Frequently Asked Questions

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Overview

What are Google Ads Preferences and how do they affect which ads I see?

Many websites, such as news sites and blogs, partner with us using our AdSense program to show ads on the their sites. Based on your visits to these websites and certain Google services (including YouTube), Google uses an advertising cookie (from DoubleClick) to associate your browser with relevant interest categories. Google then uses these categories to show interest-based ads on these websites. Google's Ads Preferences Manager lets you edit the interest categories associated with your browser.

How does Google automatically add interests to my ads preferences?

As you browse certain Google services and websites that have partnered with us using our AdSense program, Google stores a cookie in your browser to understand the types of pages you visit (this cookie appears as .doubleclick.net in your browser). Based on this information, Google associates your browser with relevant interest categories and uses these categories to show interest-based ads on participating websites.

For example, if you browse many sports-related websites in our partner network, Google may associate a sports interest category with your cookie and show you more sports-related ads. Using the Ads Preferences Manager, you can edit the list of interest categories that Google has associated with your cookie.

Google will not associate sensitive interest categories with your cookie (such as those based on race, religion, sexual orientation, health, or sensitive financial categories) and will not use these categories when showing you interest-based ads.

What are "cookies" and how does Google use them to show interest-based ads?

A cookie is a snippet of text that is sent from a website’s servers and stored on a web browser. One of these cookies allows advertisers to deliver ads that are relevant to your interests and show you ads based on your previous interactions with them, such as visits to their websites.

About interest-based ads

Where does Google show me interest-based ads?

Google shows interest-based ads on websites in the Google content network (a large collection of websites and online services that use Google's AdSense program to show ads). YouTube also uses interest-based advertising to show you relevant ads on its website -- to learn more, visit YouTube Advertising and You.

Do my ads preferences apply to the ads I see when I search on Google?

No. Your ads preferences do not affect the ads you see when you search on Google.

How do ads work that are based on visits to advertiser websites?

In addition to ads based on interest categories, Google and YouTube also allow advertisers to show you ads based on your previous interactions with them, such as visits to their websites. For example, someone who visited the website of an online sporting goods store can receive ads about special offers from that store. Advertisers cannot use this technology to identify you personally, but it enables them to deliver much more relevant ads to groups of users who previously came to their website.

If you prefer not to receive such ads, you can opt out by clicking the "Opt out" button on the homepage of the Ads Preferences Manager.

What other technology does Google use to show me relevant ads?

In addition to interest-based ads, Google also shows you ads based on the content of the page you are viewing when you browse websites that use our AdSense program. For example, if you visit a gardening site, the ads that are provided by AdSense may be related to gardening.

Editing your ads preferences

How do I edit my ads preferences?

Using the Ads Preferences Manager, you can edit your ads preferences by adding interest categories that are relevant to you. You can also remove any interest categories that don't apply and Google will no longer use them for showing you interest-based ads. When you edit your ads preferences, you may not see more relevant ads immediately.

What happens when I remove an interest category?

When you remove an interest from your ads preferences, Google will no longer show interest-based ads that have been created specifically for users interested in that category. Furthermore, Google will not associate this interest with your ads preferences again in the future, unless you choose to manually add it later.

Do my ads preferences still apply when I delete my cookies, change computers, or use a different browser?

No. Your ads preferences are associated with a cookie that's specific to the browser you are using right now. When you delete your browser's cookies, change computers, or use a different browser, your ads preferences won't carry over .

I edited my ads preferences, but they disappeared. What happened?

Your ads preferences, including your custom list of interests, may disappear for one of several reasons:

Did you opt out of receiving interest-based ads? When you opt-out of interest-based ads, Google no longer associates interest categories with your browser and no interest categories will be displayed in the Ads Preferences Manager.
Are you using a different browser or computer? The interest categories are specific to the browser where you created them, so if you switch to a different browser or computer, your settings won't carry over.
Did you delete your cookies? If you delete the cookie that appears as .doubleclick.net in your browser, the associated interest categories also disappear.

Privacy

Are my ads preferences connected to my Google searches, Gmail, or Google Account information?

No. Your ads preferences are not linked to your Google searches, Gmail, or other Google Account information in any way. Your ads preferences, including your custom list of interest categories, are only associated with an advertising cookie that's stored in your browser.

What data does Google collect and how is it used?

We associate interest categories with your ads preferences based on the types of websites that you visit within the Google content network and certain Google services (including YouTube). As you browse these sites, Google scans their pages to understand the content and identify relevant interest categories. For example, when you browse many sports-related websites in the Google content network, Google may associate a sports preference with your cookie.

All information we gather is used in accordance with Google's privacy policy and helps Google improve your online experience. It is not used to identify you personally and we will not show interest-based ads based on personal information without your permission. We also will not show interest-based ads based on sensitive information or interest categories, such as those based on, race, religion, sexual orientation, health, or sensitive financial categories, without your opt-in consent.

To learn more about Google's privacy policy and about Google's use of the DoubleClick and other advertising cookies, visit the Advertising and Privacy page of our Privacy Center.

YouTube

How is YouTube using interest-based advertising?

YouTube also uses interest-based advertising to show you relevant ads on its site. Interest categories are determined by your visits to websites that use our AdSense program, as well as by the videos you prefer to watch or actions you take (such as uploading) on YouTube.

For example, if you watch many YouTube videos about cooking or take certain actions (such as uploading videos), you may see more ads related to cooking when you browse YouTube and websites in the Google content network. For some pages, YouTube will also choose ads based on the type of pages which you visit on websites that are members of the Google content network.

YouTube also allows advertisers to show you ads based on your previous interactions with them, such as visits to their websites. To learn more, see YouTube Advertising and You.

Can I use the Ads Preferences Manager to customize interest-based ads on YouTube?

Yes. The Ads Preferences Manager lets you view and edit your relevant interest categories in one place: the interest categories you select will affect the interest-based ads you see on both the Google content network and on YouTube. To learn more about interest-based advertising on YouTube, see YouTube Advertising and You.

Opting out

Can I opt out of receiving interest-based ads?

Yes. You can opt out by clicking the "Opt out" button on the homepage of the Ads Preferences Manager.

What happens when I opt out?

When you opt out of interest-based advertising, Google no longer associates any interest categories with your browser and will not show you interest-based ads. You will see the same number of ads as before, but they may not be as relevant when you opt out.

Opting out of ads preferences is technically the same as opting out of the DoubleClick cookie for the Google content network and DoubleClick ad serving. You may already be familiar with this option from the Advertising and Privacy page in our Privacy Center.

If I delete my browser's cookies, do I need to opt out again?

Yes. Because of the technical limitations of cookies, your opt-out setting disappears when you delete all cookies from your browser.

To overcome this limitation, you may download our advertising cookie opt-out plugin that allows you to clear your cookies while keeping the opt-out setting.

I've opted out of interest-based ads. Why do I still see ads that appear related to my interests?

There are a number of reasons why this may be happening:

You may be viewing ads that are not delivered by Google's AdSense program. If you are browsing a website where the ads are not delivered by AdSense your Google ads preferences do not apply.
Google shows relevant ads based on the content of a web page without knowing anything about you or your interests. For example, if you visit a gardening site with ads from Google, Google can determine the topic of the page and may automatically show ads related to gardening to all visitors.
Are you using a different browser or computer? Your ads preferences are specific to the browser where you created them, so if you switch to a different browser or computer, your settings won't carry over.
Did you delete your cookies? If you deleted your cookies, which includes the opt-out cookie, you will need to opt out again.

If you want to receive interest-based ads again, click the "Opt in" button on the homepage of the Ads Preferences Manager.