How to Fix "Destination Not Working" Error in Google Ads: A Complete Guide
Running a Google Ads campaign can boost your traffic, leads, and sales—until you hit an error like “Destination not working.” This frustrating issue can pause your campaign and impact your business performance. But don’t worry, this guide will explain exactly what causes the “destination not working” error in Google Ads, how to fix it, and how to prevent it in the future.
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🔍 What Does "Destination Not Working" Mean in Google Ads?
The "Destination not working" error means that the URL or landing page linked to your ad isn’t accessible or functional in a way that meets Google’s policies. When Google reviews your ad, it visits the destination page to ensure it provides a good user experience. If there are issues, your ad gets disapproved or placed under "limited approval" status.
⚠️ Common Reasons for the “Destination Not Working” Error
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Broken or Non-Responsive URL
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Your landing page may be down or the URL is incorrect.
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HTTP/HTTPS Issues
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Redirects from HTTP to HTTPS (or vice versa) may not work properly.
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Website Blocked in Certain Locations
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Geo-restrictions or IP blocking can make the site inaccessible to Google bots.
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SSL Certificate Problems
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An expired or invalid SSL certificate will trigger the error.
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Redirect Errors (Too Many Redirects)
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A long redirect chain or loop can prevent the page from loading.
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Website Under Maintenance
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If your site is temporarily down or under construction, Google can’t verify it.
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Use of Unsupported Technologies
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Pages built entirely with Flash, AJAX, or require plugins may not load properly.
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Policy Violations
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The page contains malicious content, deceptive elements, or violates Google’s policies.
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✅ How to Fix “Destination Not Working” in Google Ads
1. Test Your Final URL
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Open your ad’s final URL in multiple browsers and devices.
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Use tools like httpstatus.io to check HTTP response codes.
2. Verify Hosting & Server
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Ensure your server is live, not under maintenance, and not blocking Googlebot.
3. Fix Redirect Chains
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Avoid excessive redirects or loops between URLs.
4. Check Your SSL Certificate
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Ensure the certificate is valid, not expired, and installed properly.
5. Avoid Geo-Blocking
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Googlebot crawls from US-based IPs. Ensure your site is accessible globally or to Google’s bots.
6. Scan for Malware
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Use tools like Google Search Console or Sucuri to scan your site for malicious code.
7. Comply with Google’s Destination Requirements
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Follow Google’s Destination Policies strictly to ensure approval.
🧰 Tools You Can Use
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Google Ads Policy Manager – For understanding policy disapprovals.
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Google Search Console – For URL inspection and security issues.
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SSL Checker – www.sslshopper.com
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Website Down Checker – www.isitdownrightnow.com
🚀 Get Professional Help from Biz Com Network
Struggling to resolve the error or don't want to deal with technical fixes?
Let the professionals at Biz Com Network handle it for you.
We Provide:
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Google Ads Setup & Management
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Error Resolution (Destination, Disapprovals, etc.)
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Landing Page Optimization
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Conversion Tracking Setup
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Ongoing Campaign Monitoring
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🔒 How to Prevent This Error in the Future
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Test your URL before submitting any new ad.
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Use a reliable hosting provider with 99.9% uptime.
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Maintain your SSL certificate and renew it on time.
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Avoid aggressive redirects or plugin-based redirects.
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Keep your landing pages policy-compliant and fast-loading.
✍️ Final Thoughts
The “destination not working” error in Google Ads can be a real hurdle, but it’s usually fixable with the right checks and best practices. Always ensure that your ad links lead to secure, accessible, and policy-compliant landing pages.
And if you'd rather not go through the headache, let Biz Com Network take the reins. Visit www.bizcomnetwork.co.in today and get expert help to keep your campaigns running smoothly and profitably.