MCP Google Ads Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for the Google Ads API with built-in safeguards for review before changes go live. Production-proven with MCC (Manager Account) support, 36 tools for campaign management, reporting, and optimization. v1.2.0 adds Demand Gen campaign creation end-to-end.

Features

• MCC Support: Works with Manager accounts and multiple client accounts
• Auto-Context: Detects which client account based on your working directory
• Safe by Default: All new items created in PAUSED state
• Approval Workflow: Enable items only after manual review
• Validation: Validates ads before creating to catch errors early
• Resilience: Circuit breakers, retry with backoff, and timeout handling (cockatiel)
• Structured Logging: Pino-based logging with build fingerprinting

Setup

1. Google Ads API Access

You need:

• A Google Ads Developer Token (apply at Google Ads API Center)
• OAuth credentials (Client ID & Secret from Google Cloud Console)
• A Refresh Token for your MCC account

Getting OAuth Credentials

1. Go to Google Cloud Console
2. Create a project or select existing
3. Enable the Google Ads API
4. Go to Credentials → Create Credentials → OAuth Client ID
5. Choose Desktop App
6. Download the JSON (contains client_id and client_secret)

Getting a Refresh Token

Bring your own OAuth client (the client_id / client_secret from the step above) and run the bundled helper. It runs Google's installed-app loopback flow with PKCE (S256) and prints your refresh token. It reads nothing from your home directory and needs no shared OAuth keyfile.

export GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID="YOUR_CLIENT_ID.apps.googleusercontent.com"
export GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET="YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET"
node get-refresh-token.cjs

Your browser opens for Google sign-in; approve as the Google account that owns the Ads data. On success the helper prints one line to stdout:

GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN=1//0a...

Set that value in your environment (or config.json, below). The OAuth scope requested is read from config.json (oauth.scope), falling back to config.example.json, so the helper and the running server always request the same scope. This MCP requests only the minimum scope it needs: https://www.googleapis.com/auth/adwords.

Do not run this with stdout redirected to a shared log file — the refresh token is printed to stdout by design.

Note: GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN is a separate Google Ads API credential, not an OAuth scope — set it independently (see Environment Variables below).

2. Install

npm install mcp-google-ads

Or clone and build from source:

git clone https://github.com/mharnett/mcp-google-ads.git
cd mcp-google-ads
npm install
npm run build

Security: Never share your .mcp.json file or commit it to git -- it may contain API credentials. Add .mcp.json to your .gitignore.

3. Configure

cp config.example.json config.json

Edit config.json with your credentials:

{
  "oauth": {
    "scope": "https://www.googleapis.com/auth/adwords"
  },
  "google_ads": {
    "developer_token": "YOUR_DEVELOPER_TOKEN",
    "client_id": "YOUR_CLIENT_ID.apps.googleusercontent.com",
    "client_secret": "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET",
    "refresh_token": "YOUR_REFRESH_TOKEN",
    "mcc_customer_id": "123-456-7890"
  },
  "clients": {
    "my-client": {
      "customer_id": "111-222-3333",
      "name": "My Client",
      "folder": "/path/to/client/workspace"
    },
    "another-client": {
      "customer_id": "444-555-6666",
      "name": "Another Client",
      "folder": "/path/to/another/workspace"
    }
  },
  "defaults": {
    "create_paused": true,
    "label_prefix": "claude-",
    "require_approval_for_enable": true
  }
}

Environment Variables

Alternatively, set credentials via environment variables (these override config.json):

Variable	Required	Description
GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN	Yes	Google Ads API developer token
GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID	Yes	OAuth 2.0 client ID
GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET	Yes	OAuth 2.0 client secret
GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN	Yes	OAuth 2.0 refresh token
GOOGLE_ADS_MCP_WRITE	No	Set to true to expose mutating tools (create/update/pause/enable/remove/apply). Default: read-only.

Read-only by default

The server ships read-only. Mutating tools (anything that creates, updates, pauses, enables, removes, links, or applies) are hidden from the tool list until you set GOOGLE_ADS_MCP_WRITE=true in the MCP server environment. If a write tool is somehow invoked without that flag, the server returns a clear error pointing at the env var.

This is deliberate: a casual chat message like "activate the Fundraising campaign" should not move live ad spend without an explicit opt-in.

4. Add to Claude Code

Add to your Claude Code MCP settings (~/.claude/settings.json or project settings):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-ads": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["node_modules/mcp-google-ads/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Or if installed from source:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-ads": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-google-ads/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Code.

Claude Desktop: Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows).

Usage

Workflow

1. cd into client folder → auto-detects account context
2. Ask Claude to create campaigns/ads → all created PAUSED
3. Review in Google Ads UI or Editor
4. Tell Claude to enable approved items
5. Claude enables (requires your approval prompt)

Available Tools (36)

Context & Discovery

Tool	Description
google_ads_get_client_context	Detect which account from working directory
google_ads_list_campaigns	List all campaigns with status and metrics
google_ads_list_ad_groups	List ad groups in a campaign
google_ads_list_pending_changes	Show paused items with claude- label
google_ads_list_conversion_actions	List conversion actions

Campaign Management

Tool	Description
google_ads_create_campaign	Create campaign (PAUSED). Supports SEARCH + DEMAND_GEN channels, richer bidding (MANUAL_CPC / MAXIMIZE_CLICKS / MAXIMIZE_CONVERSIONS / TARGET_CPA), geo + language targeting, start/end dates
google_ads_create_ad_group	Create ad group (PAUSED). type accepts SEARCH_STANDARD (default) or DEMAND_GEN_MULTI_ASSET_AD_GROUP
google_ads_create_responsive_search_ad	Create RSA with validation (PAUSED)
google_ads_create_image_asset	Upload PNG/JPG/GIF image asset (validates ≤5MB, ≥600×314) for use in Demand Gen ads
google_ads_create_demand_gen_multi_asset_ad	Create a Demand Gen multi-asset ad (PAUSED) — validates char/count caps before API call, fails fast if ad_group isn't DG
google_ads_create_keywords	Create keywords (PAUSED)
google_ads_validate_ad	Validate RSA without creating
google_ads_enable_items	Enable items (make LIVE) — requires approval
google_ads_pause_items	Pause active items
google_ads_pause_keywords	Pause specific keywords
google_ads_update_campaign_budget	Update campaign daily budget

Tracking & URLs

Tool	Description
google_ads_get_campaign_tracking	Get tracking templates and URL parameters
google_ads_update_campaign_tracking	Update tracking templates

Negative Keywords

Tool	Description
google_ads_create_shared_set	Create shared negative keyword list
google_ads_link_shared_set	Link shared set to campaign
google_ads_unlink_shared_set	Unlink shared set from campaign
google_ads_add_shared_negatives	Add keywords to shared negative list
google_ads_remove_shared_negatives	Remove keywords from shared list
google_ads_add_campaign_negatives	Add campaign-level negatives
google_ads_remove_campaign_negatives	Remove campaign-level negatives
google_ads_remove_adgroup_negatives	Remove ad group-level negatives

Performance & Reporting

Tool	Description
google_ads_keyword_performance	Keyword metrics with quality score
google_ads_keyword_performance_by_conversion	Keyword metrics by conversion action
google_ads_ad_performance	Ad-level performance metrics
google_ads_ad_performance_by_conversion	Ad metrics by conversion action
google_ads_search_term_report	Search term query report
google_ads_search_term_report_by_conversion	Search terms by conversion action
google_ads_search_term_insights	Search term category insights
google_ads_search_term_insight_terms	Terms within insight categories
google_ads_keyword_volume	Keyword planner volume estimates

Advanced

Tool	Description
google_ads_gaql_query	Run raw GAQL queries

Example Commands

# Check which account you're working with
"What Google Ads account am I connected to?"

# List campaigns
"Show me all campaigns in this account"

# Create a new campaign
"Create a Search campaign for brand terms with $50/day budget"

# Check what's pending review
"What changes are pending my review?"

# After reviewing in Google Ads UI
"Enable the approved ads in the Brand campaign"

# Performance analysis
"Show me keyword performance for the last 30 days, sorted by cost"

# Run custom GAQL
"Run a GAQL query to get all ad groups with CTR below 2%"

Example: Create a Demand Gen Campaign End-to-End

# 1. Campaign: $75/day, DEMAND_GEN channel, MAXIMIZE_CONVERSIONS default,
#    targeting Alaska (21134) + Maine (21141) in English
google_ads_create_campaign({
  name: "DG - Spring Promo",
  daily_budget: 75,
  channel_type: "DEMAND_GEN",
  geo_target_ids: ["21134", "21141"],
  start_date: "2026-05-01",
  end_date: "2026-06-30"
})
# → campaign_id: 555123

# 2. Ad group: DEMAND_GEN_MULTI_ASSET_AD_GROUP
google_ads_create_ad_group({
  campaign_id: "555123",
  name: "DG AG 1",
  type: "DEMAND_GEN_MULTI_ASSET_AD_GROUP"
})
# → ad_group_id: 555456

# 3. Image assets (PNG/JPG/GIF, ≥600×314, ≤5MB). Returns {asset_id, ...}
google_ads_create_image_asset({ name: "hero-landscape", file_path: "/abs/path/hero.png" })
# → asset_id: 42001
google_ads_create_image_asset({ name: "hero-square",    file_path: "/abs/path/square.png" })
# → asset_id: 42002
google_ads_create_image_asset({ name: "logo",           file_path: "/abs/path/logo.png" })
# → asset_id: 42003

# 4. Demand Gen multi-asset ad (PAUSED). Validates char + count caps first.
google_ads_create_demand_gen_multi_asset_ad({
  ad_group_id: "555456",
  final_urls: ["https://example.com/spring"],
  business_name: "Example Org",
  call_to_action: "LEARN_MORE",
  marketing_image_asset_ids: ["42001"],          // 1.91:1 landscape, ≥1 required
  square_marketing_image_asset_ids: ["42002"],   // 1:1 optional
  logo_image_asset_ids: ["42003"],               // logo optional
  headlines: ["Spring Sale Now On", "Save 20% Today"],     // max 5, ≤40 chars each
  long_headlines: ["A longer pitch under ninety characters."], // max 5, ≤90 chars
  descriptions: ["Shop the latest looks.", "Free returns."]   // max 5, ≤90 chars each
})
# → resource_name: customers/.../adGroupAds/555456~67890000

After all four calls the campaign, ad group, and ad all live in your account in PAUSED state and are labeled Claude-MM-DD-YY. Review in the Google Ads UI, then enable via google_ads_enable_items.

Safety Features

1. Everything starts PAUSED — Nothing goes live until you explicitly enable it
2. Label tracking — All Claude-created items get a claude-pending label
3. Validation — Ads are validated before creation (headline/description lengths, etc.)
4. Approval prompts — The enable_items tool requires explicit approval in Claude Code
5. Client isolation — Working directory determines which account, preventing cross-client mistakes

Adding New Clients

Edit config.json to add clients. Map each client to a working directory:

{
  "clients": {
    "client-slug": {
      "customer_id": "123-456-7890",
      "name": "Client Name",
      "folder": "/path/to/client/workspace"
    }
  }
}

No server restart needed — config is read on each request.

Troubleshooting

"No client found for working directory"

• Make sure you're in a folder that matches one of your clients entries
• Check that the folder path in config.json matches exactly

"Developer token not approved"

• New developer tokens need approval from Google
• Use a test account while waiting for approval

"Authentication failed"

• Refresh token may be expired — regenerate it
• Check that client_id and client_secret are correct

License

MIT — see LICENSE for details.