Week of Apr 13, 2026
21 changes logged the week of Apr 13, 2026, 5 high impact; 4 took effect. Open this week in the change history.
Google Ads
- Dynamic Search Ads, automatically created assets and campaign-level broad match to auto-upgrade to AI Max
Google announced that Dynamic Search Ads, legacy automatically created assets and the campaign-level broad match setting will be automatically upgraded into AI Max for Search starting September 2026, with voluntary upgrade tools and in-account prompts available immediately. Source
- Google Ads data collection to rely solely on the ad_storage consent signal from June 15
From June 15, 2026 Google Ads checks only the ad_storage consent setting rather than also depending on linked Google Analytics Google Signals settings. Analytics continues to use Google Signals independently. Source
- Real-Time Policy Reviews launched for responsive search ads, cutting review time from hours to seconds
Google Ads now checks responsive search ads against policy field by field while they are drafted and returns a policy decision on save, so compliant ads can serve immediately. Available in the Google Ads UI and Google Ads Editor, expanding to Performance Max and Demand Gen in H2 2026. Source
- Conversion setup tested a 'Set up in Google Tag Manager' option that pushes tags directly into GTM
Natasha Kaurra spotted a new option during conversion action setup that creates the conversion tag in Google Tag Manager without manual implementation. Google later added guided GTM setup in July. Source
- Ad Grants Performance Max campaigns stopped serving on Google Maps after Feb 3
Jason King reported that Ad Grants PMax campaigns show zero Maps impressions in the channel performance report since February 3, with no explanation from Google. Source
- YouTube and Discover Feed ad requirements clarified treatment of election ads
Google clarified how election ads are handled under the YouTube and Discover Feed ad requirements; no change to enforcement scope. Source
Merchant Center
- Optional video_link attribute added to the product feed; videos eligible to serve from June 30, 2026
Merchants can submit direct links to product videos (up to 10 per item, YouTube URLs not supported) via the new video link [video_link] attribute. Technical validation started April 14, 2026; serving plus policy and quality validation began June 30, 2026. Video errors do not block the underlying product offer. Source
- Minimum product image size raised to 500x500 px for all categories, enforced from January 31, 2027
Google raised the minimum resolution for image_link and additional_image_link to 500x500 pixels across all product categories and marketing methods. Warnings began April 14, 2026 and products with smaller images will be disapproved from January 31, 2027. Google recommends 1500x1500 or larger. Source
- 2026 spec added handling_cutoff_time, minimum_order_value and loyalty sub-attributes for shipping
The 2026 product data specification update added product-level handling cutoff time [handling_cutoff_time] and minimum order value [minimum_order_value] attributes and new loyalty program label [loyalty_program_label] and loyalty tier label [loyalty_tier_label] sub-attributes of shipping [shipping] so merchants can express loyalty shipping benefits per product. Source
Google Analytics
- Google announced consent mode becomes sole control of Ads data from GA; Google signals narrowed
From June 15, 2026, for Analytics properties linked to Google Ads, the consent mode ad_storage signal alone controls whether Google Ads cookies and IDs are collected; the Google signals setting only governs association of Analytics data with signed-in users for reporting. Later in 2026 ad_personalization will exclusively control personalization, and encrypted IP addresses will flow to linked Ads accounts under Ads terms. Source
- Admin API added GetUserProvidedDataSettings (v1alpha)
Developers can now read a property's user-provided data collection settings via the Admin API. Source
Google Ads API & Scripts
- Multi-factor authentication required for Google Ads API user-authentication flows from April 21, 2026
Users generating new OAuth 2.0 refresh tokens for the Google Ads API are always challenged for a second factor from April 21, 2026 (rolling out over several weeks); existing refresh tokens and service-account workflows are unaffected. Google Ads Editor, Google Ads scripts, BigQuery Data Transfer Service and Data Studio users are also challenged. Source
Microsoft Ads
- Seasonality adjustments extended to portfolio bid strategies and shared budgets
Advertisers can apply short-term seasonality adjustments to tCPA and tROAS campaigns inside portfolio bid strategies; Microsoft reported the feature fully rolled out to all advertisers in May 2026. Source
- Landing page (final URL) reporting launched for Performance Max
Spend, impressions, clicks, conversions and ROAS are reported per landing page with segmentation by campaign, asset group and custom parameters. Source
- Google Performance Max campaigns with new customer acquisition goals could be imported
Google NCA settings import into Microsoft, converting Google audience segments to rule-based remarketing lists; unknown customers are treated as existing and existing Microsoft configurations are not overwritten. Source
- Autogenerated text assets began being added to existing Responsive Search Ads
Existing RSAs without the maximum number of user-supplied headlines or descriptions receive AI-generated assets, excluding sensitive industries and honoring existing opt-outs. Source
- Search term column became the default view in search term insights from May 2026
Microsoft made the search term column the default in reporting, effective May 2026. Source
- Campaign name limit raised from 128 to 400 characters across UI, API, Editor and imports
Longer names bring parity with Google and Meta so imported campaign names are no longer truncated. Source
Search Console
- Search Console help docs referenced an unannounced 'AI contribution' pilot report
Links to an 'AI contribution pilot' appeared in Google's Search Console support documentation, indicating a limited test of AI-related reporting ahead of the generative AI performance reports announced in June 2026. Source
- Google confirmed erroneous 'started collecting impressions' emails as a bug
Owners of long-verified properties received emails stating Google 'started collecting Google Search impressions for your website' on April 12, 2026; Google confirmed the notifications were sent in error. Source
- Job listing and Job details search appearances logged zero clicks and impressions April 16-27, 2026
A logging error prevented Search Console from reporting impressions and clicks for the 'Job listing' and 'Job details' search appearance types from April 16 until April 27, 2026; data logging only. Source
Took effect this week
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