How can I know if my Google ads are showing or not?
“Google Ads not showing” is a term that describes a situation where your Google Ads are not appearing in search results or on the Google Display Network as expected, despite being set up correctly. This can be a frustrating issue for advertisers, as it can significantly impact the visibility and effectiveness of your advertising campaigns.
If you’re running a campaign and you notice that your Google ads are not showing, it can be a cause for concern. However, before you start troubleshooting, it’s important to confirm whether your ads are indeed not showing, or if they’re simply not showing to you.
Identifying whether your Google Ads are showing or not can be done through the Google Ads platform. Here are some methods you can use to check the status of your ads:
Use the Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool
Google Ads offers a feature known as the Ad Preview and Diagnosis tool. This tool allows you to see how your ad appears in search results for a particular search term, without affecting your ad statistics. Here’s how you can do it:
- Log into your Google Ads account.
- Click on ‘Tools & Settings’ at the right top corner of the page.
- Under ‘Planning’, select the ‘Ad Preview and Diagnosis’ option.
- Enter the search term you’re targeting with your ad.
- If your ad is active, you should be able to see it in the search results.

Check your ad status
Another way to check if your Google Ads are showing is to check the status of your ads. You can do it by following these steps:
- Log into your Google Ads account.
- Click on ‘Ads & extensions’ from the left-hand side page menu.
- Look for a column titled ‘Status’. This will show the status of each ad in your account.

The status of your ad could be one of the following:
- Under review: Your ad is being reviewed by Google to ensure it complies with Google’s advertising policies.
- Eligible: Your ad is ready to be shown on Google.
- Disapproved: Your ad isn’t complying with one or more of Google’s advertising policies.
Check your campaign and ad group status
In addition to checking your ad status, you should also check the status of your campaigns and ad groups. If your campaign or ad group is paused, removed, or not eligible to run, your ads won’t show.

Remember, just because you don’t see your ads, doesn’t mean they’re not showing. Your ads may not show to you for a variety of reasons, including your location, your device, your search behavior, and more. Always use the tools provided by Google Ads to confirm whether your ads are showing.
Why Is My Google Ads Not Showing? 12 Causes & Solutions
If you’re experiencing the issue of Google Ads not displaying, it can be quite frustrating. However, understanding the potential reasons why it happened can help you troubleshoot and find the solution to resolve this issue.
Google Ads operates on a complex algorithm that determines when and where your ads are shown. This algorithm takes into account factors such as your bid amount, the quality of your ads and landing page, your target audience, and more. If any of these factors are not optimized, it could result in your ads not showing.
Here are 12 common causes why your Google Ads might not be displaying, along with their respective solutions:
Reason #1: Ad is not approved
Ad disapproval is a common reason why your Google Ads might not be showing. Google is known to have strict advertising policies to ensure a safe and positive experience for users. If your ad violates these policies, it will not be approved and therefore will not be displayed. When an ad is disapproved, Google sends a notification with the reason for disapproval.