability — immediately when the page loads. The previous standard, which allowed this information to be hidden behind a click or interaction, is no longer acceptable.

Google is broadening View-Through Conversion (VTC) Optimization for Demand Gen campaigns, building on the beta launched in 2025. Key changes include limiting VTC optimisation to video assets only, while view-through conversions from image assets will still be reported but won't influence bidding.

A change that took effect on August 17 means that campaigns which have consistently delivered a real CPA below their target will have their tCPA automatically adjusted upward to reflect more "stable" performance. Experts like Martin Roettgerding recommend switching to Maximise Conversions without a tCPA as an alternative to avoid unwanted bid inflation.

Microsoft Advertising has released official documentation for its Conversions API (CAPI). Currently in beta, this server-side solution lets advertisers send conversion and customer interaction data directly from their own systems to Microsoft Advertising, supporting a range of measurement scenarios.

Google Ads has officially documented Branded Searches as a new conversion type, which records search queries made for a brand on Google and YouTube after a user has seen an associated ad. The feature is available for YouTube and Demand Gen campaigns and sits under the Consideration goal.

Google has quietly removed its July 14 announcement about expanding Shopping ads and free listings to 14 new markets. Countries including Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and Serbia have also disappeared from the list of supported countries.

Google is testing blue hyperlinks within ad descriptions in sponsored search results. The format suggests that keyword-rich clickable links may be coming to Search ad descriptions more broadly. The test was first spotted by Sachin Patel and Barry Schwartz.

Google has updated its Demand Gen bidding documentation, reducing the recommended daily budget for Target CPA campaigns from 15x to 10x the target CPA. This lower threshold makes Demand Gen more accessible for advertisers with tighter budgets.

From August 24, Google will update traffic classification in Merchant Center performance reports, with changes applied retroactively to July 1. YouTube affiliate clicks will be separated from organic traffic, and product-level reporting will be extended to Performance Max, Video, App, and Demand Gen campaigns.

Google has updated its Merchant Center documentation confirming that the agency version now supports linking up to 1,000 Merchant Center accounts, significantly increasing its account management capacity.

Starting September 2026, Google will remove manual campaign-level language settings for Search campaigns and the Search network within Performance Max. Ads will instead be matched automatically based on the language of the creative assets themselves.

Google has updated its Merchant Center documentation to confirm that Merchant Center for Agencies can now link up to 1,000 client Merchant Center accounts under a single agency account, giving agencies clearer guidance on account management capacity.

Google Ads is phasing out campaign-level language targeting settings for Search campaigns. Advertisers will need to update their configurations before the change takes effect.

Microsoft Bing is testing large image formats within Search ads, a change that could meaningfully improve click-through rates and boost the visual appeal of ads in search results.

Google is testing a more prominent star rating format in Search ads, displaying the advertiser's score and review count in a dedicated section alongside the ad copy. The format could help users evaluate advertisers faster and may drive higher engagement.

As part of the June–August 2026 update rollout, Smart Bidding Exploration is no longer limited to Search and will now be available across all Performance Max campaigns that don't use a product feed. A separate beta is available for Shopping campaigns. This allows the algorithm to explore incremental conversions beyond the immediate target.

From August 18, 2026, Google will automatically assign a customer type to any conversion-based customer lists that haven't been manually classified. An incorrect label could skew new customer acquisition costs within Smart Bidding.

In August 2026, Google updated the language and readability requirements for YouTube and Discover Feed ads. The changes aim to provide advertisers with clearer guidelines but do not affect the enforcement of existing policies.

Google has announced changes to how view-through conversion (VTC) optimization works in Demand Gen campaigns. Going forward, VTC optimization will only apply to video assets. Image VTCs will still appear in reporting but will no longer be biddable or count in the main conversions column.

Google Ads is alerting advertisers to the requirement to declare EU political ads in their campaigns. Advertisers who fail to do so will have their ads automatically flagged as containing EU political content, limiting their visibility across EU countries.

Google Demand Gen can now run dynamic ads directly from a business data feed, without requiring a Merchant Center account. This expands access to dynamic ad formats for service-based advertisers and B2B brands.

Google has launched a security pilot in the Google Ads API that restricts access to sensitive API methods to pre-approved Google Cloud projects only. The initiative aims to protect manager accounts from potential compromise, and developers can apply to join the pilot.

Starting August 2026, Google is rolling out its Limited Ad Serving policy to all Google Ads products—including Search, YouTube, Gmail, Play Store, and Discover—with a gradual rollout through 2028. Ads from "unqualified" accounts won't be disapproved but may see reduced impression volume.

Starting August 24, 2026, Google will update Merchant Center performance reports to improve clarity and consistency across Google platforms. The update aims to align reporting definitions between Merchant Center, Google Ads, and YouTube for a more unified view of product performance.

Google Ads is eliminating campaign-level language targeting for Search campaigns and Performance Max, with the change rolling out in late September. Google will rely on automated signals for language matching, leaving advertisers with open questions about how to manage multilingual campaigns going forward.

Google has updated its support form to let advertisers select a specific campaign when submitting a support request. The change streamlines the support process by making it easier to pinpoint the issue. The update was discovered by Arpan Banerjee.

Google Ads is extending its Financial Services Verification requirements to 13 additional EEA countries. Applications will open on August 11, 2026, with enforcement beginning September 15, 2026. Advertisers in banking, loans, investments, trading, and insurance sectors will be affected.

Advertisers can now run Performance Max campaigns with a store visit goal, prioritizing high-intent users located near their business across Google Maps, Waze, and Search simultaneously.

Google is migrating Local Services Ads into the Google Ads ecosystem under a Performance Max pay-per-lead format. The transition, which begins in August 2026, brings changes to bidding, reporting, and campaign management.

A partir de septiembre de 2026, Google comenzará la migración automática de las campañas de Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) a AI Max for Search, y ya no se podrán crear nuevas campañas DSA. Se espera que todas las migraciones elegibles concluyan antes del final de septiembre.

Google modifica el comportamiento de las campañas con tCPA y tROAS cuando están limitadas por presupuesto, para que ofrezcan un rendimiento más constante hacia los objetivos fijados. Afecta a campañas de Búsqueda, Shopping, Performance Max, Demand Gen y Viajes.

El 12 de agosto de 2026, el blog oficial de desarrolladores de Google Ads publicó novedades relacionadas con la DFA API y la Reporting API, continuando el ritmo de actualizaciones técnicas del mes.

Los nuevos disclaimers de texto obligatorios en Google Ads se han desplegado a nivel global durante la primera semana de agosto de 2026. Estos textos reemplazan la primera descripción del anuncio en los formatos afectados.

La API de Google Ads dejó de permitir la creación de Smart Campaigns a partir del 3 de agosto de 2026, forzando a los desarrolladores y anunciantes a migrar a otros tipos de campaña.

Desde el 5 de agosto de 2026, Google extendió su política de 'Servicio Limitado de Anuncios' (Limited Ad Serving) desde Search a todas las superficies de Google Ads, con aplicación progresiva hasta 2028. Las marcas de ecommerce deben auditar sus cuentas.

Desde el 17 de agosto, Google ajustará el algoritmo de pujas para que las campañas 'limitadas por presupuesto' rindan de forma más consistente con el objetivo declarado, eliminando la ventaja de campañas que superaban silenciosamente sus metas. Los anunciantes deben revisar y actualizar sus targets antes de esa fecha.

Google publicó el 11 de agosto de 2026 una actualización de redacción en los requisitos de anuncios para YouTube y Discover Feed, con el objetivo de mejorar la claridad del lenguaje. La actualización no implica cambios en la aplicación de las políticas.

Google está lanzando nuevas funciones de transparencia sobre el uso de IA en los anuncios: los usuarios podrán ver cómo fue creado un anuncio a través de una etiqueta informativa. Esta iniciativa busca aumentar la confianza del usuario en los anuncios generados con inteligencia artificial.

Google ha pospuesto la migración automática de campañas Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) a AI Max, que estaba prevista para septiembre de 2026, hasta febrero de 2027. Esto da más tiempo a los anunciantes para gestionar la transición y hacer pruebas.

Desde el 5 de agosto de 2026, la Google Ads API requiere passkeys para generar nuevos tokens OAuth 2.0, eliminando el soporte para contraseñas convencionales y la autenticación de dos factores. Esto afecta a Google Ads Editor, Scripts, BigQuery Data Transfer Service y Data Studio.

A partir del 17 de agosto de 2026, Google Ads cambia cómo funcionan las estrategias de puja Target CPA, Target ROAS y Target CPC en campañas limitadas por presupuesto: el rendimiento se ajustará hacia el objetivo configurado, no al histórico real. Los anunciantes deben revisar y ajustar sus objetivos antes del lanzamiento usando la herramienta Bid Target Adjustment Tool.

Google ha anunciado la migración de las campañas de Travel al nuevo formato de Search campaigns for Travel dentro de Google Ads. La migración está programada para ejecutarse de forma escalonada próximamente.

A partir de agosto de 2026, Google actualiza su política de Limited Ad Serving para cubrir todas las superficies de Google Ads, con implantación gradual hasta 2028. Los anunciantes no verificados o con incumplimientos de política verán sus impresiones restringidas; los anunciantes cualificados no se verán afectados.

Google Ads is rolling out several new AI tools designed to enhance marketing strategies and simplify workflows. These tools will help advertisers uncover insights more quickly, enabling smarter business decisions and streamlined operations. Among the key updates is the introduction of Ask Advisor ,

In August 2026, Google will update the Political Content policy for New Zealand to include details about supported language requirements for Google Ads and DV360. Election ads and ads from official government bodies will now be allowed in supported languages, provided they contain Māori words or phr

Bia Camargo has raised concerns over direct communications from Google Ads to clients. One of her clients received an email stating, "Our diagnostic system identified an efficiency drop..." and that adjustments could be made in a five-minute technical review without increasing spending. This unilate

Google Ads is currently offering advertisers a chance to receive up to $1,500 in ad credit when they create their first Demand Gen campaign , subsidizing advertising efforts. This promotional offer includes entering a promo code and setting up the campaign to qualify for the credit. This update was

Google will be migrating Travel campaigns to the new Search campaigns for Travel in Google Ads. It is scheduled to begin in Q3 2026 . Google announced this change across multiple help documents, indicating that new Search campaigns for Travel will be automatically created, replicating the closest eq

Google’s AI Mode ads are now displaying non-clickable sitelinks . This change impacts how sitelinks function within the ads, which may affect visibility and interaction for users. This update was flagged by Sachin Patel . The post Non-Clickable Sitelinks in AI Mode appeared on PPC News Feed .

A new campaign data import validation report has been introduced in Google Analytics 4 to assist advertisers in verifying and improving the quality of their campaign data imports. This report aids in assessing non-Google campaign data and imported campaign data, such as Microsoft Advertising , enabl

Bing is currently testing See more and Visit site buttons for sponsored search results. This trial aims to enhance user interaction with advertisements, allowing for more straightforward navigation to retailer websites. Also notice that the Sponsored label differs between the two versions. It appear

Google Ads will commence the automatic upgrade of Search campaigns utilizing Campaign-level Broad Match and Automatically Created Assets to AI Max starting on September 1, 2026 . Read the official help page to learn more: Migrate Campaign-level Broad Match and Automatically Created Assets to AI Max

Google is currently testing a new format for sponsored search results that adds more information to the sponsored section. The test displays a list of advertisers alongside their favicons . For related developments, see the earlier article about Google Ads testing grouped favicons next to sponsored