How do I check ad approval status?

Checking the approval status of your ads is a quick and essential step to ensure your campaigns are running smoothly. Google reviews all ads to ensure they comply with their advertising policies before showing them to users.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Navigate to Ads & Assets

Sign in to your Google Ads account.
In the left-hand navigation menu, Click Campaigns.

Step 2: Review the Status Column

On the Campaigns page, you will see a table listing all the ads (Responsive Search Ads, Expanded Text Ads, Display Ads, etc.) in your account, organised by campaign and ad group.
Look directly at the Status column for each ad. This column will clearly display one of the following main statuses:

Status Displayed	What it Means	Action Required
Eligible	Your ad has been approved and is running or ready to run.	None. The ad is good to go (though it may still be limited by budget/bids).
Under Review	Your ad is currently being checked by Google (usually within 1 business day).	Wait. You cannot edit the ad during this time.
Disapproved	Your ad violates one or more of Google’s advertising policies.	Immediate action required. Click the status to see the reason.
Paused	You manually paused the ad, and it will not run.	Change the status to ‘Enabled’ to run it.
Limited	The ad runs, but its showing is restricted due to a policy issue (e.g., trademark usage).	Review the policy. The ad may still run, but you should address the issue if possible.

Our Advice

1. Check the Policy Details

If an ad status is Disapproved or Limited, click directly on the status link in the table. A pop-up will open that details the specific policy violation (e.g., “Misleading Content,” “Unacceptable Business Practices”).
Fix: You must edit the ad to remove the violating content. If you believe the disapproval is a mistake, you can sometimes appeal the decision directly from this same pop-up window.

2. Ad Review Time

Note: Most ads are reviewed within one business day (24 hours). However, if your ad requires a more complex review (e.g., specific financial, pharmaceutical, or legal claims), it may take longer. If an ad is stuck in “Under Review” for more than 48 hours, contact Google Ads support.

3. Editing Creates a New Review

Warning: If you edit a live, approved ad (e.g., changing one word in a headline of an RSA), the ad status will typically change back to “Under Review.” The original version may continue to run until the new version is approved.

For a quick and reliable way to check if your ads are running and approved, use the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool (found under the Tools & Settings -> Planning menu). This tool shows you an accurate status of your ad based on specific search criteria without generating unwanted ad impressions.

Last Updated 2nd February 2026.

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