Observed Signal · Apr 17, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: https://www.blogger.com/feeds/7815614485808579332/posts/default?category=google_ads_api&orderby=published · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Google Ads API to Require Multi‑Factor Authentication
Google announced that the Google Ads API will begin requiring multi‑factor authentication (MFA/2‑step verification) for users starting April 21, 2026, with rollout to all users over the following weeks. New OAuth 2.0 refresh token generation using the user authentication workflow will prompt users for a second authentication factor in addition to username and password; existing refresh tokens will continue to work. Service account workflows are unaffected and recommended for automated/offline applications. Products that use Google user authentication for Ads management — including Google Ads Editor, Google Ads Scripts, BigQuery Data Transfer Service and Data Studio — will also challenge users with MFA. Users can check or enable 2‑Step Verification in their Google Account Security settings; administrators may need to enable the feature for managed accounts.
Major platform (Google) policy requiring MFA affects authentication flows and developer integrations across Google Ads tooling and connected services, with implications for identity, security posture and operational workflows in the ad ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Google Ads API will require multi‑factor authentication (MFA/2‑step verification) starting April 21, 2026; rollout will continue over subsequent weeks.
- New OAuth 2.0 refresh token generation via the user authentication workflow will require a second authentication factor.
- Existing OAuth refresh tokens are not affected and will continue to work without reauthorization.
- Service account workflows are not affected by the MFA requirement; Google recommends them for automated or offline workflows.
- Google Ads Editor, Google Ads Scripts, BigQuery Data Transfer Service and Data Studio users will be challenged with MFA when using user authentication.
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Google Ads API Requires Multi-Party Approvals
Google announced that the Google Ads API will require multi-party approvals for sensitive account actions. The change affects inviting users and updating or revoking user access: when the API determines a review is necessary it will pause the normal workflow, create a MultiPartyAuthReview resource, and require approval by a second account administrator before the action takes effect. Developers can query pending reviews via GoogleAdsService.Search or SearchStream with GAQL and resolve them using MultiPartyAuthReviewService.ResolveMultiPartyAuthReview. The rollout begins July 27, 2026 and will be enabled for all users over the following weeks. Google added support for multi-party approvals across major API versions (v24.2, v23.3, v22.2 and v21.2) and urges developers to update client libraries and application logic to handle the new workflows before the rollout date.
Google Ads API Sees Surge in Developer Token Applications
Google posted an update noting increased developer token access applications for the Google Ads API following recent releases (Explorer Access, MCP server, Developer Assistant). Application reviews are taking longer than usual; Google has added reviewers, cleared some backlog items, and fast-tracked certain applications. The post advises developers to continue using Explorer Access if it meets their needs and to upgrade to Basic Access only if they consistently exceed quotas, expect growth, or require features unavailable in Test/Explorer access. Google lists actions to help speed Basic Access reviews: ensure managed child accounts are linked under the signing Manager account, complete advertiser verification for accounts, include an OAuth App‑verified Google Cloud project number when applicable, and provide clear, specific use-case details in the application. For technical support, developers are directed to Google Ads support.
Google Ads API v24.2 Released
Google announced the v24.2 release of the Google Ads API (published 2026-06-25). The minor release includes security updates, multi-party approvals (MPA) to require secondary admin approval for sensitive account actions, and AI-transparency features that expose SyntheticContentInfo and SyntheticContentAttestation on Asset and Ad resources so advertisers and Google systems can attest to AI-generated creatives. Reporting and asset enhancements include Performance Max placement segmentation by ad_network_type, YouTube brand channel links, automatic landing-page text generation, and new experiment types (Campaign Mix Experiments and Performance Max feature testing). Google also published updated client libraries, revamped release notes and deprecation guidance, and released minor versions v23.3, v22.2 and v21.2 with early interfaces for synthetic content attestation.
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