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Destination mismatch: when the ad and the page disagree.

Destination mismatch is a policy disapproval for an ad whose display address does not match the page people actually reach. Google requires the domain shown in the ad to match the landing page.

By the Optizads team

On this page
  1. Why Google shows it
  2. How to fix it
  3. What happens next
  4. How to stop it coming back
  5. Checks that catch it
  6. Terms on this page

Why Google shows it

Where it shows: in the Status column of the ads table.

  • The final URL redirects to a different domain.
  • A tracking template or third-party tracker sends the click to another domain.
  • The ad was copied from another campaign and points at another site.
  • The final URL for mobile points at a different domain from the main final URL.

How to fix it

  1. Click the ad's final URL with the tracking template applied, and note the domain you end on.
  2. Make sure the final URL is the address where people land, not one that redirects elsewhere.
  3. Check the tracking template ends on the same domain as the final URL.
  4. Edit the ad and save it, which sends it for review again.

What happens next

Once the domains match, the ad is reviewed again, usually within a day.

Redirects that stay on the same domain, such as from http to https, are fine.

How to stop it coming back

Keep one domain per account where you can, and set final URLs to the address people land on, not to a shortener or a tracking link.

When a tracking tool is added, test a click from the ad to the page before saving it on every campaign.

Checks that catch it

Oppy runs these every week, so the status is found early.

Terms on this page

Questions, answered.

Anything else? Ask Oppy in the product, or write to the team.

Can I use a redirect in my final URL?

Only if it ends on the same domain as the one shown in the ad. A redirect to another domain causes a destination mismatch.

Do tracking templates cause destination mismatch?

They can, if the tracker sends the click through to a different domain than the final URL. The click must end on the final URL's domain.

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