Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Ads API Customer Match Uploads Changing to Data Manager API by 2026
**Google Ads API** will no longer support **Customer Match data uploads** after April 1, 2026. Advertisers must switch to the **Data Manager API** for these uploads to benefit from enhanced security and new features. This change affects developers who haven’t uploaded data in the last 180 days, causing upload attempts to fail in the old API. The Data Manager API offers a unified platform for data ingestion with confidential matching and encryption.
Optimixed’s Overview: Transitioning Customer Match Uploads from Google Ads API to Data Manager API for Enhanced Security and Features
Key Changes and Timeline
Google has announced a significant update regarding how advertisers upload Customer Match data. Starting April 1, 2026, the traditional method of uploading Customer Match data via the Google Ads API will be deprecated. Instead, all Customer Match uploads must be conducted through the new Data Manager API. This adjustment aims to streamline data management and improve security protocols.
Why This Change Matters
- Enhanced Security: The Data Manager API incorporates advanced encryption and confidential matching, offering stronger data protection than the previous Google Ads API method.
- Unified Data Ingestion: It serves as a centralized API for managing data uploads across multiple Google platforms, simplifying developer workflows.
- Developer Impact: Advertisers and developers who have not uploaded Customer Match data in the past 180 days using the Google Ads API will encounter errors if they try to continue using the old endpoints after the deadline.
Action Steps for Advertisers and Developers
To ensure uninterrupted data uploads:
- Review and update your API integration to use the Data Manager API for Customer Match list uploads.
- Continue using the Google Ads API for non-Customer Match operations as usual.
- Consult Google’s upgrade guides and official blog posts for detailed migration instructions.
By proactively transitioning to the Data Manager API, advertisers can take advantage of improved features while maintaining compliance with Google’s evolving platform requirements.
