Running ads on Meta can be a great way to reach your target audience, but sometimes, errors and issues can delay your campaign or affect performance. From rejected ads to billing issues, these problems can be frustrating.
However, most Meta ad errors have clear solutions.
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Common Meta Ad issues and how you can fix them.
- Image/Video Not Found Error
Error Message:
"Image not found: The image you’ve selected is not available. It might have been deleted, or you might not have permission to use it in ads."
Why This Happens:
- The uploaded file might have been deleted or is no longer accessible.
- Meta might not support the format of the image or video.
- There could be a permission issue preventing the use of the media.
- A browser cache issue or technical glitch might be affecting visibility.
Solutions:
✅ Re-upload the image or video and select it again.
✅ Ensure the file format is JPEG/PNG for images and MP4/MOV for videos.
✅ Clear your browser cache or try using incognito mode.
✅ If the issue persists, duplicate the ad and try again or create a new campaign.
- Ad Rejected Due to Policy Violations
Error Message:
"Your ad violates Meta’s Advertising Policies."
Why This Happens:
- The ad contains restricted or prohibited content (e.g., misleading claims, adult content, financial scams).
- The image has too much text (Meta recommends keeping text below 20%).
- The ad violates community standards (e.g., hate speech, discriminatory content).
Solutions:
✅ Remove or modify any content that violates Meta’s policies.
✅ Use Meta’s Text Overlay Tool to check if your image has too much text.
✅ Adjust your ad copy to ensure it aligns with community guidelines.
✅ If you believe your ad was wrongly rejected, submit an appeal through Meta Support.
- Ad Account Disabled
Error Message:
"Your ad account has been disabled due to policy violations."
Why This Happens:
- Repeated ad rejections or serious policy violations.
- Unusual payment activity, such as multiple failed transactions.
- Violations related to misleading advertising or restricted content.
Solutions:
✅ Review Meta’s Ad Policies and remove any violations from your ads.
✅ If your account was disabled by mistake, request a review through Meta’s Help Center.
✅ If your account isn’t reinstated, create a new Business Manager account and start fresh.
- Low Ad Reach or No Impressions
Why This Happens:
- Your audience is too small, making it difficult for Meta to deliver your ad.
- Your bid or budget is too low.
- The ad creative isn’t engaging enough.
- Poor placement selection is limiting reach.
Solutions:
✅ Expand your targeting options or use lookalike audiences.
✅ Increase your budget or switch to automatic bidding.
✅ Refresh your ad creative by testing different images, videos, or copy.
✅ Use automatic placements to let Meta optimize delivery across platforms.
- Ad Stuck in Review for Too Long
Why This Happens:
- Meta’s ad review process usually takes up to 24 hours, but it may take longer during high-traffic periods.
- Your ad might contain elements that trigger a manual review.
Solutions:
✅ Wait at least 24 hours before taking any action.
✅ If your ad is still under review after 48 hours, try duplicating it and submitting it again.
✅ If the delay continues, contact Meta Support for further assistance.
- Billing & Payment Issues
Error Message:
"Payment failed or declined."
Why This Happens:
- Your payment method has insufficient funds.
- The card or PayPal account linked to your Meta ad account is not supported.
- Your bank may have declined the payment due to security reasons.
- You have reached your billing threshold.
Solutions:
✅ Make sure your payment method has enough balance.
✅ If your payment fails, add a new card or switch to PayPal.
✅ Contact your bank to authorize Meta transactions.
✅ Adjust your billing threshold in the Meta Business Manager.
- Pixel Tracking Issues
Error Message:
"No activity detected from your Pixel."
Why This Happens:
- The Meta Pixel code isn’t installed correctly.
- The domain hasn’t been verified in Meta Business Manager.
- Events aren’t set up properly in Events Manager.
Solutions:
✅ Check if the Pixel code is correctly installed on your website.
✅ Verify your domain in Business Manager to ensure tracking works.
✅ Set up Standard or Custom Events in Events Manager to track the right actions.
- Ad Disapproved for Personal Attributes
Error Message:
"Your ad makes assumptions about personal characteristics."
Why This Happens:
- Meta does not allow ads to directly address personal attributes like race, religion, health status, financial status, etc.
- Phrases like "Are you struggling with weight loss?" violate this policy.
Solutions:
✅ Rephrase your copy to focus on the product’s benefits rather than assumptions about the audience.
✅ Example: Instead of “Are you struggling with weight loss?”, try “Discover an effective weight loss solution.”
✅ If you think your ad was wrongly flagged, request a review through Meta Support.
- Ad Performance Dropping Suddenly
Why This Happens:
- Ad fatigue (your audience has seen the same ad too often).
- High competition in your niche.
- Algorithm changes affecting ad performance.
Solutions:
✅ Refresh your creatives by changing images, videos, and ad copy.
✅ Test different ad formats (carousel, video, slideshow, etc.).
✅ Increase your budget slightly to stay competitive.
✅ Keep an eye on Meta algorithm updates that might affect delivery.
- Ad Not Delivering After Being Approved
Why This Happens:
- Low engagement score or poor relevance.
- Limited audience size or over-targeting.
- Poor bidding strategy.
Solutions:
✅ Increase your audience size and avoid over-segmentation.
✅ Optimize ad creatives to boost engagement.
✅ Adjust your bid strategy—try automatic bidding first.
How to Avoid Common Meta Ad Errors
✅ Always check Meta’s Ad Policies before running new ads.
✅ Use Meta’s Ad Preview & Diagnostics to spot issues early.
✅ Regularly monitor Ad Performance Metrics to catch low delivery or engagement issues.
✅ Test different creatives in A/B Testing to avoid ad fatigue.
✅ Keep alternative payment methods ready in case of billing issues.
Running ads on Meta can be tricky, but most errors can be fixed with the right approach. Always check your ad’s status, follow Meta’s policies, and experiment with different strategies to improve performance. If you’re facing persistent issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to Meta Support for assistance.
By keeping an eye on common pitfalls and knowing how to resolve them, you can ensure your ad campaigns run smoothly and deliver the best results!