Why Google blocks ad accounts: main reasons and tips for unblocking

The Google Ads account is one of the key tools for running online advertising. However, many users who run Google ads and targeting specialists face the problem of account blocking. In this article, we will analyze the main reasons why Google blocks advertising accounts and provide detailed recommendations on how to unblock your account, restore access, and avoid similar problems in the future.

The main reasons for blocking advertising accounts

Google strictly monitors compliance with the established rules, so any deviation from them can lead to the blocking of your Ads account. The main reasons for blocking include:

Violation of advertising rules

One of the most frequent reasons for an account being blocked is a violation of the advertising rules set by Google. Let us analyze this in more detail with specific examples and recommendations.

Information is not prepared according to the rules

1. False or misleading information.

The text of the advertisement must correspond to the actual characteristics of the product or service. For example, if the ad claims a 50% discount, but in fact this discount is not relevant or the conditions for obtaining it are significantly limited, this is considered false information. Also, provide accurate information about the timing of promotions or the availability of goods – any discrepancies may be considered as consumer fraud.

2. Incorrect description of a product or service.

It is important to avoid exaggerations and unsubstantiated claims. If you describe a product as «the best on the market» without objective evidence or references to certification, it can be considered a misleading marketing ploy. Google requires advertising to be as transparent and objective as possible.

3. Errors in details and formatting.

Incorrect specification of technical characteristics, inadequate description of photos or videos, and even grammatical errors can negatively affect the perception of an ad as high-quality and reliable. Such deficiencies may be grounds for an account to be blocked, as they violate the principle of providing accurate information.

Non-compliance of ads with the rules

1. Violation of requirements for visual elements.

Google has strict standards for images and videos. Ads should not contain overly bright, aggressive, or misleading visual elements. For example, the use of images that imitate official marks or logos without permission, as well as excessively bright flashes or flickering elements can lead to the ad being blocked.

2. Incorrect text format and ad structure.

There are a number of recommendations for placing titles, descriptions, and additional links. If the text is chaotic, without a clear division into semantic blocks, it can reduce the trust of Google’s algorithms in the ad. It is also important to adhere to the limitations on the number of characters in the titles and descriptions, as exceeding these limits often leads to an automatic rejection of the ad.

3. Violation of thematic restrictions.

Certain categories of goods or services require special conditions for advertising (for example, financial products, medical services, or 18+ products). If an ad does not meet the thematic requirements set by Google, it will be rejected. It is important to carefully study the official guidelines for each category before launching a campaign.

Violation of quality standards

1. Inconsistency of information in the account.

Advertisers are obliged to keep the data in their account up-to-date and accurate. This applies to contacts, company information, address and other important information. For example, if the profile contains outdated information or lacks mandatory elements (such as a verified address or phone number), this may result in the system automatically blocking access to the Google Ads account.

2. Errors in the technical implementation of the campaign.

Violations can occur not only due to the content of ads, but also due to technical errors in account settings. For example, if the payment profile contains incorrect details or the payment card details do not match the one in the account, this reduces the level of trust in the account and it may be blocked.

3. Low level of content quality.

Ad campaigns that contain template, false, or poorly thought-out texts can be perceived as spam. Google pays great attention to the quality of content, so regular updating and optimization of ads, as well as adherence to the design rules, will help to avoid negative consequences.

Problems with the payment profile

Another reason for blocking the advertising account is the mismatch of data in the payment profile. This point plays an important role, as the correctness of the information determines the possibility of making payments and confirming the law-abidingness of the account holder.

Let’s take a closer look at the main situations.

Incorrect payment profile data

For example, if a bank card with an expired validity period is used in the profile or the card details (number, cardholder name) are incorrect, this may result in an automatic block. It is also important that the information specified in the payment profile (name, address, or other details) matches the data confirmed by the bank. Otherwise, the system may consider such discrepancies to be suspicious and false. The use of payment methods not approved by Google can also be a reason for blocking due to a ban by the platform.

Problems with verification

Google requires confirmation of the legitimacy of payments, so the absence of the necessary documents (for example, scans of IDs, statements or invoices) may result in a refusal to verify your profile. However, if the scans provided are of poor quality, contain errors, or do not fully reflect the information required by Google, this complicates verification and may lead to a block. Also, note that late submission of documents or their updating can be a problem, as the profile must remain up-to-date to pass verification.

Mismatch of account details

It is very important that the information in the payment profile (e-mail, phone number, address) corresponds to the data specified in the main account. Any discrepancies may be perceived as an attempt to hide or distort real information. Also, if the profile contains information about the name of the organization, legal address, or other details that differ from the account, this may raise suspicions of fraud. Lastly, when the data related to payments differs from the information provided during account registration, it negatively affects the credibility of the account and may lead to access restrictions. Therefore, it is worthwhile to be careful about the issue of compliance of payment information.

Other reasons for blocking your account

In addition to the main aspects, there are other nuances that can affect the status of an advertising account. Let us consider them.

1. Incorrect use of profile ads.

Errors in setting up campaigns, incorrect budget allocation, or aggressive targeting can be perceived by the system as violations of the rules. Such errors can occur due to insufficient optimization of advertising strategies or attempts to circumvent the established restrictions. It is important to regularly analyze the effectiveness of campaigns and make adjustments to the settings to meet Google’s requirements.

2. Automated Google checks.

Google actively uses algorithms to monitor accounts, and sometimes they can mistakenly classify correct information as false or suspicious. Technical failures or minor inconsistencies in the data can lead to automatic blocking, even if there is no intentional intrusion. In such cases, it is important to contact Google support in time to conduct a manual check and restore access to your account and advertising account.

3. Incomplete data update.

When restoring a Google account, it is critical to ensure that all data is fully updated. If any documents, contact information, or details are left blank or outdated, the system may consider the account ineligible. Regularly updating information and carefully filling in all required fields will help prevent this problem.

How to unlock your account and restore access

If your Google Ads account is blocked, don’t panic. Here are step-by-step recommendations on how to restore your Google Ads account.

STEP 1. Initial analysis and diagnostics.

Before proceeding to unblock, analyze the blocking notification by carefully reading the letter from Google, which contains the reasons for the blocking. Pay attention to the words «blocked», «rules», etc. Next, check your payment profile and make sure that all the data in your Google payment profile is up-to-date and correct. And lastly, check if there were any mistakes made when registering or setting up your account. Such diagnostics will help you understand what exactly the problem is and formulate a strategy for further actions.

STEP 2. Unlock your Google Ads account.

To unlock Google Ads ads, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Gather all payment confirmations and documents that indicate the legitimacy of your business.
2. Write to Google support using the feedback form. Tell the support team that you need to restore your Google account and send them all the necessary information right away. To speed up the process of restoring access, write to support right away about the Google account recovery and that you do not understand how to unlock your Google account. Be specific: specify the exact details – which account you need to unlock, what changes were made to your payment profile, what data turned out to be false, and all other actions you took that did not result in automatic unlocking.
3. After contacting Google support and receiving a response, act on the situation and the answers provided by the specialists. Even before receiving a response, you can check the status of your request: periodically log in to your Google account and track the status of your request so that you don’t miss important notifications.
4. Wait patiently for the result, as the unlocking procedure may take more than a few days.

These steps will help you if you are wondering how to unlock your account or how to restore access to your Google account with the help of official support. Remember: it is important to act promptly and systematically.

An example of an ad that will work

Imagine you are running an ad to promote a new smartphone. You use a standard template text: «Buy smartphones at the best prices! Discounts up to 50%! Order now!». Such an ad does not contain specific details about the product and may look like spam to Google’s algorithms.

If Google determines that the text is boilerplate or poorly thought out, the ad account may be blocked due to non-compliance with quality standards. To avoid this, you should update the content by adding specific characteristics and advantages of the smartphone.

For example, this option: «New X-Tech smartphone with a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, powerful processor, and 48-megapixel camera. Today we have a special offer – a 20% discount on the first order through our website (link to the website if necessary). All technical specifications are confirmed by quality certificates.»

This approach demonstrates your expertise and increases the credibility of the product, which will help you avoid blocking your Ads account and ensure effective communication with potential customers.

Quickly restoring access to your Google account is the key to successful advertising

The key to successful advertising is accuracy, relevance, and timely restoration of access. To avoid repeated blocking of your Google account, follow the recommendations, regularly update the data in your account, and do not forget to check all records related to payments and company information. If you have any questions, feel free to ask for help – by writing to Google support, you can quickly solve most problems.

If you are not confident in your abilities or need professional help, the specialists of the WEDEX marketing agency are always ready to provide support. By contacting the experts, you will receive expert advice on issues related to unlocking your advertising account, as well as learn how to set up your account for further successful promotion. After all, Google account recovery is not only about fixing an error, but also about optimizing your advertising strategy to achieve the best results.

Vitalyi Kotov

Head of PPC department

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