Can I advertise computer repair or virus-removal services?
Direct answerGoogle does not allow third parties to advertise technical support for consumer devices and online services. The examples include virus removal, password resets, data recovery, hardware repair, and sites that compare those services. Two allowances are published: an ad that sells the product and only links to support, and support sold only to businesses. A warning comes at least 7 days before suspension.
The offer, not the industry label
Google’s Third-party consumer technical support policy, reviewed on September 28, 2026, bans that support from third-party providers. The examples are not exhaustive.
| Ad | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| “We’ll remove the virus and reset your password.” | Named ban: security, virus removal, account recovery, password resets |
| “Phone screen repair. Book today.” | Hardware repair is named |
| “Compare virus-removal companies.” | Aggregators and comparison sites are named |
| “Buy the laptop.” The page has a Support link in the footer. | Allowed: a product sale with minor support navigation |
| “Help desk for your company. No home users.” | Allowed when the service is exclusively for businesses |
Google’s fix is to remove repair, hardware repair, software installation, and technical support from the ad and the landing page, and to make the About page state what you sell. Saving the ad starts another review, often 24–48 hours. This policy warns at least 7 days before suspension.
An installer that hides what it changes is unwanted or malicious software. A tool whose pitch is reading someone else’s messages is dishonest behavior. Neither certificate, and this policy does not publish one, makes a consumer virus-removal ad allowed.
Setup workflow
- If the offer is consumer repair, virus removal, a password reset, or a support comparison site, do not run it. Google does not offer a certificate for that ad.
- A product ad may keep a small support link. Do not make the headline the repair.
- Support sold only to businesses can run. Say that on the About page, and do not add a consumer booking form.
- Remove repair and install language from the ad and the landing page, then save. Review is often 24–48 hours.
- This is not an unwanted-software disclosure problem. A warning still comes at least 7 days before suspension.
Frequently asked questions
Can the product page mention a help center?
Google allows ads for the sale of consumer technology when the destination has only minor navigational features related to support. An ad or a page whose offer is the repair, the install, or the password reset is the ban, not that help link.
Does this cover IT support for companies?
Google allows technical support provided exclusively to businesses. A page that also takes consumer virus-removal jobs is not exclusive. The About page has to state what you actually sell.
Sources
This reading is as of September 28, 2026.
See whether the page is selling the repair
LaunchGuarding reads the ad and the destination, including a store page whose real offer is a support booking.