Google Ads News & Updates for February 2026

Google is testing out a new shopping ad format in AI Mode.

1 days ago

Google envisions 2026 commercial experiences as fluid, assistive, and personal, removing the trade-off between speed and certainty in shopping. YouTube creators will connect brands and consumers using AI. Search ads will evolve with AI Mode, offering new formats and Direct Offers. Agentic commerce will grow with protocols like AP2 and UCP for seamless, secure transactions. Gemini 3 will enhance ad creativity and performance, with trust and privacy central.

Google delays Google Ads API developer token approvals due to high demand

3 days ago

Google Ads

Interest in Google Ads API access has increased, causing delays in developer token reviews. Additional reviewers are addressing the backlog. Use Explorer Access if it meets your needs; upgrade to Basic Access if you exceed quotas or need more features. To support your application, list managed accounts under your Manager account, complete advertiser verification, update OAuth App verification, and provide clear use case details.

Google Ads Audit, Done Automatically

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Run an automated Google Ads audit directly from Google Sheets with 40+ built-in checks. Review campaigns, ad groups, keywords, ads, and account settings to catch missed best practices and optimization gaps. Ideal for agencies and in-house teams to standardize audits, save hours of manual work, and turn findings into clear, actionable recommendations.

Google Ads Shared Library adds default opt-in for using Google-owned images

11 days ago

Google Ads

Google Ads Shared Library's Location Manager now has a default opt-in allowing Google to use its own images in your ad campaigns without prior consent. This change, spotted by Conor Crummey, may be seen as sneaky since users weren't given an opt-out chance and images might not always align with business needs or brand safety. However, it can be useful for businesses lacking media or wanting to try Google AI. Awareness of this update is important.

Google Ads launches Channel-Level Reporting for Performance Max campaigns

14 days ago

Google Ads

Google Ads API v23 introduces channel-level reporting for Performance Max campaigns, showing detailed ad performance across channels like Search, YouTube, and Display at campaign, asset group, and asset levels. This replaces the previous MIXED value with specific channel data, enabling better optimization. Channel data is available from June 1, 2025, and asset group reporting is only via the API.

Google Ads API v23 Released with New Features and Faster Updates

15 days ago

Google Ads

Google Ads API v23, the first 2026 release, introduces faster updates. Features include ad network breakdown for Performance Max, detailed invoice info, new campaign start/end time fields, store location data in PerStoreView, LIFE_EVENT_USER_INTEREST dimension, conversion rate suggestions for Demand Gen, AI-based audience definition, and new ShoppingPerformanceView metrics. Updated client libraries and a January 29 Discord event are available.

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Google PMax Launches Your Data Exclusions Feature to Exclude First Party Data

17 days ago

Google Ads

PMax introduced a new feature called "Your Data Exclusions" that allows excluding first-party data from PMax campaigns. This setting lets users exclude Remarketing Lists and Customer Match Lists directly at the campaign level, removing all remarketing lists, not just audience signals. It can be found under Campaign Settings, within demographic exclusions, where you enable and select your lists to exclude.

Google Ads Data Manager now suggests product connections for better integration

18 days ago

Google Ads

Google Ads Data Manager now suggests relevant product connections based on the user's login email to reduce manual searches and guide missing integrations. This update signals Google's push for a more interconnected ecosystem. For PPC professionals, account performance will increasingly depend on signal quality from integrated data like GA4, YouTube, and Merchant Center, which is crucial for Google's AI in 2026.

Google Ads launches Campaign Mix Experiments beta to test multiple campaign types

21 days ago

Google Ads

Google Ads' Campaign Mix Experiments (beta) lets advertisers test multiple campaign types, budgets, and settings in one experiment with up to 5 arms. It supports Search, Performance Max, Shopping, Demand Gen, Video, and App campaigns, excluding Hotel campaigns. This helps optimize budget allocation, test strategies, and improve performance by analyzing detailed data and campaign interactions.

Google launches new Demand Gen features boosting Shoppable CTV and Travel Ads

21 days ago

Google Ads CTV

Google is expanding Demand Gen features, making them generally available to enhance its role across YouTube and Google. New tools include Shoppable CTV for buying products via YouTube ads on TVs, Attributed Branded Searches to track brand search impact, and Travel Feeds for dynamic hotel ads. Demand Gen drives 7% more conversions with TV screens and helped LG Electronics achieve 24% higher conversion rates and 91% lower CPA than paid social campaigns.

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