Google Ads bug removes notes option for some advertisers
A technical issue in Google Ads is causing the account notes feature to disappear for some advertisers, making it more difficult to track changes, document optimizations, and explain performance fluctuations.
The issue has been appearing inconsistently over the past few weeks and was first highlighted by paid search consultant Odi Caspi, who noticed the missing option while reviewing campaign change histories.
Why this matters for advertisers
Account notes play a critical role in paid search workflows. Agencies and in-house teams rely on them to log bid changes, budget shifts, creative updates, and external factors that may influence performance.
When the notes option is unavailable, teams lose an important layer of context. This makes it harder to diagnose sudden performance changes, onboard new team members, or maintain clear documentation across long-running accounts.
In fast-moving accounts with multiple stakeholders, missing notes can quickly turn into missed insights.
What advertisers are experiencing
In affected Google Ads accounts, the usual “Add note” option no longer appears in the standard change-history pop-up where advertisers typically annotate updates.
The bug appears to be intermittent. Some users report that the notes option is visible one moment and gone the next, even within the same account. Others say the issue affects certain accounts but not others, suggesting a partial or staged bug rather than a platform-wide outage.
Because of this inconsistency, advertisers may not immediately realize that notes aren’t being saved — until they go back to review changes later.
Temporary workarounds available
While Google has not yet confirmed the issue, advertisers have shared a few temporary solutions that may help restore access to notes.
One workaround involves clicking on an existing note in the account. In some cases, this action reveals the option to add a new note. However, this method only works if there is already a note present within the selected date range.
Another option is to open the Notes panel directly from the “More” (burger) menu inside Google Ads. Some users report that the add-note functionality still appears there, even when it’s missing from the change popup.
These alternatives aren’t ideal, but they can help advertisers continue documenting changes until the issue is resolved.
No official response from Google yet
As of now, Google has not publicly acknowledged the bug or provided any guidance on when a fix might be released. There’s also no confirmation on whether the issue is tied to a UI test, phased rollout, or unintended regression.
Until more clarity is provided, advertisers may want to double-check that key changes are being documented — even if that means temporarily relying on external tools, spreadsheets, or internal documentation systems.
First spotted on LinkedIn
The issue was first shared publicly by Odi Caspi, who posted screenshots and observations from campaign reports on LinkedIn. Since then, other paid media professionals have reported seeing similar behavior in their own accounts.
What advertisers should do next?
Until the bug is resolved, advertisers should:
- Verify that notes are actually being saved after major changes
- Use alternative access points to add notes where possible
- Keep backup documentation for critical optimizations and tests
While this issue doesn’t directly impact ad delivery or performance, it affects something just as important: visibility into why performance changes happen.
For teams managing complex Google Ads accounts, that context is invaluable.