ReferenceGoogle Ads disapproval
Video content changed
Google disapproves an ad when its video was changed after the ad was created. The page lists two fixes: recreate the ad with the changed video, which it gives first, or edit the ad so it complies. Check the status after either one. Appeal only when the video was not changed, because the policy names exactly this case.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The Status column on the Ads & assets page, as Disapproved under this policy.
- What stops
- The ad stops serving until it is recreated or re-reviewed.
- How serious
- Low on its own. Google warns at least 7 days before any account suspension, but repeated violations can lead to one.
- How long
- Google says a re-review after an edit typically takes 24 to 48 hours.
What it means
The policy names one case: videos that changed after the ad unit was created. The rule is about the approved ad and the video in it. A changed video is a different video, which is why the page's first fix is a new ad.
A video re-cut, swapped or re-uploaded behind an existing ad can break the rule even when the new cut is better. The change is the trigger, not the quality of the change.
What actually triggers it
A new file put in place of the old video
The video behind an existing ad was replaced with a different cut or file, and the ad kept its original creation. The policy covers that case.
A re-edit of the same video after the ad was created
The video was changed after upload, while the ad still refers to it. The page's wording covers videos that changed after the ad unit was created, whatever the reason for the change.
Fix it in this order
- Open Campaigns, then Ads, and hover over the disapproved ad to read its status.
- If the video changed, create a new ad with the changed video. The page lists this option first.
- If the existing ad must stay, hover over it, select Edit, make it comply and select Save.
- Check the status on the Ads & assets page after the re-review, which typically takes 24 to 48 hours.
Once the replacement is approved, remove the old ad, so two versions of the same creative do not run side by side.
When to appeal
Appeal when the video was not changed after the ad was created and the disapproval is wrong. Compare the video in the ad with the version that was approved before you appeal.
Do not appeal a change you made. The policy names that case, and an appeal does not restore the original video.
Often confused with
A policy about how the video looks and sounds. This page is about a change made to the video after the ad was created, whatever the quality.