Google Simplifies Creative Review with One-Click PMax Previews

The update, first spotted by search marketer Bia Camargo, removes one of the most persistent “friction points” in the Google Ads UI: the need to navigate away from the main data table just to see what an ad looks like.

How it Works

• Instant Overlays: Advertisers can now click on an image or video thumbnail within the Asset Groups table.
• Multi-Placement View: An overlay instantly generates a preview showing the ad across YouTube, Gmail, Search, Display, and Discover.
• Stay in the Workflow: Because the preview is an overlay, you don’t lose your place in the Asset Groups list, making it much easier to compare assets across different groups.

Why This Matters for 2026 Strategy

As PMax continues to evolve toward a “keywordless” future, the creative asset is becoming the primary lever for performance.

• QA Efficiency: For teams managing large asset libraries, this update cuts down on the hours spent clicking through different menu layers to verify that a video or image looks correct in every format.
• Rapid Iteration: Being able to quickly see a preview makes it easier to spot errors in “Automatically Created Assets” or crops that don’t align with brand guidelines.
• Transparency: While small, this UI change helps surface what PMax is actually building on your behalf, addressing long-standing complaints about the lack of visibility into PMax “ad recipes.”

The “Bottom Line”

This isn’t a strategic overhaul, but it is a significant productivity boost. If you are following the 2026 best practice of treating your creative as targeting, being able to see that creative in one click is a massive win.