How To Deactivate Google Ads Account & Get A Refund (2026 Guide)
How To Deactivate Google Ads Account & Get A Refund (2026 Guide)
Need to take a break from advertising or close an old account? In this definitive 2026 guide, we show you the exact steps to deactivate (cancel) your Google Ads account and ensure you stop all future charges. Since the recent 2026 account retention update, Google now permanently deletes canceled accounts after 6 months of inactivity—so we cover the critical steps to back up your historical data before you hit that button.
We walk you through the updated Google Ads "Admin" dashboard to show you how to navigate to Account Settings, verify your administrative permissions, and trigger the cancellation request. You will learn the 2026 refund timelines—usually 4 to 12 weeks—and how to ensure your billing is cleared so your payout isn't delayed. From stopping active campaigns to avoid "final 24-hour" charges to understanding the 30-day deletion warning email, this walkthrough provides the most efficient path to closing your account.
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