{"id":1707,"date":"2026-03-03T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dynamicseopro.com\/news\/google-ads-three-strikes-system-managing-warnings-strikes-and-suspension\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:00:00","slug":"google-ads-three-strikes-system-managing-warnings-strikes-and-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dynamicseopro.com\/news\/google-ads-three-strikes-system-managing-warnings-strikes-and-suspension\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Ads\u2019 three-strikes system: Managing warnings, strikes, and suspension"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dynamic<\/div>\n

Every year, Google suspends tens of millions of Google Ads accounts<\/a> for advertising policy violations. One specific policy area that confuses many legitimate advertisers is Google\u2019s \u201cthree-strikes\u201d system.<\/p>\n

Essentially, if Google decides your account has repeatedly violated any of 15 specific Google advertising policies<\/a>, you\u2019re at risk for temporary (and potentially permanent) suspension of your Google Ads account.<\/p>\n

To help you prevent a single policy issue from snowballing into a full account suspension<\/a>, here\u2019s how Google\u2019s three-strike system works and what you should do at every stage to keep your ads running.<\/p>\n

Case study: Appealing a Google Ads strike<\/h2>\n

Over the past 10+ years, I\u2019ve helped thousands of advertisers identify and resolve Google\u2019s policy concerns so that their businesses can resume running ads. One such situation involved helping a business that sells ceremonial swords for military dress uniforms.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s Other Weapons<\/a> policy prohibits advertising swords intended for combat. However, that same policy permits the advertising of non-sharpened, ceremonial swords, which is what this business sells. Even though this business was properly advertising its products within Google\u2019s ad policy parameters, Google issued them a warning for violating the Other Weapons policy.<\/p>\n

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After the warning, we documented for Google that the business wasn\u2019t violating Google\u2019s policy. We also added specific disclaimers to the business\u2019s sword product pages, noting that the swords were only ceremonial. Frustratingly, Google decided to issue a first strike to the business anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We appealed the strike because the business wasn\u2019t violating Google\u2019s policy. But Google quickly denied that appeal. We tried appealing again, and Google denied the second appeal. The ad account remained on hold with no ads serving, and the business was losing revenue.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, we had to \u201cacknowledge\u201d the strike to Google (I\u2019ll explain what that means later) so that the ads would resume serving. We then worked with Google to craft more precise disclaimer language, stating that the swords for sale were ceremonial blades and not sharpened for use as weapons. This disclaimer was added to the business\u2019s website footer so that both Google\u2019s robots and human reviewers could see it on every single page (regardless of whether swords were for sale on a particular page).<\/p>\n

Because of all these changes, Google\u2019s concerns were satisfied and the business has never received any subsequent warnings or strikes. The end result was a success, even though technically there should never have been a warning or strike issued because an actual policy violation never occurred.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway: <\/strong>Google will sometimes incorrectly issue warnings and strikes, and even reject appeals, and will often require excessive website disclaimers to convince them that all is well.<\/p>\n

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Navigating Google\u2019s three-strikes system<\/h2>\n

Understanding Google\u2019s strikes system can save your ads account from suspension. The search giant adheres to a system that begins with an initial warning and is followed by a \u201cthree strikes and you\u2019re out\u201d protocol.<\/p>\n

The warning: Your \u2018mulligan\u2019 opportunity<\/h3>\n

Before issuing your ad account an initial strike, Google will first send you a warning notification.<\/p>\n

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This warning informs you that there\u2019s a problem and allows you to address and resolve Google\u2019s concern before your account is penalized with an official strike.<\/p>\n