AdSense on Blogger in 2026: Setup, Ad Placement, ads.txt and Invalid Clicks

Blogger and AdSense are both Google products, so connecting them is easier than on any other platform. But the details have changed a lot since the early days: Blogger now manages ads.txt for you, Auto ads place ads without touching your theme, custom domains need their own approval, and invalid clicks are handled differently. This guide covers the whole process in 2026: getting approved, placing ads, and protecting your account from invalid clicks.

Step 1: Make your blog ready for review

AdSense reviews the whole site, not just one post. The most common rejection reason today is "Low value content". Before applying, check:

• Original, useful content. A solid set of substantial posts that answer real questions. Thin posts of a few lines, copied text, or auto-generated pages hurt approval. Improve or remove them.
• Clear navigation. A menu, labels, and working links. No broken images or empty pages.
• Required pages: About, Contact, and a Privacy Policy that mentions Google's use of advertising cookies.
• Your own domain (optional but recommended). blogspot.com blogs can be approved, but a custom domain looks more trustworthy and is yours to keep.

Step 2: Connect AdSense from Blogger

1. In Blogger, open Earnings in the left menu.
2. Click Sign up for AdSense (or connect an existing AdSense account) and use the same Google account.
3. Blogger links the blog automatically. You'll see it in AdSense under Sites as "Linked with Blogger".

Step 3: Check ads.txt

When AdSense is connected through Earnings, Blogger serves a correct ads.txt file automatically. Open https://www.example.com/ads.txt in your browser. It should show a line like:

google.com, pub-0000000000000000, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

with your own publisher ID. Leave Settings > Monetization > Enable custom ads.txt off unless you work with other ad networks too; a wrong custom file can block your ads.

Step 4: Place ads

Option A: Auto ads (easiest)

In AdSense go to Ads > By site, click the pencil next to your blog, and turn on Auto ads. Google places ads where they're likely to perform, and you can choose formats (in-page, anchor, side rails, vignettes) and limit the ad load. Use the preview to see where ads would appear before saving.

Option B: Ad units in gadgets

For fixed positions in the sidebar or between sections, use Layout > Add a Gadget > AdSense. Blogger creates the ad unit for you. Some themes also offer an ads between posts option in the Blog Posts gadget's settings.

Option C: An ad inside posts

For an ad at a specific place in a post, create a display ad unit (or in-article unit) in AdSense under Ads > By ad unit, copy the code, and paste it in the post editor's HTML view where you want it:

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-0000000000000000"
     data-ad-slot="1234567890"
     data-ad-format="auto"
     data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
<script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script>

The main AdSense script (adsbygoogle.js) needs to be on the page once. Blogger adds it when AdSense is connected; if your custom theme doesn't, add the snippet from AdSense > Sites > Get code inside <head>.

Step 5: Privacy and consent

If visitors come from the EEA, UK or Switzerland, Google requires a certified consent management platform for personalized ads. The simplest option is AdSense's own: Privacy & messaging > European regulations, create a message, and publish it to your blog. Mention advertising cookies in your Privacy Policy too.

Invalid clicks: protect your account

Invalid clicks are clicks or impressions that don't come from genuine interest: your own clicks, clicks you encourage, bots, or a competitor repeatedly clicking ads to hurt you ("click bombing"). Google filters most of them automatically and doesn't charge advertisers for them.

Rules for you

• Never click your own ads, even to test them. To see your pages without ads, use the AdSense preview tools.
• Never ask readers to click ads or reward them for clicking.
• Don't buy traffic from low-quality sources; bots from paid traffic count as invalid activity.

If you suspect click bombing

1. Look in Google Analytics for sudden spikes: many sessions from one country, city or network with very short visits.
2. Check AdSense reports (Reports > Overview) for an unusual jump in clicks or CTR on one day or one page.
3. Report it with AdSense's invalid clicks contact form (search "invalid clicks contact form" in the AdSense Help Center). Include the dates, affected pages and what you saw in your analytics.
4. Consider temporarily removing ad code from the targeted pages while it's happening.

Reporting early shows Google you're acting in good faith; it's one of the best ways to avoid your account being limited because of someone else's clicks.

FAQ

How long does AdSense review take?

Usually a few days to a few weeks. While a site shows Getting ready or Requires review, keep publishing quality content and don't resubmit repeatedly.

My site was rejected for "Low value content". What now?

Improve or remove thin posts, add substantial original articles, fix navigation and broken pages, wait a few weeks, then request review again.

Can I use other ad networks with AdSense?

Yes, as long as they don't imitate AdSense ads and you follow both networks' policies. Add their lines to a custom ads.txt in that case.

Questions about AdSense on Blogger? Ask in the comments.