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Why authorization is necessary
Normal access to Google Ads requires that a user be present and actively making
changes with an active session in order to make changes or read data from a
Google Ads account. Google Ads scripts, however, are different in that they can
execute even when the user is not signed in:
Scheduled scripts run periodically, whether or not the user happens to be
signed in at the time.
Since scripts can take up to 30 minutes to complete, the user could have
signed out of Google Ads in the meantime.
Scripts are basically independent entities that take actions on the user's
behalf. For that reason, you must explicitly grant scripts permission to run.
You can review permissions granted to your scripts and other applications by
navigating to your account's Security page
and clicking Manage third-party access.
How to authorize
The first time you try to preview or run a script, or whenever authorization
has lapsed for any reason, you are prompted to authorize the script
automatically. Just follow the on-screen instructions when this happens.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-25 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eGoogle Ads scripts require authorization because they can run independently of the user's active session, performing actions on their behalf.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eScripts need explicit user permission to access and modify Google Ads account data, even when the user is not signed in.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUsers can manage script and application permissions through their Google Account's Security page, reviewing and controlling third-party access.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eScripts may need reauthorization if the original author loses access to the Google Ads account, ensuring continued functionality.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAuthorization is typically a straightforward process, prompted automatically when previewing, running a script, or after authorization lapse, requiring users to follow on-screen instructions.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Authorization\n\nWhy authorization is necessary\n------------------------------\n\nNormal access to Google Ads requires that a user be present and actively making\nchanges with an active session in order to make changes or read data from a\nGoogle Ads account. Google Ads scripts, however, are different in that they can\nexecute even when the user is not signed in:\n\n- Scheduled scripts run periodically, whether or not the user happens to be signed in at the time.\n- Since scripts can take up to 30 minutes to complete, the user could have signed out of Google Ads in the meantime.\n\nScripts are basically independent entities that take actions **on the user's\nbehalf**. For that reason, you must explicitly grant scripts permission to run.\n\nYou can review permissions granted to your scripts and other applications by\nnavigating to [your account's Security page](//www.google.com/settings/security)\nand clicking **Manage third-party access**.\n| **Note:** If the original author of a script is disassociated with the Google Ads account from which the script was created, the script will stop running but remain available. If you wish for the script to continue to run, someone who still has access to the account must reauthorize it.\n\nHow to authorize\n----------------\n\nThe first time you try to preview or run a script, or whenever authorization\nhas lapsed for any reason, you are prompted to authorize the script\nautomatically. Just follow the on-screen instructions when this happens."]]
