Why it happens
A word that reads as a weapon or drug
A word that reads as a weapon or drug
Copy like "killer deals", "shoot your shot", "blow up your sales" or "high" can trip the policy with no dangerous product behind it.
The product is on the banned list
Fireworks, firearms and parts, ammunition, combat knives, recreational drugs, tobacco and products that simulate smoking.
A product page or category nearby
A landing page that also lists a banned product can disapprove an unrelated ad.
How to fix it, step by step
Find the exact policy topic
Go to Campaigns, then Ads, and hover the Disapproved or Eligible (limited) label in the Status column. It names the policy and the part of the ad it applies to. Tools, then Troubleshooting, then Policy manager lists every affected ad in one place.
Separate a false flag from a real violation
If you sell a banned product, stop advertising it. If you do not, find the word that reads as a weapon, drug or explosive.
Reword the ad and check the page
Replace the ambiguous wording, and make sure the landing page does not feature a banned product.
Resubmit or appeal
Saving an edited ad resubmits it for review. If you think the call was wrong, or the change was made outside the ad, open Policy manager, choose Appeal and pick Dispute decision or Made changes to comply with policy. Each ad gets 3 appeals, and only decisions from the last 6 months can be appealed from the account.
Steps checked against Google Ads policy help: Dangerous products or services; Google Ads Help: Fix a disapproved ad or appeal a policy decision.
Sprites diagnoses this
Sprites diagnoses it
Sprites shows every ad the dangerous products policy caught, so a false flag stands out from a real violation.
What Sprites does
- Reads the policy status of your ads and lists every one disapproved under dangerous products or services.
- Rewrites ambiguous wording in ads that do not sell a dangerous product, once you approve.
What it doesn't do
- It does not get a banned product approved. Nothing does.
- It does not edit your landing page or file appeals.
Questions
Can I advertise vapes or e-cigarettes on Google Ads?
No. Tobacco and products that simulate smoking are banned.
Are knives allowed in Google Ads?
Kitchen and utility knives are. Knives designed or promoted to injure someone are not.
Can I advertise gun safes or holsters?
Safety accessories can be allowed. Guns, gun parts and ammunition are not.
How do I appeal a wrong dangerous products flag?
Open Policy manager, choose Appeal on the ad and pick Dispute decision, or Made changes to comply if you reworded it.
See where it breaks
Connect your accounts. Sprites reads them side by side and shows you exactly where the numbers split.