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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complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-06-04 UTC."],[[["Google Ads scripts require authorization because they can run independently of the user's active session, performing actions on their behalf."],["Scripts need explicit user permission to access and modify Google Ads account data, even when the user is not signed in."],["Users can manage script and application permissions through their Google Account's Security page, reviewing and controlling third-party access."],["Scripts may need reauthorization if the original author loses access to the Google Ads account, ensuring continued functionality."],["Authorization is typically a straightforward process, prompted automatically when previewing, running a script, or after authorization lapse, requiring users to follow on-screen instructions."]]],[]]