On 21 July 2025, Google Ads added a light-bulb hover icon beside the Optimization Score in the Campaigns table, allowing advertisers to view single-line improvement tips without navigating away from the page. The update was first spotted by Hana Kobzová and has yet to be publicly acknowledged by Google.
Google Ads optimization score column
Advertisers will now find a small light-bulb icon directly to the left of each campaign’s percentage-based Optimization Score. Hovering over the icon opens a compact pop-up that displays one suggestion, such as adding missing sitelinks. The pop-up closes automatically when the cursor moves away, making it easy to scan multiple campaigns in seconds.
- Icon appears beside the score in the Campaigns table.
- Pop-up surfaces a single recommendation pulled from the existing Recommendations engine.
- Early examples include prompts to add sitelinks on campaigns with a 72.7% score.
- Feature is live in some Search and Performance Max campaigns but not universally available.
- Google has not commented on rollout scope or timing.
- First sighting was logged on 21 July 2025.
Background context
Google introduced Optimization Score in 2018 to measure how closely a campaign aligns with platform best practices. In 2021, the Recommendations tab expanded with auto-apply options. The new hover icon brings advice closer to the score itself, shortening the path from insight to action while leaving the core recommendation logic unchanged. Previous interface updates placed quick fixes in side panels; this marks the first time advice appears directly within the score column.
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