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    Google Ads Update February 2026

    16 February 2026
    AI Summarize on:

    TLDR

    Update Impact Indonesia Status
    AI Max Text Guidelines High Available (rolling out)
    Demand Gen Lookalike → AI Suggestion High Available
    Direct Offers in AI Mode Medium Not available (US pilot)
    Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) Medium Not available (US only)
    Nano Banana Pro in Asset Studio High Available
    Veo 3 in Asset Studio High Unconfirmed
    Demand Gen Auto-Generated Video Medium Available
    NCA ROAS-Based Value Tool Medium Unconfirmed
    Campaign Total Budgets (Search/PMax/Shopping) High Available
    Ads in AI Overviews, Indonesia High Available
    Call-Only Ads Deprecation High Available (global)
    Crypto Ads Policy, Indonesia High Available
    Gambling & Games Certification High Available
    Product Campaign Eligibility Dashboard Medium Available
    PMax Channel-Level Reporting (API v23) High Available
    Daftar Isi Tampil

    1) Executive Summary

    • PMax Channel-Level Reporting (API v23) — You can now see exactly how Performance Max spends across Search, YouTube, Display, Gmail, Discover, and Maps. Indonesia: Available.

    • Ads in AI Overviews Expanded to Indonesia — Indonesia is one of 12 countries where sponsored content now appears inside AI-generated search answers. Indonesia: Available.

    • Campaign Total Budgets for Search, PMax, and Shopping — Set a fixed total budget for 3–90 day campaigns; Google’s AI paces your spend. Global open beta since January 15, 2026. Indonesia: Available.

    • AI Max Text Guidelines Rolling Out (Q1 2026) — Advertisers can now set term exclusions and message restrictions to control AI-generated ad copy in AI Max and PMax. Indonesia: Available (rolling out).

    • Veo 3 in Asset Studio — Text-to-video generation is coming to Google Ads Asset Studio, letting advertisers create video ads from text prompts. Indonesia: Unconfirmed.​

    • Crypto Ad Policy — Indonesia Explicitly Included — OJK-licensed crypto exchanges and software wallets can now advertise when targeting Indonesia. Indonesia: Available.

    • Call-Only Ads Deprecated — You can no longer create new call-only ads as of February 2026. Migrate to RSAs with call assets immediately. Indonesia: Available (global).

    • Demand Gen Lookalike → AI Suggestion Model (March 2026) — Lookalike segments will default to AI-driven suggestion mode, expanding beyond your seed list. Indonesia: Available.

    2) What’s New

    AI & Automation

    AI Max Text Guidelines — Rolling Out Q1 2026 (Official)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: Search (AI Max), PMax

    What changed:
    Text guidelines give advertisers two new controls over AI-generated ad copy: Term Exclusions (up to 25 exact words/phrases the AI must never use) and Message Restrictions (up to 40 natural-language rules steering AI behavior, e.g., “Don’t imply our products are discounted”). These apply when text customization is enabled in AI Max for Search or Performance Max campaigns.

    Why it matters:

    • Prevents brand-damaging copy from being auto-generated (e.g., “cheap,” “bargain” for premium brands)

    • Ensures compliance messaging is maintained in regulated industries

    • Allows creative teams to trust AI automation without losing brand voice

    • Reduces manual review time for AI-generated assets

    • Supports multilingual campaigns where certain terms must be excluded

    Who should care: All advertisers using AI Max or PMax, especially brands with strict messaging guidelines, regulated industries (finance, health), and premium/luxury positioning.

    Indonesia availability: Available (rolling out)

    • Evidence: Google’s Ginny Marvin confirmed text guidelines “will start rolling out to more advertisers this fall” (September 2025), with full availability through Q1 2026. The feature is expanding globally to all advertisers.

    Action steps:

    1. Check your AI Max or PMax campaign settings for the text guidelines option

    2. Create a brand exclusion list: identify 10–25 words that conflict with your positioning (e.g., “murah,” “gratis” if you’re premium)

    3. Write 5–10 message restrictions using natural language (e.g., “Never imply free shipping when we charge delivery fees”)

    4. Review your current auto-generated assets in the asset report to identify patterns you want to prevent

    5. Test with one campaign first before applying across all campaigns

    6. Review generated assets weekly during the first month

    Risks/caveats: Text guidelines only work when text customization is turned on. They do not apply to manually created headlines/descriptions. Over-restricting can limit AI’s ability to find high-performing combinations.

    Sources:

    Demand Gen Lookalike Segments → AI Suggestion Model (Official)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: Demand Gen

    What changed:
    Starting March 2026, Lookalike segments in Demand Gen campaigns will default to an AI-driven “suggestion mode” instead of strict similarity-based targeting. The AI can expand beyond the selected seed list to find users most likely to convert, similar to Meta’s Advantage+ approach. Advertisers can opt out per ad group to retain legacy Lookalike targeting. Minimum seed list size of 100 users remains unchanged.

    Why it matters:

    • Potential increase in conversion volume by reaching users the AI deems high-intent but who don’t strictly resemble your seed list

    • Reduces the need to build and maintain multiple Lookalike segments manually

    • Aligns Demand Gen targeting with the same AI-expansion logic used in PMax

    • May lower CPAs for top-of-funnel campaigns as the AI finds cheaper conversion paths

    • Advertisers running WhatsApp-flow lead gen through Demand Gen may see broader lead pools

    Who should care: Ecommerce, lead gen, and app advertisers running Demand Gen campaigns; anyone using Lookalike segments for audience expansion.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: The update applies to all Demand Gen campaigns globally. The Google Ads Help Center confirms: “Lookalike segments will default to a suggestion mode for Demand Gen campaigns in Google Ads.”​

    Action steps:

    1. Review current Demand Gen Lookalike audience performance as a baseline before March

    2. Decide per ad group: keep AI suggestion mode or opt out to legacy

    3. For high-value campaigns where lead quality matters, consider opting out initially and testing in a separate ad group

    4. Monitor lead quality metrics (not just volume) closely for 2–4 weeks after March rollout

    5. Ensure your CRM or lead scoring system can differentiate Demand Gen leads to measure quality shift

    Risks/caveats: Reduced control over audience similarity thresholds. Lead quality may initially dip as the AI explores broader audiences. The opt-out is per ad group, not campaign-level.

    Sources:

    Direct Offers in AI Mode (Official — Pilot)

    Impact Level: Medium | Applies to: Shopping / AI Mode

    What changed:
    Google launched “Direct Offers,” a new Google Ads pilot that lets retailers surface exclusive, personalized discounts directly inside AI Mode when Google detects high purchase intent. Instead of a traditional ad, the AI presents a contextual deal (e.g., “20% off”) at the exact moment a shopper is ready to buy. Launched at NRF 2026 on January 11. Initial partners include Petco, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Samsonite, Rugs USA, and Shopify merchants.

    Why it matters:

    • Conversion pressure shifts earlier , inside Google’s AI conversation rather than on your website

    • Creates a new “sponsored deal” format tied to purchase intent signals

    • Brands with strong Merchant Center data and competitive pricing get first-mover advantage

    • May significantly boost conversion rates for promotions when combined with AI’s intent detection

    Who should care: Ecommerce, D2C brands, retail.

    Indonesia availability: Not available

    • Evidence: “The pilot launched at NRF 2026 on January 11 and is currently available to select US advertisers.” International expansion timelines have not been disclosed.

    Action steps (prepare now):

    1. Ensure your Merchant Center feed is immaculate, accurate pricing, high-quality images, structured promotion data

    2. Start setting up promotions in Merchant Center so you’re ready when the pilot expands

    3. Build a promotions calendar with competitive offers (percentage discounts, bundles, free shipping)

    4. Monitor Google announcements for Asia-Pacific pilot expansion

    Risks/caveats: US-only pilot; no confirmed timeline for Indonesia. Requires Merchant Center integration and Google certification for participating retailers.

    Sources:

    Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) — Agentic Commerce (Official)

    Impact Level: Medium | Applies to: Shopping / Merchant Center

    What changed:
    Google launched UCP, an open standard for AI-powered commerce, enabling shoppers to discover, compare, and purchase products directly within AI Mode and Gemini. UCP-powered checkout is rolling out now in the US with Etsy and Wayfair, with Shopify, Target, and Walmart coming soon. The protocol standardizes how AI agents interact with retailers across discovery, cart management, checkout, and post-purchase.

    Why it matters:

    • Represents the infrastructure layer for “agentic commerce” , AI shopping on behalf of users

    • Merchants who adopt UCP early gain visibility in AI Mode shopping experiences

    • Reduces friction: users can buy without leaving Google’s AI interface

    Who should care: Ecommerce, retail, marketplace sellers.

    Indonesia availability: Not available

    • Evidence: “Google has only announced U.S. availability for UCP checkout and AI Mode advertising as of February 2026. International expansion timelines have not been disclosed.”​

    Action steps:

    1. Maintain an active, optimized Merchant Center account

    2. Monitor UCP developer documentation for international expansion signals

    3. For Shopify-based Indonesian merchants, watch for Shopify’s UCP integration rollout

    Sources:

    Creative & Assets

    Nano Banana Pro in Asset Studio (Official)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: PMax, Demand Gen, Search, Display, YouTube

    What changed:
    Nano Banana Pro (built on Gemini 3 Pro) is Google’s most advanced image generation model, now rolling out to all active Google Ads users in Asset Studio. Key capabilities include: conversational editing (“make the background a snowy street”), multi-product showcases (up to 5 products in one scene), photorealistic accuracy with legible text rendering in images, and brand consistency via reference image uploads. Available in 8 languages. Free for all Google Ads users.

    Why it matters:

    • Eliminates the need for expensive photoshoots for many ad creative needs

    • Generate seasonal or promotional variants from existing top-performing ads without starting from scratch

    • Crisp, readable text in images, critical for promotions, sales events (Harbolnas, Ramadan)

    • Multi-product scenes allow marketers to showcase product bundles in a single creative

    • Free access removes cost barriers for SMBs and budget-sensitive Indonesian advertisers

    Who should care: All advertisers, especially ecommerce, retail, local businesses, and agencies managing multiple clients.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: “Rolling out to all active Google Ads users in Asset Studio.” Nano Banana Pro is available in Google Ads Asset Studio globally. The 8 supported languages for prompts are English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese. Bahasa Indonesia is not among the 8 prompt languages, but the tool itself is accessible to Indonesian accounts.

    Action steps:

    1. Open Asset Studio in your Google Ads account and test Nano Banana Pro today

    2. Upload your existing top-performing product images as reference assets for brand consistency

    3. Generate 3–5 seasonal variants for upcoming Ramadan or Lebaran campaigns

    4. Use conversational editing to test different backgrounds (e.g., “place product on a modern kitchen counter”)

    5. Create promotional images with text overlays (e.g., “Diskon 50%”), test legibility before deploying

    6. Build a library of 20+ image assets per asset group for PMax campaigns

    Risks/caveats: Bahasa Indonesia is not a supported prompt language (use English prompts). Generated images carry SynthID watermarks. AI may occasionally produce unrealistic product representations,  always review before publishing. Some advertisers report inconsistent results with complex prompts.

    Sources:

    Veo 3 in Ads Asset Studio (Official — Announced)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: YouTube, Display, Demand Gen, PMax

    What changed:
    Google is expanding Veo 3, its third-generation text-to-video model from DeepMind, into Ads Asset Studio. Advertisers will be able to type a description of a video concept (including scenes, movement, characters, and sound cues) and Veo 3 will generate a complete video clip that can be saved as an ad asset. Announced by Vidhya Srinivasan in her annual ads letter on February 10, 2026.

    Why it matters:

    • Video ad creation without production costs,  a game-changer for SMBs

    • Dramatically increases creative velocity for testing video hypotheses

    • Fills the “video gap” for advertisers who run image-only campaigns

    • Combines with Nano Banana Pro for end-to-end creative generation within Google Ads

    Who should care: All advertisers, especially those lacking video production resources.

    Indonesia availability: Unconfirmed

    • Evidence: Announced globally via the official Google blog, but full rollout documentation is not yet available. “While Google has not released full documentation yet, early reporting suggests advertisers will be able to type a description.” No country-specific availability list has been published.​

    Action steps:

    1. Watch for the Veo 3 feature to appear in your Asset Studio, likely rolling out in coming weeks/months

    2. Start preparing video concept briefs now: write 5–10 short video descriptions for your top products

    3. Review your current Demand Gen and PMax campaigns to identify ad groups that would benefit from video assets

    4. Ensure you have product images that could be used as reference frames for video generation

    Risks/caveats: Not yet live; no full documentation available. Quality of AI-generated video may vary. Brand review of generated videos is essential before publishing.

    Sources:

    Demand Gen Auto-Generated Video from Image Ads (Official)

    Impact Level: Medium | Applies to: Demand Gen

    What changed:
    Google Ads now automatically converts existing image and text assets in Demand Gen campaigns into short-form videos across all aspect ratios (vertical, square, horizontal). The feature uses AI to add motion, music, and voiceover. This is enabled by default for image-only ad groups. Advertisers can opt out.

    Why it matters:

    • Zero additional production cost to get video placements on YouTube, Shorts, Discover

    • Video formats typically drive higher engagement in Demand Gen campaigns

    • Expands reach into video-only inventory that image ads can’t access

    • For Indonesian advertisers relying on static banners, this is an instant upgrade

    Who should care: All Demand Gen advertisers, especially those without video production capabilities.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: The feature is globally available and auto-enabled for Demand Gen campaigns.​

    Action steps:

    1. Check your Demand Gen campaigns for the “Videos” asset optimization setting

    2. Review any auto-generated videos for brand alignment, tone, and messaging before they serve

    3. Opt out of auto-generation for campaigns where creative control is critical

    4. For other campaigns, let it run and compare performance of auto-generated videos vs. image-only ad groups

    5. Use this as a low-risk way to test video creative hypotheses

    Risks/caveats: Auto-generated videos may not perfectly match brand guidelines. Review voiceover tone, pacing, and typography. The feature is opt-out, not opt-in — check immediately.

    Sources:

    Measurement & Privacy

    New Customer Acquisition ROAS-Based Value Tool (Reported)

    Impact Level: Medium | Applies to: Search, PMax, Shopping, Demand Gen

    What changed:
    Google Ads is rolling out a feature that lets advertisers enter a target ROAS for new customers and receive a suggested conversion value, instead of manually estimating how much a new customer is worth. This removes guesswork from the new customer acquisition (NCA) bidding setup.​

    Why it matters:

    • Simplifies one of the most error-prone settings in acquisition campaigns

    • Prevents ROAS distortion caused by arbitrary flat values

    • Helps advertisers balance growth (acquiring new customers) with profitability (maintaining ROAS)

    • Particularly useful for ecommerce brands running NCA goals in PMax

    Who should care: Ecommerce, D2C, subscription businesses.

    Indonesia availability: Unconfirmed

    • Evidence: Reported by Search Engine Land with no country-specific availability noted. Likely rolling out globally as part of Google Ads Smart Bidding improvements.​

    Action steps:

    1. Check if the ROAS-based value suggestion appears in your campaign NCA settings

    2. Calculate your current average order value (AOV) and customer lifetime value (CLV) as a benchmark

    3. Test the suggested value in one campaign before applying broadly

    4. Adjust your overall tROAS target accordingly to maintain blended profitability

    Sources:

    Campaigns & Targeting

    Campaign Total Budgets for Search, PMax, and Shopping (Official)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: Search, PMax, Shopping, Demand Gen, YouTube

    What changed:
    As of January 15, 2026, campaign total budgets expanded from Demand Gen and YouTube to include Search, Performance Max, and Shopping campaigns in global open beta. Advertisers can set a fixed total budget for 3–90 day campaigns. Google’s AI paces spend based on demand signals, spending more on high-traffic days and less on slower days,  while never exceeding the total.

    Why it matters:

    • Eliminates daily budget math for time-bound promotions (Ramadan, Harbolnas, flash sales)

    • Prevents budget overruns with hard spending caps

    • Early results show ~16% traffic increase vs. equivalent daily budgets, with maintained ROAS​

    • AI pacing captures high-opportunity moments that fixed daily budgets miss

    • Reduces management overhead by 60–75% for budget adjustments​

    Who should care: All advertisers running time-bound campaigns, promotions, seasonal sales, product launches.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: “Google today expanded campaign total budgets to Search, Performance Max and Shopping campaigns globally in open beta.” PMax live in “non-US accounts.”

    Action steps:

    1. For your next promotion (e.g., Ramadan sale), select “Campaign total budget” instead of daily budget

    2. Calculate total budget: Target conversions × Target CPA × 1.25 buffer​

    3. Set clear start and end dates (3–90 days)

    4. Monitor the “Limited by budget” status indicator if showing, consider increasing total

    5. Compare performance against your last daily-budget promotion as a benchmark

    6. Use for flash sales (3–7 days) and seasonal campaigns (30–60 days) to start

    Risks/caveats: No daily spending limits, some days may spend significantly more than others. The campaign end date can be extended but the total budget is a hard cap. Learning period may take longer with shorter campaigns.

    Sources:

    Ads in AI Overviews, Indonesia Now Included (Official)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: Search, Shopping, PMax

    What changed:
    Google expanded ads in AI Overviews from US-only to 12 countries in December 2025. Indonesia is explicitly listed. Text and Shopping ads from existing Search, Shopping, and PMax campaigns now qualify for placement within or adjacent to AI-generated search answers. Google’s systems consider both the query and the AI Overview content when determining ad placement.

    Why it matters:

    • New premium ad inventory with high visibility, ads appear alongside AI-generated answers

    • No separate campaign setup required; existing campaigns automatically qualify

    • As AI Overviews expand to more queries, this represents growing inventory

    • Early mover advantage: advertisers with strong Quality Scores and relevant assets get preferential placement

    Who should care: All advertisers running Search, Shopping, or PMax campaigns targeting Indonesia.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: “Ads in AI Overviews now live in 12 countries” including Indonesia. Available in English on both mobile and desktop.

    Action steps:

    1. No activation needed, if you’re running Search, Shopping, or PMax campaigns, you’re already eligible

    2. Ensure ad relevance is high: Google matches ads to both the query AND the AI Overview content​

    3. Maximize asset quality (RSAs with full headline/description slots, high-quality images for Shopping)

    4. Review search terms reports for AI Overview-related queries (look for longer, conversational queries)

    5. Note: ads currently excluded from sensitive verticals (finance, healthcare, gambling, etc.)​

    Risks/caveats: No dedicated bidding or reporting for AI Overview placements yet. Available only for English-language searches. Sensitive verticals are excluded.

    Sources:

    Call-Only Ads Deprecation (Official — Mandatory)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: Search

    What changed:
    As of February 2026, advertisers can no longer create new call-only ads. Existing call-only ads will continue to serve until February 2027, when they will stop receiving impressions entirely. Google recommends migrating to Responsive Search Ads (RSAs) with call assets.

    Why it matters:

    • Mandatory migration, not optional

    • Industries that rely heavily on phone leads (healthcare, automotive, home services, insurance) must adapt immediately

    • RSAs with call assets actually provide more flexibility: they can show both a phone number AND a website link

    • Phone calls convert 30% faster and produce 28% higher spend than web leads​

    Who should care: Local businesses, service providers, healthcare, automotive, insurance, legal, any business relying on phone call leads.

    Indonesia availability: Available (global)

    • Evidence: “The change affects all Google Ads accounts globally.”​

    Action steps:

    1. Audit all campaigns for active call-only ads immediately

    2. Create new RSAs with call assets (formerly “call extensions”) as replacements

    3. Include your phone number as a call asset at campaign or ad group level

    4. Test RSA + call asset combinations for 2–4 weeks before pausing old call-only ads

    5. Consider call tracking (e.g., Google forwarding numbers) to maintain conversion attribution

    6. For WhatsApp-heavy Indonesian businesses, also add WhatsApp business extensions where available

    7. Deadline: complete migration by Q4 2026 to avoid disruption

    Risks/caveats: If you rely on call-only ads and don’t migrate, you will lose all phone call impressions by February 2027. RSAs with call assets show the phone number alongside other ad elements, which may reduce call prominence slightly.

    Sources:

    Policy & Compliance

    Cryptocurrency Ads Policy — Indonesia Explicitly Added (Official)

    Impact Level: High (for crypto industry) | Applies to: Search, Display

    What changed:
    Beginning February 2026, advertisers promoting cryptocurrency exchanges and software wallets targeting Indonesia may run ads if they hold the appropriate license from OJK (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan / Indonesia Financial Services Authority) and are certified by Google. Violations will receive a warning at least 7 days before account suspension.

    Why it matters:

    • Opens a new advertising channel for Indonesia’s growing crypto industry

    • Only OJK-licensed operators qualify, filters out unlicensed operators

    • Creates competitive advantage for licensed exchanges (Tokocrypto, Indodax, etc.) to acquire users via Google Ads

    • Warning-first enforcement reduces risk of immediate account suspension for accidental violations

    Who should care: Cryptocurrency exchanges, digital wallet providers, fintech companies operating in Indonesia.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: “Beginning February 2026, advertisers offering Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets targeting Indonesia may advertise those products and services when they meet the following requirements and are certified by Google.”, Google Ads Policy Help Center​

    Action steps:

    1. Verify your OJK license is current and matches Google’s requirements

    2. Apply for Google’s restricted financial products certification

    3. Prepare compliant ad copy and landing pages that meet both OJK and Google’s requirements

    4. Start with Search campaigns targeting high-intent crypto queries in Indonesia

    5. Build negative keyword lists to avoid queries related to scams, hacks, or unregulated activities

    6. Monitor the Google Ads policy page for updates to certification requirements

    Risks/caveats: Only exchanges and software wallets qualify, not all crypto products. Must maintain OJK compliance. Certification can be revoked. All local legal requirements must also be met.

    Sources:

    Gambling & Games Policy — Stricter Certification (Official)

    Impact Level: High (for gambling industry) | Applies to: All campaign types

    What changed:
    On March 23, 2026, Google Ads will introduce new certification requirements for gambling advertisers. All accounts must demonstrate “good policy health.” MCCs with significant volumes of revoked certificates or accounts violating gambling policy will lose the ability to apply for new certifications and have existing ones revoked. Domain must be owned and operated by the advertiser.

    Why it matters:

    • Raises the compliance bar for gambling advertisers globally

    • MCCs managing multiple gambling accounts face collective accountability

    • Agencies with poor compliance track records risk losing all gambling certification capabilities

    Who should care: Online gambling operators, gaming companies, agencies managing gambling accounts.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: The policy update page is available in Bahasa Indonesia on Google’s support site, indicating it applies to Indonesian accounts. The update applies globally.

    Action steps:

    1. Audit all gambling-related ads across your MCC for policy compliance before March 23

    2. Resolve any outstanding policy violations immediately

    3. Ensure your advertising domain is owned and operated by the advertiser (no third-party hosted domains)

    4. Review certification status for all accounts under your MCC

    5. Document your compliance procedures for potential future audits

    Risks/caveats: MCC-level enforcement means one bad account can affect all accounts. Deadline is March 23, 2026, less than 5 weeks away.

    Sources:

    Personalized Advertising Policy Reorganization (Official)

    Impact Level: Low | Applies to: All campaign types

    What changed:
    Google updated its Personalized Advertising policy on January 7, 2026, for “improved organization, clarity and readability.” This is administrative only, no substance or enforcement changes.​

    Indonesia availability: Available (global)

    Action steps: No action required unless you are reviewing policy documentation for compliance purposes.

    Sources:

    Reporting & UI

    PMax Channel-Level Reporting via API v23 (Official)

    Impact Level: High | Applies to: Performance Max

    What changed:
    Google Ads API v23, launched January 27, 2026, introduces channel-level reporting for Performance Max campaigns. Previously, PMax reporting returned a generic “MIXED” value for ad network type. Now, you can see performance data broken down by specific channel: Search, Search Partners, Gmail, YouTube, Display, Discover, and Maps. Data is available at campaign, asset group, and asset levels. Historical data available from mid-2025 onward.

    Why it matters:

    • Solves the #1 complaint about PMax: “Where is my money going?”

    • Enables strategic budget allocation decisions based on actual channel performance

    • Identify which channels deliver best ROAS and which are wasting spend

    • Combine with ad_using_video and ad_using_product_data segments for granular creative-channel analysis

    • Can finally justify PMax spend to clients/stakeholders with channel-specific data

    Who should care: All PMax advertisers, agencies, developers building reporting tools.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: API-level change available to all Google Ads accounts globally. “This update provides developers and advertisers with unprecedented transparency.”​

    Action steps:

    1. If you use Google Ads API or third-party tools, upgrade to API v23 immediately

    2. Update your reporting dashboards to handle specific channel enums instead of “MIXED”

    3. Pull your first channel-level PMax report and analyze: which channels drive conversions vs. which consume budget

    4. If YouTube or Display shows poor ROAS, review and improve video/image assets for those channels

    5. Cross-reference with asset group performance to identify winning creative-channel combinations

    6. For agencies: build client-facing reports that show PMax channel breakdown, this is a major trust-builder

    Example: A retailer running PMax can now see: Search drives 60% of conversions at $15 CPA, YouTube drives 25% at $22 CPA, and Display drives 15% at $40 CPA. This data enables informed decisions about asset investment.

    Risks/caveats: Requires API v23. not yet available in the Google Ads UI for all users. Developers must update client libraries. The change in behavior (MIXED → specific values) may break existing reporting systems if not prepared.

    Sources:

    Product Campaign Eligibility Dashboard (Official)

    Impact Level: Medium | Applies to: Shopping, PMax

    What changed:
    Google Ads rolled out a new product eligibility tracking feature in the Products section (February 2026). It shows which campaigns each product is eligible for, with a pop-up panel listing “Eligible” and “Not eligible” campaigns, a trends graph, and advanced filtering by status, campaign type, category, brand, and custom labels. No opt-in required — appears automatically for accounts with Shopping or PMax campaigns.

    Why it matters:

    • Instantly spot products missing from campaigns (lost revenue opportunities)

    • Identify campaign overlaps where products compete against each other

    • Reduce hours of manual troubleshooting in Merchant Center and Google Ads

    • Essential for advertisers managing large product catalogs (100+ SKUs)

    Who should care: Ecommerce, retail, marketplace sellers running Shopping or PMax campaigns.

    Indonesia availability: Available

    • Evidence: “The feature launched in February 2026 and is available to all advertisers running Shopping or Performance Max campaigns.” No geographic restrictions mentioned.

    Action steps:

    1. Navigate to Products section in Google Ads → review eligibility status for all products

    2. Filter by “Not eligible” to find products missing from campaigns

    3. Cross-check with Merchant Center diagnostics for feed issues

    4. Create a weekly audit routine to catch eligibility changes

    5. For large catalogs, export baseline data and track trends over time

    Sources:

    3) “Indonesia Lens” — Practical Local Notes

    1. AI Overviews are live in Indonesia — this is a new, high-visibility ad placement Indonesian advertisers get for free (no extra setup). Focus on ad relevance and asset quality. English-language searches only for now.​

    2. Ramadan 2026 is approaching (late February–March) — use Campaign Total Budgets for your Ramadan promotions instead of daily budgets. Set a total budget for the full 30-day campaign and let Google pace spending. This is ideal for the bursty traffic patterns during Sahur and Iftar shopping windows.

    3. WhatsApp flows remain critical — as call-only ads are deprecated, Indonesian advertisers should combine RSAs with call assets AND WhatsApp business messaging extensions for lead gen. Many Indonesian consumers prefer WhatsApp over phone calls.

    4. Budget sensitivity — Nano Banana Pro is free for all Google Ads users. Indonesian SMBs can now generate professional product images without hiring photographers or designers. Use English prompts for best results.​

    5. Lead quality risk with Demand Gen Lookalike changes — Indonesian lead gen advertisers (especially B2B and education) should closely monitor lead quality when Lookalike switches to AI suggestion mode in March. Opt out if quality drops.​

    6. Conversion tracking readiness — PMax Channel-Level Reporting is only useful if your conversion tracking is properly set up. Ensure GA4 is configured correctly, enhanced conversions are enabled, and offline conversion imports are working (for lead gen). This is a known weak point for many Indonesian advertisers.

    7. Crypto advertisers: act now — If you’re an OJK-licensed crypto exchange, you now have a first-mover advertising advantage on Google. Build Search campaigns targeting “beli bitcoin,” “exchange crypto Indonesia,” and related queries.​

    8. Language assets gap — Many AI creative tools (Nano Banana Pro prompts, Veo 3) work best in English. Indonesian advertisers should write prompts in English but include Bahasa Indonesia text as explicit instructions for text overlays in images.

    9. PMax channel transparency — With new channel reporting, Indonesian advertisers can finally check if their PMax budget is being spent efficiently across Search vs. Display vs. YouTube. If Display is consuming budget with poor ROAS, improve image assets or add placement exclusions.​

    10. Product eligibility for marketplace sellers — Indonesian ecommerce merchants (Tokopedia, Shopee sellers expanding to Google Shopping) should use the new Product Eligibility Dashboard to ensure all products are active across the right campaigns.​

    4) Quick Wins Checklist — Implement This Week

    •  Check Nano Banana Pro — Open Asset Studio → generate 3 product images for your top-selling items (free, no setup needed)

    •  Audit call-only ads — Search your account for any active call-only ads → create replacement RSAs with call assets

    •  Review Demand Gen video setting — Check if auto-generated videos are enabled → review quality, opt out if needed

    •  Set up your first Campaign Total Budget — Pick one upcoming promotion → use total budget instead of daily

    •  Pull PMax channel report — If you use API tools, upgrade to v23 → run your first channel-level report

    •  Check Product Eligibility — Navigate to Products section → filter “Not eligible” → fix top 10 issues

    •  Configure Text Guidelines — If AI Max text guidelines are available → add 10 term exclusions and 5 message restrictions

    •  Prepare Ramadan campaign assets — Use Nano Banana Pro to generate Ramadan-themed product images

    •  Review Lookalike settings — Identify Demand Gen ad groups using Lookalike → decide opt-in vs. opt-out before March

    •  Crypto advertisers: apply for certification — If OJK-licensed, apply for Google’s restricted financial products certification now

    5) Editorial Footer

    As of: February 16, 2026

    Disclaimer: Google Ads features roll out in phases. Availability may vary by account, region, billing status, and account history. Features described as “rolling out” may not yet be visible in all Indonesian accounts. Always verify feature availability in your own Google Ads account. “Reported” updates are sourced from reputable secondary sources and have not been confirmed via official Google documentation. Indonesia availability assessments are based on official documentation, global rollout statements, or marked as “Unconfirmed” where evidence is insufficient.

    Sources used: Google Ads Blog, Google Ads Developer Blog, Google Ads Help Center, Google Ads Policy Center, Search Engine Land, PPC News Feed, PPC Land, SE Roundtable, Swipe Insight, and other reputable PPC industry outlets. All sources are cited inline throughout this post.

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