How to Get Approved for Google AdSense in 2026

What is Google AdSense?

Google AdSense is Google's flagship advertising program for website publishers. It allows you to earn money by displaying contextual ads on your website that are automatically matched to your content and audience. AdSense is the most popular ad network in the world, serving billions of ad impressions daily across millions of websites.

As an entry-level ad network, AdSense has no minimum traffic requirement, making it the go-to starting point for new publishers. Google handles all the advertiser relationships, ad targeting, and payment processing. You simply add the ad code to your site and earn revenue when visitors view or click the ads.

AdSense supports multiple ad formats including display ads, in-feed ads, in-article ads, multiplex ads, and Auto Ads that automatically place units where they perform best. Revenue is typically measured in RPM (revenue per thousand impressions) and varies significantly by niche, with finance, legal, and technology content commanding the highest rates.

Google AdSense Requirements in 2026

Google has refined its approval criteria over the years, placing increasing emphasis on content quality and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). Here are the current requirements:

• No minimum traffic — Unlike most networks, AdSense does not require a specific traffic threshold. However, having organic traffic improves your approval chances and ensures meaningful earnings.
• Content quality — Your site needs 10 to 15 high-quality articles, each at least 800 words. Content must be original, valuable, and demonstrate expertise in your niche.
• Essential pages — An About page, Contact page, and Privacy Policy page are mandatory. Google wants to see a legitimate, transparent website.
• Mobile-responsive design — Your site must work well on mobile devices. Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing and expects a clean mobile experience.
• Age requirement — You must be at least 18 years old to participate in the AdSense program.
• Content policy compliance — Your content must comply with Google's Publisher Policies. No adult content, violence, hate speech, drugs, or deceptive practices.
• Site ownership — You must own or have authorization to monetize the domain. Free hosting subdomains like blogspot.com work, but custom domains are strongly preferred.
• Review timeline — Approval typically takes 2 days to 2 weeks, though some applications may take longer during busy periods.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your Website

Before applying, make sure your site has a solid content foundation. Write at least 10 to 15 articles that are 800 or more words each. Each article should cover a specific topic thoroughly and provide genuine value to readers. Avoid thin content, duplicate text, or articles that exist only to host ads.

Create your essential pages: an About page that explains who you are and what your site covers, a Contact page with a working contact form or email address, and a Privacy Policy page that discloses your data collection practices. Use a privacy policy generator if needed, but make sure it accurately reflects your site.

Ensure your site has a clean, professional design. Use a responsive theme that looks good on both desktop and mobile. Remove any broken links, fix formatting issues, and make sure your navigation is intuitive. A well-organized site with clear categories signals legitimacy to Google's review team.

Step 2: Meet Traffic Requirements

While AdSense has no official traffic minimum, having some organic traffic before applying demonstrates that your site provides value and attracts real visitors. Focus on search engine optimization by targeting long-tail keywords in your niche, writing comprehensive content, and building a few quality backlinks.

Avoid buying traffic or using traffic exchange programs. Google's algorithms are sophisticated and can detect artificial traffic patterns. A few hundred genuine organic visitors per month is far more valuable than thousands of bot visits. Submit your site to Google Search Console to ensure your pages are being indexed properly.

Step 3: Technical Setup

Set up Google Analytics 4 (GA4) on your site. While not strictly required, it demonstrates professionalism and gives you the data you need to optimize your content strategy. Install GA4 through Google Tag Manager or directly in your site's header for the cleanest implementation.

Make sure your site loads quickly. Run a PageSpeed Insights test and aim for scores above 70 on both mobile and desktop. Optimize images, enable caching, and minimize render-blocking resources. A fast site improves user experience and signals quality to Google.

Ensure your site uses HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate. Most hosting providers offer free SSL through Let's Encrypt. Google requires secure connections for all AdSense publisher sites.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Visit adsense.google.com/start and sign in with your Google account. Enter your website URL and select your country. Google will provide you with a code snippet to add to your site's header section. This code verifies your ownership and allows Google to review your site.

Add the AdSense code to every page of your site, typically by placing it in your theme's header template or using a plugin. Once the code is live, return to your AdSense dashboard and click "Request Review." Google's team will then evaluate your site against their policies and quality standards.

Step 5: What to Expect During Review

The review process typically takes between 2 days and 2 weeks. During this time, Google's automated systems and human reviewers evaluate your site's content quality, policy compliance, navigation structure, and overall user experience. Continue publishing quality content while you wait.

You will receive an email notification when the review is complete. If approved, ads will begin appearing on your site immediately. If rejected, the email will include the reason for rejection and guidance on what to fix before reapplying.

Common Rejection Reasons

• Insufficient content — Having fewer than 10 articles or articles that are too short. Google wants to see a substantial body of work that demonstrates your site's value and niche expertise.
• Low-value content — Content that is scraped, spun, or generated by AI without meaningful human editorial oversight. Google looks for original perspectives and genuine expertise.
• Missing essential pages — Forgetting to create an About, Contact, or Privacy Policy page. These are non-negotiable requirements.
• Policy violations — Content that violates Google's Publisher Policies, including adult material, violence, hate speech, or copyrighted content.
• Poor site design — Sites with intrusive pop-ups, confusing navigation, broken layouts, or designs that are not mobile-responsive.
• Navigational issues — Sites where users cannot easily find content, where categories are empty, or where the site structure does not make logical sense.
• Site under construction — Applying before your site is fully built with placeholder pages, Lorem Ipsum text, or empty sections still visible.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Focus on a specific niche — Sites with a clear focus on one topic area perform better in reviews than general-purpose blogs covering everything.
• Write long-form content — Aim for 1,200 to 2,000 words per article. Comprehensive content signals expertise and provides more ad placement opportunities.
• Use original images — Stock photos are acceptable, but original images, charts, and infographics demonstrate higher quality and editorial effort.
• Interlink your articles — Connect related articles with internal links to improve navigation and show Google your content has depth and structure.
• Ensure fast load times — Optimize your site speed. Pages that load in under 3 seconds perform better in reviews and earn more ad revenue once approved.
• Publish consistently — Show that your site is actively maintained by publishing new content regularly, even during the review period.
• Remove other ad networks — If you have other ad code on your site, consider removing it during the review process. A clean site focuses Google's attention on your content quality.
• Check Google Search Console — Make sure your pages are indexed and there are no manual actions or security issues flagged against your site.

What to Do If You're Rejected

Getting rejected from AdSense is common and not the end of the road. Carefully read the rejection email to understand the specific reasons cited. Google provides categories like "Low-value content," "Site under construction," or "Policy violations" to guide your fixes.

Address each issue systematically. If the reason is insufficient content, write more high-quality articles and give them time to get indexed. If it is a policy violation, audit every page on your site and remove any problematic content. If the design needs work, invest in a clean, mobile-friendly theme.

Wait at least 2 to 4 weeks after making significant improvements before reapplying. This gives Google's crawlers time to re-index your updated content. There is no limit on how many times you can reapply, but each application should represent meaningful improvements over the previous submission.

While waiting, consider alternative entry-level networks like Adsterra or Sovrn that may accept your site in the meantime. Earning some ad revenue while you improve your site for AdSense keeps your monetization strategy moving forward.

Check Your Readiness with AdGateScore

Not sure if your site is ready for AdSense? Use AdGateScore's free website scanner to check your eligibility across all major ad networks. Our tool evaluates your content quality, site architecture, policy compliance, and technical performance — the exact factors Google considers during review. Get your personalized readiness score and actionable recommendations in minutes at adgatescore.com.