March 7, 2024

How to Deactivate Google Ads: A Step-by-Step Guide

Deactivating Google Ads can be a confusing process for those who are not familiar with the platform. However, it is a necessary step for those who no longer wish to advertise their products or services on Google. Deactivating Google Ads can be done in a few simple steps, and this article will guide you through the process.

First, it is important to understand that deactivating your Google Ads account will stop all your ads from running. This means that you will no longer be charged for any ad spend, and your ads will no longer be visible to potential customers. To deactivate your account, you need to log in to your Google Ads account and navigate to the "Settings" menu. From there, you can select "Preferences" and then "Account Status." Finally, click on the "Cancel my account" button to deactivate your account.

It is important to note that deactivating your Google Ads account does not delete it. Your account will remain in the system, and you can reactivate it at any time. However, if you wish to permanently delete your account, you will need to contact Google Ads support. Now that you understand the basics of deactivating Google Ads, let's dive into the process in more detail.

Understanding Google Ads

Google Ads is a platform that allows businesses to advertise their products or services on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs). These ads can appear in various forms, including text-based ads, display ads, and video ads.

Types of Google Ads

There are several types of Google Ads, including search ads, display ads, and video ads. Search ads appear at the top or bottom of Google's search results page when users search for specific keywords. They are text-based and usually marked with an "Ad" label. Display ads are visual advertisements that appear on websites within Google's Display Network. These ads can be in the form of images, videos, or interactive media. Video ads are short video clips that appear on YouTube and other Google partner sites.

Impact of Ads on User Experience

While ads can be a useful tool for businesses to reach their target audience, they can also be intrusive and annoying for users. Pop-ups and pop-up ads, in particular, can disrupt the user experience and lead to frustration. Unwanted ads can also slow down page load times and consume data, which can be a concern for users on mobile devices.

To address these concerns, users can take steps to deactivate Google Ads. By doing so, they can reduce the number of intrusive ads they see and improve their overall browsing experience.

Preparation Before Deactivation

Before deactivating a Google Ads account, it's important to review the account information and evaluate the current ad campaigns to ensure that the deactivation process goes smoothly. Here are some steps to take before deactivating a Google Ads account.

Reviewing Account Information

The first step is to review the account information to make sure that all the data is up to date and accurate. This includes checking the billing information, payment methods, and contact information. If there are any changes that need to be made, they should be updated before deactivating the account.

It's also important to review the account history to ensure that all the purchases, products, and sales have been accurately recorded. This will help avoid any potential issues in the future and ensure that all the data is correct.

Evaluating Current Ad Campaigns

The next step is to evaluate the current ad campaigns to determine if there are any that need to be paused or deleted before deactivating the account. This includes reviewing the performance of each campaign, analyzing the data, and making any necessary changes.

If there are any campaigns that are still running or have pending charges, they should be paused or deleted before deactivating the account. This will help avoid any unexpected charges or issues after the account has been deactivated.

By taking these steps before deactivating a Google Ads account, users can ensure that the process goes smoothly and that all the data is accurate and up to date.

Step-by-Step Deactivation Process

Deactivating a Google Ads account is a straightforward process that can be done in a few simple steps. In this section, we'll guide you through the process of deactivating your Google Ads account step-by-step.

Accessing Google Ads Settings

Before deactivating your Google Ads account, you must first access the settings section of your account. To do this, follow these steps:

Sign in to your Google Ads account using your login credentials.
Once you're signed in, click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the page.
In the drop-down menu, select "Setup" and then click on "Preferences."
Under the "Preferences" tab, click on "Account Status."
You will now be able to see the option to "Cancel My Account."

Deactivating Specific Google Ads

If you want to deactivate specific Google Ads, you can do so by following these steps:

Sign in to your Google Ads account.
Click on the "Ads & Extensions" tab.
Select the specific ad you want to deactivate.
Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the ad.
Click on "Pause" to deactivate the ad.

Complete Deletion of Google Ads Account

If you want to completely delete your Google Ads account, you can do so by following these steps:

Sign in to your Google Ads account.
Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the page.
In the drop-down menu, select "Setup" and then click on "Preferences."
Under the "Preferences" tab, click on "Account Status."
Click on "Cancel My Account."
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the account deletion process.

It's important to note that once you delete your Google Ads account, all ads will stop showing, and you will no longer have access to the account. If you want to use Google Ads again in the future, you will need to create a new account.

Managing Ad Preferences and Blockers

Adjusting Personalized Ad Settings

Google Ads are personalized based on a user's browsing history and interests. However, users can adjust their ad settings to manage the types of ads they see. To access ad settings, users can click on their profile picture in the top-right corner of the Google homepage and select "Google Account." From there, users can select "Data & personalization" and scroll down to "Ad personalization." Here, users can turn off ad personalization entirely or manage their ad preferences by selecting "Go to ad settings."

In ad settings, users can view and edit their ad preferences, including interests, demographics, and advertisers. Users can also turn off "Ads based on your activity on non-Google websites" and "Ads based on your activity on Google services" to limit the types of ads they see. Additionally, users can view and delete their ad history to prevent Google from using their past searches and activity to personalize ads.

Utilizing Ad Blockers and Extensions

Users can also utilize ad blockers and extensions to prevent Google Ads from appearing on their screen. Ad blockers are software that can remove or hide ads from websites. Users can install ad blockers as browser extensions or as standalone programs. Popular ad blockers include AdBlock, uBlock Origin, and AdGuard.

To turn off Google's built-in ad blocker in Google Chrome, users can click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser and select "Settings." From there, users can select "Privacy and security" and then "Site settings." In "Site settings," users can select "Ads" and turn off the ad blocker for specific websites.

It is important to note that while ad blockers can prevent ads from appearing, they can also negatively impact websites that rely on ads for revenue. Users should consider whitelisting websites they trust or disabling ad blockers on those sites. Additionally, some websites may detect and block users with ad blockers installed.

Post-Deactivation Considerations

After deactivating your Google Ads account, it is important to take a few additional steps to ensure that your ads are disabled across all platforms and to monitor for residual ads.

Ensuring Ads are Disabled Across Platforms

To ensure that your ads are disabled across platforms, it is recommended to take the following steps:

Check your Google Ads account to confirm that all campaigns have been paused or removed.
If you have linked your Google Ads account to other platforms such as Google Analytics or Google My Business, make sure to check those platforms as well to ensure that your ads are disabled.
Clear your cache and cookies in your browser to remove any residual ads.
Uninstall any mobile apps that you used to manage your Google Ads account.

Monitoring for Residual Ads

Even after you have deactivated your Google Ads account, there is a possibility that residual ads may still appear. To monitor for residual ads, follow these steps:

Conduct a Google search for your company name or relevant keywords to see if any ads are still appearing.
Check your Gmail account to see if any residual ads are still appearing in your inbox.
Monitor your social media accounts and YouTube channel for any residual ads.
Check any mobile apps that you used to manage your Google Ads account to ensure that no residual ads are still being displayed.
If you have an Android phone, make sure to check the Google Play Store to ensure that no residual ads are still being displayed.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your Google Ads account has been successfully deactivated and that residual ads are no longer appearing.