Google Ads Editor 2.14 now starts new Search campaigns with AI Max defaults already on, including text asset automation and Final URL expansion. Review the toggle, retention settings, and post-click reports before you publish. A bulk build can otherwise ship a setup nobody chose.
Updated November 12, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Editor 2.14 turns on AI Max, text asset automation, and Final URL expansion for new Search campaigns.
- September 2026 migrations left Final URL expansion off; new Editor campaigns start with it on.
- Account-level NCA and retention edits stay read-only when the account uses a CTP.
- Pinned headlines are not honored when text customization and Final URL expansion are both on.
What AI Max defaults does Editor 2.14 turn on?
Release notes quoted by PPC Land say the following. Search Engine Roundtable reported the November 12, 2026 release and counted 10 new features.
AI Max, text asset automation, and Final URL expansion are now activated by default when creating new Search campaigns.
Google’s help page describes search term matching, which can be toggled off in ad group settings, and asset optimization. That panel covers text customization, called text asset automation in the Editor notes, and Final URL expansion, which can send a click to another page on the same domain. Version 2.14 changes the starting position of the AI Max toggle added in Editor 2.10 in July 2025.
How do these defaults differ from the September migration?
The September 2026 migration left Final URL expansion off. Editor 2.14 does not. The notes do not cover the web interface, the API, spreadsheet imports, or accounts that never used AI Max.
| Starting state | Search term matching | Text customization | Final URL expansion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign-level broad match, migrated Sept. 2026 | On | Off | Off |
| Automatically created assets, migrated Sept. 2026 | On | On | Off |
| New Search campaign in Editor 2.14 | On | On | On |
What should you check before you publish?
Edits stay local until you publish, so the create default is what goes live unless you change it. PPCdigest says to open the AI Max section in campaign settings before you publish. In Editor, check the AI Max toggle with the same care described in how to maximize a PPC campaign.
- Check the AI Max toggle on every new Search campaign. The notes do not say spreadsheet imports are exempt.
- Turn AI Max off, or keep it and disable features. Search term matching turns off in ad group settings. Text customization and Final URL expansion turn off in campaign settings. Turning text customization off also turns expansion off.
- If both text features stay on, pinned headlines are not honored. Test the tracking template on a dynamic page. Use {lpurl}?, {lpurl}&, or {lpurl}# when parameters follow the URL, and {lpurl} when they do not. A static URL with no {lpurl} can skip the dynamic page; other forms can 404.
- Add exact match keyword copies if priority matters. Broad keywords are not treated as exact in AI Max, and converting them to exact drops historical stats. PPCdigest notes that Google says these features need conversion-based Smart Bidding to work well; Manual CPC limits the benefit. Negative keywords still apply.
- If you use “Fetch full account data,” refresh in place so local edits survive. Replacing current account data discards them.
Which retention settings can you edit?
If the account is not using a conversion tracking parent, Editor can edit account-level New Customer Acquisition and retention settings: values for new, lapsed, and high-value customers, loyalty value multipliers, and user lists for customer tiers. The notes say, “In accounts using CTP, these settings remain read-only,” and they do not define that parent or name another screen.
Loyalty retention is supported at account and campaign level. The retention goal includes “Only bid for lapsed customers.” Confirm the account status before you edit those values in Editor.
How do you judge AI Max traffic after the click?
Search terms reports show headlines and URLs, and asset reports track spend and conversions. If a default turned AI Max on, read the search terms and the generated ad text for a few weeks before you keep it, then compare that traffic with the plan you set for paid search ROI.
Frequently asked questions
Does Editor 2.14 turn AI Max on for existing Search campaigns?
The notes activate AI Max, text asset automation, and Final URL expansion when creating new Search campaigns. They do not say this rewrites campaigns you only download, or that the web interface, API, and spreadsheet imports match.
Can you turn AI Max features off one by one?
Yes. Switch AI Max off, or keep it and disable features. Search term matching turns off in ad group settings; text customization and Final URL expansion turn off in campaign settings.
Which retention settings can Editor 2.14 change?
Without a conversion tracking parent, Editor can edit values for new, lapsed, and high-value customers, loyalty multipliers, and tier lists. CTP accounts stay read-only. Loyalty retention, including “Only bid for lapsed customers,” is supported at account and campaign level.
How do you judge AI Max traffic after the click?
Use search terms reports for headlines and URLs, and asset reports for spend and conversions. Read search terms and generated ad text for a few weeks before you keep a default you did not choose.
