Copy and paste campaigns, ad groups, ads, audiences, and keywords (original) (raw)

Copy and paste your campaigns, ad groups, ads, audiences, and keywords to save time and effort. For example, you can copy an existing campaign and use it as a template for a new one within the same account, or in a different account if you're using Google Ads Editor or a manager account. Similarly, copying an ad from one ad group to another can help you build new creatives faster.

Important notes:

• Feeds: Feeds can’t be copied and pasted directly. You'll need to attach the feed to the new campaign manually.
• Copying between different accounts: While you can copy campaigns within the same Google Ads account using the interface, copying campaigns directly between different Google Ads accounts isn’t possible through the Google Ads UI. To do this, you must use Google Ads Editor.
• Data not transferred: When you copy a campaign, only its structure, settings, ads, keywords, and targeting are transferred. Historical performance data, like impressions, clicks, and conversions, and any bid strategy learning aren’t carried over. Your new campaign will start fresh.
• Removed items: Removed or deleted campaigns and ad groups can’t be restored or copied. You’ll need to recreate them. You can use the "Change History" to find details from the removed item to help with recreation.

Tips

• You can copy and paste multiple campaigns, ad groups, ads, audiences, and keywords at the same time. To do this, follow the instructions for copying but instead of checking the box next to just one item, check multiple boxes.
• If you have a Google Ads manager account, you can copy and paste ads, ad groups, keywords, and campaigns across multiple accounts linked to your manager account.
• Performance Max campaigns can be copied, but their listing groups won’t be copied.

How to copy campaigns

If you’ve already set up one or more successful campaigns, you can use them to get a head start on setup for your next campaign. To do this, copy the campaign, then modify one of the copies. That way you start with the same structure and settings for your ad groups, ads, audiences, and keywords. Additionally, Performance Max will now function with the copy and paste functionality. Listing groups won’t be copied.

To duplicate a campaign:

1. In your Google Ads manager account, click the Campaigns icon .
2. Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu.
3. Click Campaigns.
4. Check the box next to the campaign or campaigns that you’d like to duplicate.
5. From the “Edit” drop-down menu, select Copy.
6. Open the “Edit” drop-down menu again, and select Paste.
7. Check the boxes next to the accounts you’d like to paste the campaigns into.
   • Note: If you’re logged in to a manager account, a picker will appear to select an account where you would like to paste your campaign.
8. Click Done.
9. Check the box next to “Pause new campaigns after pasting” if you don’t want your copied campaigns to start running immediately.
   • Keep in mind: The account where you paste a campaign must be set to the same currency as the original account, otherwise the campaign will not paste successfully.
10. Click Paste.

You'll now have a new campaign that will have the same structure and settings as your original campaign, including the following:

• Ad groups
• Ads
• Keywords
• Negative keywords
• Targeting settings
• Bid strategies

How to copy asset groups (Performance Max campaigns)

To copy asset groups from Performance Max campaigns:

1. In your Google Ads manager account, click the Campaigns icon .
2. Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu, and then click Campaigns.
3. Select your “Performance Max” campaign.
4. Click Asset groups.
5. Click the 3-dot Menu icon in the upper right corner of the asset group you wish to duplicate.
6. Select "Duplicate this asset group".
7. Fill out the relevant details.
8. Click Save.

Note: When copying an asset group in a "Performance Max" campaign that is linked to a Google Merchant Center account, listing groups will not be copied. We recommend that each asset group targets a different set of products to avoid Listing group overlap, for example, Products A–L in Asset Group 1 and Products M–Z in Asset Group 2.

How to copy ad groups

To copy ad groups to another campaign:

1. In your Google Ads manager account, click the Campaigns icon .
2. Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu.
3. Click Ad groups.
4. Check the box next to the ad groups that you’d like to duplicate.
   • Note: Removed ad groups can’t be copied. If you need to recreate a removed ad group, you must create a new one. If you wish to use the same name, ensure it's unique within the campaign.
5. From the “Edit” drop-down menu, select Copy.
6. Open the “Edit” drop-down menu again, and select Paste.
7. Using the campaign picker, select the campaign where you’d like to paste your ad groups.
8. Click Done.
9. Check the box next to “Pause new ad groups after pasting” if you don’t want your copied ad groups to start running immediately.
10. Click Paste.

Troubleshoot errors when copying ad groups

If you encounter errors when copying ad groups, consider these points:

• Ensure the ad group doesn't solely rely on dynamic feeds that can’t be directly copied. You might need to manually set up such ad groups in the destination campaign.
• Remove any disapproved ads from the ad group before copying.
• If the ad group contains only ETAs, try adding or converting them to RSAs.
• For general errors, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, using incognito mode, or using Google Ads Editor.

How to copy ads

To copy ads to another ad group:

1. In your Google Ads manager account, click the Campaigns icon .
2. Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu.
3. Click Ads.
4. Check the box next to the ads that you’d like to duplicate.
5. From the “Edit” drop-down menu, select Copy.
6. Open the “Edit” drop-down menu again, and select Paste.
7. Using the ad group picker, select the campaign where you’d like to paste your ads.
8. Click Done.
9. Check the box next to “Pause new ads after pasting” if you don’t want your copied ads to start running immediately.
10. Check the box next to “If ad already exists in destination, create duplicate” if you want to create duplicates of any ads that already exist in the destination ad groups. If you don’t want duplicate ads, leave this box unchecked.
11. Click Paste.

How to copy audiences

To copy audiences to multiple campaigns or ad group:

1. In your Google Ads manager account, click the Campaigns icon .
2. Click the Audiences, keywords, and content drop down in the section menu.
3. Click Audiences.
4. Check the box next to the audiences that you’d like to duplicate.
5. From the “Edit” drop-down menu, select Copy.
6. From the drop down, select either Campaigns or Ad groups, and select the campaign or ad group where you’d like to paste your audiences.
7. Open the “Edit” drop-down menu again, and select Paste.
   • Note: You may check the box next to “Pause new audiences after pasting” if you don’t want your copied ads to start running immediately. Check the box next to “Include bids” if you want to include the bids already associated with these audiences.
8. Click Paste.

How to copy keywords

To copy keywords to another ad group:

1. In your Google Ads manager account, click the Campaigns icon .
2. Click the Audiences, keywords, and content drop down in the section menu.
3. Click Search keywords.
4. Check the box next to the keywords that you’d like to duplicate.
5. From the “Edit” drop-down menu, select Copy.
6. Open the “Edit” drop-down menu again, and select Paste.
7. Use the ad group picker to select the ad group where you’d like to paste your keywords.
8. Click Done.
9. Choose whether to include the existing bids and final URLs with the copied keywords.
10. Check the box next to “Pause new keywords after pasting” if you don’t want your copied keywords to start running immediately.
11. Click Paste.

When you copy keywords, they'll automatically use the budget of the campaign you paste them into. You also have the option to copy their bids and landing page URLs. You also have the option to copy their bids and landing page URL overrides, if they exist. Otherwise, you can set bids and landing page URLs for these keywords after you've pasted them.

Related links

Topic Page Manager Accounts (MCC)

• Manager Accounts (MCC): Table of Content

Campaign Management & Reporting

• Copy and paste campaigns, ad groups, ads, audiences and keywords
• Fix errors in copying and pasting accounts, campaigns, ad groups, ads, audiences, and keywords

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?