To add Google AdSense to WordPress, add and verify your site in AdSense, connect the account with Google’s free Site Kit plugin, and then request a site review. Once AdSense marks the site Ready, turn on Auto ads in AdSense or create ad units and place them manually. Installing the code alone does not approve a site or enable Auto ads.
Before you connect AdSense
Make sure your site is live, loads correctly, has enough content for Google to evaluate, and follows AdSense policies. The account setup process also includes payment information. Google may ask some publishers to verify their identity; if it does, its current guidance says to complete the request within 45 days. Identity verification is not a universal prerequisite for every publisher.
Google’s AdSense account setup guidance explains the account and site readiness requirements.
Add and verify your WordPress site in AdSense
- Sign in to AdSense and open Sites.
- Select the option to add a site and enter your site’s domain.
- Choose one of the verification methods AdSense offers. Depending on your account, these may include the AdSense code snippet, an ads.txt file, or a meta tag.
- Complete the selected verification method, then return to AdSense and verify the site.
- Request a review. Wait until the site’s status is Ready before expecting it to serve ads.
Verification confirms site ownership; it is separate from approval. Google says a review usually takes a few days but can sometimes take 2–4 weeks. Check the site’s status in AdSense rather than assuming that adding code means the review is complete. See Google’s instructions for adding a new site to your AdSense sites list.
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Connect WordPress with Site Kit
- In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for Site Kit by Google, then install and activate the plugin.
- Start Site Kit setup and follow its prompts to connect your Google account.
- Open the Site Kit dashboard or settings and connect AdSense.
- When prompted, allow Site Kit to place the AdSense code on your site.
Google recommends Site Kit as a straightforward way to connect AdSense and place the code across your WordPress pages, including AMP and non-AMP versions. AdSense code belongs in the page’s <head> section, and Google recommends having it on every page. Site Kit can handle that placement for the site.
Site Kit does not control your AdSense ad settings. In particular, connecting the account does not turn on Auto ads; enable those separately in AdSense. Google’s WordPress connection guide covers Site Kit, code placement, and the distinction between connecting the services and configuring ads. For the placement requirement, see where to place AdSense code in HTML.
Choose Auto ads or manually placed ad units
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Auto ads | Letting Google select placements and managing ad serving with site-level settings. | You have less direct control over placement. Review the preview and use format controls or exclusions where needed. |
| Ad units | Choosing ad types, sizes, and specific placements yourself. | You must create the units and add their code wherever you want ads to appear, while ensuring placements comply with policy. |
Google explains the difference between Auto ads and manually placed ad units. You can use a WordPress plugin, theme placement, or text widget to add ad-unit code. Third-party plugins are optional; check compatibility and consult the plugin developer’s documentation or support if its insertion method causes problems. Google does not support third-party plugins. Its guide to inserting ad unit code into WordPress describes these placement options.
Turn on Auto ads in AdSense
- Sign in to AdSense and open Ads.
- Find your site and select the edit control to open its ad settings.
- Turn on Auto ads.
- Review the preview, then adjust optional formats, exclusions, and ad load to suit the site.
- Apply the settings.
Confirm that the AdSense code is present on every page where ads should be eligible to appear. Google says ads may take up to an hour to show after Auto ads are configured. Its Auto ads setup instructions describe the settings and code coverage.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCheck consent settings for your audience
If your site has visitors in the European Economic Area, the UK, or Switzerland, review the consent requirements that apply to your audience and setup. Google notes that publishers may want to turn off the option to show ads immediately on account activation while considering its EU user consent policy. The setting can be changed after approval; this note is not a substitute for checking the current requirements applicable to your site.
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If ads are not appearing
- The site is still under review: Check its status under Sites in AdSense. Ads require the site to pass review and show Ready.
- Auto ads are off: Site Kit connects the service and places code, but Auto ads must be enabled in AdSense under Ads.
- The code is missing from some pages: Confirm the AdSense code is in the page head and covers the pages where ads should appear. Site Kit can place it across the WordPress site.
- You just applied settings: Allow up to an hour for ads to appear after Auto ads setup.
- A plugin or theme is interfering: Check compatibility and the third-party developer’s documentation or support for plugin-specific troubleshooting.
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