Why is my Google Ads account suspended?
Direct answerA suspended Google Ads account cannot run any ads until Google reinstates it. That is different from one disapproved RSA and different from limited ad serving. Immediate suspensions are for egregious policies (cloaking, unauthorized pharmacies, scams, and others Google lists). Repeat ordinary violations follow a warning-plus-strikes path. Billing holds and stolen logins are operational, not creative. Appeal the original account. Do not open a spare.
Three Google problems people mix up
| State | What still runs | Use this page |
|---|---|---|
| Ad disapproved | Other ads on the account | Why was my Google ad disapproved? |
| Limited ad serving | Ads stay Eligible; impressions are capped | Why is my Google ad limited, not disapproved? |
| Account suspended | Nothing from that account | This page |
Meta’s version of the account-level problem is a disabled Facebook ads account. The appeal path is not portable.
Why Google says it suspends accounts
Google’s account suspensions overview groups causes as policy or Terms violations, billing and payment (promotional-code abuse, chargebacks, suspicious payment activity, unpaid balance), unauthorized account activity (stolen credentials — Google may pause the account to stop charges), Google Account age-requirement issues, and Ads Grant failures.
Egregious means, in Google’s words, a violation so serious that it is unlawful or poses significant harm, or that the overall business does not adhere to the policies. Detection can suspend immediately with no warning. The published egregious list is: circumventing systems; coordinated deceptive practices; counterfeit; malicious software; prescription opioid painkillers; promotion of unauthorized pharmacies; unacceptable business practices; trade sanctions; sexually explicit content; child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Repeat ordinary violations get a warning at least seven days before suspension. Google documents a strike system: no strike on the first violation; first strike a three-day hold; second a seven-day hold; third a suspension, with a maximum of three strikes per policy. See Google’s repeat-violation enforcement article for the live mechanics.
If the email says circumventing systems or unacceptable business practices
Cloaking, spare accounts, and fake verification are diagnosed on circumventing systems and cloaking. Unacceptable business practices is the scam and impersonation policy: pretending to be another brand, offering goods you cannot deliver, fake medical help. Those two labels are how dropshipping and affiliate setups usually die at the account level — the business-model page is dropshipping and affiliate ads.
How to appeal (and what not to do)
Google’s overview and the appeal a suspended account path: open the notification’s Contact Us link, use the on-screen form, and wait. A second Contact Us while review is open shows “Appeal pending.” Google emails the outcome. If rejected, you may re-appeal the same way. If you file too many appeals for the same suspension, Google may stop processing them; abuse of the function can pause processing for seven days.
Selected advertisers must complete advertiser verification to appeal. Three failed identity attempts close the appeal path. Billing suspensions may require payment-method verification. If other accounts verified with the same identity documents were suspended, Google says this account can reinstate automatically once those succeed — so appeal the linked set, not only the newest MCC login.
Google reinstates accounts only in compelling circumstances, such as a mistake. Tips it publishes: follow the best practices on the named egregious policy page; explain the situation (for cloaking, why Google saw different HTML; for brand impersonation, proof of partnership); complete verification if asked. You have at least six months from the suspension date to appeal. Suspended accounts stay viewable for reports, payments, refunds, and security settings; Google says access may later go away.
EU advertisers may have extra Digital Services Act redress options, which Google links from the same overview. That is not a US default path.
Setup workflow
- Read the in-account banner and the suspension email. Write down every listed policy — not a guess.
- Decide the bucket: egregious (immediate), strikes after a warning, billing, stolen access, or Ads Grant.
- Fix anything still live that matches the label (cloaked redirect, undeliverable shop, unpaid balance, compromised login) before you write the appeal.
- Appeal once from Contact Us on the notification. If Google asks for advertiser verification, complete it — three failed identity attempts can close the appeal path.
- Do not create a replacement ads account or a lookalike domain while the appeal is open.
If only one RSA is red and the account still serves, do not use this playbook. Edit the asset using the disapproval article, then appeal a rejected ad only if the new version is actually compliant.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Google Ads account suspended?
Google’s suspensions overview lists egregious policy violations (immediate, no warning), repeat policy violations after a strike warning, billing and payment problems, suspected unauthorized access, Google Account age-requirement issues, and Ads Grant policy failures. Open the in-account notification and the email — Google says both name the policies and include an appeal link.
What is the difference between a disapproved ad and a suspended account?
A disapproved ad cannot serve; other ads on the same account still can. A suspended account is read-only: ads stop everywhere, and Google says the suspension is considered permanent unless an appeal restores it. You can still view reports, pay a bill, cancel, appeal, and (if asked) complete advertiser verification.
How long do I have to appeal?
Google says all advertisers have at least six months from the suspension date to submit an appeal. Filing too many appeals for the same suspension can cause Google to stop processing them; misuse of appeals can pause processing for seven days. Submit one thorough appeal.
Can I just open a new Google Ads account?
Google says related accounts may be suspended, and new accounts the advertiser tries to create may also be suspended. It recommends reinstating the suspended accounts first. Opening a spare account after an egregious ban is also a published circumventing-systems example.
Sources
- Google Ads: Account suspensions overview
- Google: Circumventing systems
- Google: Unacceptable business practices
- Google: Enforcement for repeat violations
Suspension decisions are fact-specific. This page is a reading of Google’s public help as of September 19, 2026. It is not a guarantee of reinstatement and not legal advice.
Catch the policy problem before it becomes a strike
LaunchGuarding flags high-severity claim and destination issues on the draft. It cannot reopen a suspended Google Ads account — that appeal is Google’s.