Google AdSense approval comes down to one question the reviewer is really asking: would an advertiser be comfortable next to this content? Everything in the application process, from the eligibility rules to the dreaded “low value content” rejection, is a version of that question. Get the site right first and the application itself takes about ten minutes.
This guide covers what AdSense is, the requirements Google actually publishes, how to apply, why sites get rejected, and what happens after you’re approved. It’s written for publishers anywhere, so payment details are given in several currencies.
What AdSense is, in one paragraph
AdSense is Google’s ad network for publishers. You add a piece of code to your site, Google runs an auction for each ad slot, and advertisers bidding through Google Ads and other buying platforms compete to show their ads to your visitors. You’re paid a share of the revenue. You don’t deal with advertisers directly, and you don’t set prices. That simplicity is why it’s the default first step for bloggers and content sites.
Google AdSense approval requirements
Google’s eligibility page is shorter than most people expect. You need to:
- Be at least 18. Younger creators can have a parent or guardian apply with their own Google Account.
- Own the content and have access to the site’s HTML source, so you can place the AdSense code.
- Publish content that is “high-quality, original, and attract[s] an audience”.
- Comply with the AdSense Program policies before you apply, not after.
Notice what isn’t on the list: no minimum number of posts, no minimum traffic, no required domain age. Those numbers you see on forums (“30 posts and 6 months”) are folklore. They sometimes correlate with approval because a site with 30 good posts usually looks like a real publication, but the count itself isn’t the test.
A pre-application checklist that covers the real reasons for rejection
Google’s site approval guidance points at the same few problems again and again. Run through these before you request Google AdSense approval.
Content
- Every page that’s live has something worth reading. No placeholder pages, no “coming soon” sections, no categories with one thin post.
- Nothing is copied, spun or scraped. If you used AI to draft posts, they need real editing, original examples and a point of view. A site full of interchangeable AI summaries is exactly what “low value content” means.
- The site has a clear subject. A blog about travel marketing, a recipe site or a tech tutorial site reads as a publication. A random mix of topics reads as a site built for ads.
Site basics
- Working navigation, with menus that go somewhere and no broken links.
- About, Contact and Privacy Policy pages. The privacy policy should mention cookies and third-party advertising, since that’s what you’re about to add.
- The site loads reliably. “Site down or unavailable” rejections are often caused by a security plugin or firewall blocking Google’s crawler, or a maintenance-mode page left on.
- No content that breaks the publisher policies: adult material, pirated downloads, dangerous products, or misleading claims.
Technical
- You can edit the site’s header, or you have a plugin that can insert code there (Site Kit by Google does this on WordPress).
- You’re ready to add an ads.txt file at the root of your domain. More on that below.
How to create an AdSense account and apply
- Go to adsense.google.com and sign in with the Google Account you want to own the AdSense account. Use one you’ll keep; changing it later is awkward.
- Enter your site URL and choose your country or territory. This determines your payment currency and tax forms, so pick where you, or your business, are legally based.
- Fill in your payment address. Use your real legal name as it appears on your bank account.
- Connect your site. AdSense gives you a code snippet for the head of your site, or you can verify through an ads.txt snippet or a meta tag. On WordPress, Site Kit by Google handles this in a few clicks.
- Request a review. Google says the review “usually takes a few days”, though it can run longer. You’ll be notified in your account.
Don’t keep changing the site’s structure while it’s under review, and don’t reapply over and over if you’re rejected. Fix the stated reason, give it a week or two of new content, then request another review.
Why sites get rejected, and what to do about each reason
| Rejection reason | What it usually means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Low value content | Thin, generic or duplicated pages; not enough original substance | Remove or merge thin posts, add depth and original examples, then reapply |
| Site down or unavailable | Google couldn’t crawl the site | Check firewall and security plugins, turn off maintenance mode, confirm the URL you submitted |
| Policy violations | Content in a restricted or prohibited category | Remove the content or accept that this site isn’t a fit for AdSense |
| Navigation problems | Broken menus, empty categories, confusing structure | Simplify the menu and remove anything that leads nowhere |
Of these, low value content is by far the most common, and the fix is always the same: fewer, better pages. Deleting or merging ten weak posts often does more for Google AdSense approval than publishing ten new ones.
After approval: ads.txt, ad placement and getting paid
Add your ads.txt file
ads.txt is an IAB Tech Lab standard that lists who is authorized to sell ads on your domain. Google describes it as optional but strongly recommended, because it stops counterfeit inventory from competing for your advertisers’ budgets. The AdSense ads.txt guide gives you the exact line to add. It goes in a plain text file at yourdomain.com/ads.txt.
Auto ads or manual placements
Auto ads let Google decide where ads go. They’re fine for starting out. Once you have a few weeks of data, check your page speed and your bounce rate on mobile. If Auto ads are cluttering your best pages, switch those templates to manual ad units and limit the ad load. A site that’s unpleasant to read loses its search traffic, and then the ad revenue goes with it.
Payment thresholds
According to Google’s payment thresholds page, you verify your identity before ads can show, and your address once earnings pass about $10 or the local equivalent. You’re paid once your balance reaches the payment threshold:
| Currency | Payment threshold |
|---|---|
| US dollar | $100 |
| Euro | €70 |
| British pound | £60 |
| UAE dirham | AED 350 |
If you’re paid in another currency, check the same page for your local threshold.
Be realistic about what AdSense earns
Google AdSense approval is the start, not the finish line. Revenue depends on where your readers are, what they read about and how many pages they view. A page about business software read by visitors in the US or UK will usually earn far more per thousand views than a general entertainment page read in lower-cost ad markets. That’s not a reason to avoid AdSense. It’s a reason to treat it as one income stream, alongside affiliate links, your own products or services, and sponsorships, rather than the whole plan.
If you’re building a content site to earn from and want help with the structure, traffic or monetization mix, take a look at what we do at Digital Poojari.
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