To delete a draft campaign in Google Ads, open the Drafts page (or the Campaigns page, where drafts are listed), check the box next to the draft, and choose Remove from the menu at the top of the table. From the Overview page, you can also hover over a draft in the Draft campaigns card and click Discard. Removing a draft doesn’t affect the original campaign.
Quick Answer
Drafts (or Campaigns) > check the draft > Remove. Or Overview > Draft campaigns card > hover > Discard.
Remove a Draft From the Drafts or Campaigns Page
- Sign in to Google Ads.
- Open the Drafts page (use the search bar at the top and type “Drafts” if you can’t find it in the menu), or open Campaigns.
- Check the box next to each draft you want to delete.
- Click Remove in the menu that appears above the table.
Discard From the Overview Page
- Go to Overview.
- Find the Draft campaigns card.
- Hover over the draft and click Discard.
Drafts vs. Campaigns
| Item | What removing it does |
|---|---|
| Draft (copy of a campaign) | Deletes the draft only; the original campaign keeps running |
| Unfinished new campaign | Discards the setup you started; nothing was running |
| Live campaign | Stops it permanently; it can’t be restored (pause instead if unsure) |
Troubleshooting
- Remove is grayed out: Your account access level may be read-only. Ask an admin.
- Draft is part of an experiment: End or remove the experiment first.
- Can’t find drafts: Check filters on the Campaigns table; drafts may be hidden by a status filter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a removed draft?
No. Create a new draft from the original campaign if needed.
Do drafts cost money?
No. Drafts don’t run ads until you apply them or turn them into experiments.
Summary
- Open Drafts or Campaigns.
- Check the draft and choose Remove.
- Or discard from the Overview page’s Draft campaigns card.
- Pause, don’t remove, live campaigns you might need.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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