ReferenceGoogle Ads disapproval
Image quality
Google Ads disapproves images that are blurry, unclear, sideways, upside down, or full of illegible text, and images that flash or do not fill their frame. Re-crop or rotate the flagged image so it fills its frame and reads at a glance, then save. Google also accepts a different image in place of an edit.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The Status column on the Ads & assets page, as Disapproved.
- What stops
- That ad or asset stops serving until the edit is reviewed.
- How serious
- Low on its own. Repeated violations can lead to suspension.
- How long
- Google says re-review typically takes 24 to 48 hours after the edit is saved.
What it means
Google's Editorial policy applies to images as it does to text. An image has to be clear, easy to interact with and relevant. The page lists blurry or unrecognizable images, text too small to read, sideways or upside-down images, and images that do not fill the size they were uploaded for.
The rule covers placement as well as the picture. An image that stops short of its frame, or runs past it onto the site, can be flagged even when the picture itself is sharp.
What actually triggers it
An image that does not fill its frame
A picture with empty space around it inside the chosen image size. Google names images that do not fill the entire space as not allowed.
Text or a logo too small to read
A caption or logo that becomes illegible at the size the ad shows it, which Google lists as illegible text.
A sideways or upside-down photo
A picture uploaded with the wrong orientation. Google lists sideways and upside-down images separately as not allowed.
A flashing or strobing image
An animated image that flashes or strobes. Google names strobing and flashing images as distracting and not allowed.
Fix it in this order
- Open Campaigns, then Ads, and find each Disapproved image ad or image asset.
- Hover over the ad or asset and select Edit. Rotate the image upright, re-crop it so it fills the chosen size, and enlarge any text the reader needs.
- If the image cannot be edited to comply, upload a different image in its place.
- Select Save, then read the status again once the review finishes.
When to appeal
Appeal only when the image is sharp, upright and fills its frame, and the flag still stands. An image that still fails one of these points is an edit or a replacement, not an appeal.
Often confused with
Image quality covers how clear and well-placed a picture is. Misleading ad design covers images built to look like a button, a warning or a second ad. A sharp image with a fake button is the design policy; a blurry image of a plain product is this one.