Google Ads bug hits GCLID conversion tracking

Advertisers may lose critical insights and optimization opportunities due to a Google Ads issue affecting GCLID offline conversion tracking.

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Some advertisers are reporting issues with Google Ads’ GCLID (Google Click Identifier) offline conversion uploads, starting on Sept. 12.

Although uploads are marked as successful, the associated conversion actions are showing zero results.

Why we care. Conversion data is the backbone of measuring campaign effectiveness. Without accurate tracking, it’s impossible to assess ROI, optimize bids, or make informed decisions on ad spend.

Driving the news: Multiple advertisers, including Benjamin Wenner and Josiah Daves, flagged the issue on X, noting missing conversion data across several accounts. Daves reported that more than 250 of their accounts have been affected, with conversions dropping off after 2 p.m. EST on September 12.

The response. The Google Ads team is aware of the issue and is investigating with urgency, Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin confirmed. The bug seems to be specific to GCLID-based offline conversions, with standard conversion tags unaffected.

What’s next. Advertisers are awaiting further updates from Google as the investigation continues, hoping this is just a visual reporting error rather than a deeper data loss. Be first to find out the resolution on this issue by following the Google Ads Status Dashboard.

September 16th Update. The Issue was resolved over the weekend on Saturday.


About the author

Anu Adegbola
Staff
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.

In 2008, Anu's career started with
 delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
 
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event - PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup.
 
She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.

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