In this article, you'll learn how to add a backup payment method to your Google Ads account to help ensure your ads keep running smoothly, even if your primary payment method fails.
On this page
- Get started with backup payment methods
- Set up your backup payment method
- Best practices for payment method management
- Key considerations
Get started with backup payment methods
If you use automatic payments, you'll need to have one payment method that's designated as a primary. You can also add a backup credit card to your account as a safety net. If your primary payment method fails for any reason (for example, due to insufficient funds, expired card, declined transaction), Google Ads will automatically attempt to charge your backup payment method instead. Backup methods are only used when the primary payment method cannot be charged. This helps ensure your ads continue running without interruption.
Set up your backup payment method
You can follow the steps below to add a backup payment method.
- Go to the Billingicon
and select Payment methods .
- Locate the payment method you want to set up as a backup.
- Select Set as backup. Or, you can choose Set as primaryoption as per your preference.
Set up your backup payment method
You can follow the steps below to add a backup payment method.
- Go to Settings
under Billing
- In the Payment methodssection, find the payment method you want to set as a backup.
- Open the Actionsdropdown menu, then select Set as backup payment method.
If a backup payment method isn’t added, you’ll continue to notice an alert at the top of the page reminding you to do so.
Note: Only credit or debit cards (where available) can be used as backup payment methods, but not a bank account. You can only have one backup payment method at a time, even if there are multiple payment methods on file.
Best practices for payment method management
- Always ensure your backup card is valid and has available funds.
- Review your billing settings regularly to make sure everything is up to date.
Key considerations
- If both your primary and backup methods fail, your ads may stop running until a successful payment is made.
- Adding a backup method doesn’t affect your billing threshold or payment schedule, it only acts as a fallback.
