By Afef AyedThe short answer
Auto-applied recommendations let Google make certain changes to your account without approving each one: adding keywords, changing match types or bid strategies, adding assets. Check which types are switched on in the Recommendations page's auto-apply settings, read the change history for what they changed, and keep only the ones you would approve anyway.
What they are
Google's Recommendations page suggests changes, each tied to your optimization score. Some of those can be set to apply automatically, so Google makes them on its own schedule.
They are not all equal. Adding assets to an ad is usually harmless. Adding keywords, widening match types, or switching a bid strategy changes what the account buys.
How to find out which are on
Open Recommendations
Then open its auto-apply settings to see the recommendation types switched on, grouped by what they do.
Read the change history
Changes Google applied this way are marked in the change history, so you can see what they did and when.
Ask who decided
If nobody on the team remembers switching them on, that is the finding.
Which to keep
- Usually fine: asset suggestions you would add anyway, such as sitelinks, once you check the pages they point to.
- Read first: anything that adds keywords, broadens match types, removes keywords or changes bid strategies. These change what the account buys and how much it pays.
- Turn off: any type you would not approve one by one if it came as a suggestion.
What Optizads checks
The audit lists every auto-apply subscription on the account, with what the change history credits to them. Once you approve, Oppy can turn off Google's standing permission to change the account.