Location Bulk Upload

The Location Bulk Upload feature allows you to add multiple location filters to an ad group simultaneously using a spreadsheet template, rather than entering them manually one by one. 

This is ideal for high-volume targeting setups, repeated campaigns, or workflows where you already maintain targeting data in Excel or CSV formats.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Locate the Upload Tool

1. Open your ad group in Ads Manager and navigate to the location targeting step.
2. Access the tool based on your current platform view:
   1. New Experience: Click Upload in bulk.
   2. Classic Experience: Click Bulk Location Upload.
3. Download the provided template file. Always download a fresh template to ensure system compatibility.

Step 2: Fill Out the Template

Open the template. In Column B, select your location type from the drop-down menu. The template will automatically highlight (in yellow) the specific cells required for that type.

Use this quick-reference table to ensure your manual data entry matches what the system expects:

💡 Note on Column A (Name): This column is optional and serves as your internal reference. Any custom names you enter here will carry over and appear exactly as typed in your exported location reports

Step 3: Save and Upload

1. Save your completed file in .xlsx or .csv format without altering the original column headers or sheet structure.
2. Upload the file back into Ads Manager. 
3. Click Save Locations (New Experience) or Save (Classic Experience).

Best Practices

• Adding Locations to an Existing Ad Group:
  • New Experience: Download the template from your ad group (Existing target locations are automatically pre-populated in the file) > Add your new locations below the existing rows > Save the file > Re-upload the spreadsheet. 
  • Classic Experience: Upload new location file > Select Append checkbox during upload to preserve existing location filters.
• Do not Alter the Template Structure: Do not rename, add, or delete any columns. Changing the header structure will cause the upload to fail.
• One Row, Clean Data: Keep exactly one row per location entry. Use clean, standardized values for all cities, states, and ZIP codes (e.g., 5-digit ZIP, not 9-digit).
• Double-Check Coordinates: Ensure decimal points are correct for Latitude/Longitude entries to avoid accidentally targeting the wrong area. 
• Maintain a Master Sheet: For large campaigns, maintain a master spreadsheet outside Ads Manager for version control before importing onto a fresh template for upload. 💡 Remember to paste 'Values Only' when copying data from master sheet into template.
• Verify Your Settings: If your upload succeeds but certain rows don't appear, check your ad group's device or tactic settings to ensure they support those specific location types.
• Spot-Check the Results: Always review your uploaded locations in the targeting step before moving on to the next setup step. 
• Bulk Upload vs. Location Groups: This tool applies one-time, temporary location filters directly to a single ad group. If you need reusable lists of locations across multiple campaigns, use Location Groups instead. In the evolving product model, My Locations replaces Location Manager as the centralized application for creating and managing Location Groups.

Troubleshooting Common Errors

⚠️ Important: Some targeting combinations may have device- or tactic-specific limitations. If your upload succeeds but some rows do not process, review tactic and device compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions