POLICY_ERROR: A policy was violated (Google Ads)

What this error means

Google checked your keywords and ad text against its ads policies and rejected at least one of them. Common causes are health and medical claims, financial terms, trademarks you do not own, and phrasing Google reads as misleading ("guaranteed", "cure", "best in Austin"). Google's raw message says only that a policy was violated; when Google names the policy and the flagged text, AdWhispr shows both in the chat.

Whose side it is on

Google's policy and your copy. The launch itself was built correctly.

How to fix it

1. Read the flagged part in the chat's message: the policy name and, when Google provides it, the exact keyword or headline.
2. Remove or reword it. Replace the claim with something specific and verifiable: "Same-day appointments" instead of "Guaranteed pain relief".
3. If the term is essential to your business, request a policy exemption in Google Ads. Some health, financial and trademark terms are allowed for advertisers who complete Google's certification or hold the trademark.
4. Some campaigns are created in full and then rejected at review. Ask the chat "why is my campaign not spending?" and the per-keyword diagnostics list approval issues.

Relaunch

Run the same launch with the corrected keywords and text. If the campaign was partly created before the rejection, the chat tells you what exists; resume or edit that rather than creating a second campaign with the same name.

Frequently asked questions

Google did not say which word. What now?

Reword the most likely culprits first: absolute claims, medical or financial promises, and competitor brand names in headlines or keywords. Then relaunch.

Will my whole campaign be rejected for one keyword?

The launch stops at the rejection. Remove that keyword or text and relaunch; the rest is fine.

Can AdWhispr request the exemption for me?

No. Policy exemptions are requested inside Google Ads by the account owner.