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To stop Google from using your account information to personalize ads, sign in to the Google Account you use with Google services, open My Ad Center, switch Personalized ads off, and confirm. To see fewer ads about particular products or brands while keeping personalization on, adjust those preferences in Customize Ads. Neither option guarantees that every ad or product listing in Google Shopping will disappear: Google describes these controls as applying to ads on Google services, but does not explicitly explain how every Shopping placement is handled.
Turn off personalized ads for your Google Account
- While signed in, open My Ad Center for the Google Account you use with Google services.
- Find Personalized ads and switch it off.
- Confirm the choice if prompted.
Google says that when this setting is off, it will not use information and activity saved to your Google Account, or your choices in My Ad Center, to personalize ads. Ads may still appear based on general or contextual factors, such as the content you are viewing or a search you make. Google says the signed-in setting applies across Google services on devices where you are signed in; it does not control ads served by other platforms or websites using their own ad systems. See Google’s explanations of My Ad Center and how personalized ads work.
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See fewer ads about selected products or brands
If you do not want to turn personalization off altogether, open Customize Ads in My Ad Center, choose a topic or brand, and select the option to see fewer ads about it. Your preferences are saved automatically. Google’s ad customization guidance is explicit that this reduces the frequency of ads about those subjects; it does not block the topic or brand. A search for a related product can still lead to a relevant ad.
Limit ads about sensitive topics
For signed-in users, Google offers controls to limit ads about alcohol, dating, gambling, pregnancy and parenting, and weight loss. Google describes these as available on Search, YouTube, and Discover, and says it makes a best effort to avoid the selected ads. They are not a universal block, nor does Google identify them as a complete Google Shopping control. Related ads may still appear, including contextual ads after a relevant search. Details are in Google’s sensitive-topic ad settings.
#1 Best Overall
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
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Review which account activity can inform ads
In My Ad Center’s Manage Privacy area, you can review whether activity on sites and apps, YouTube History, and areas where you have used Google can inform ad personalization. These are narrower controls than switching off personalized ads entirely. For example, Google says turning off activity on sites and apps for ads stops that activity from helping personalize ads, but does not turn off personalized recommendations on Google services such as Search. See Google’s controls for data used to show ads.
Which setting should you choose?
| Setting | What it changes | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized ads off | Stops Google from using saved account information, activity, and My Ad Center choices to personalize ads on Google services. | Does not remove all ads or control ads on non-Google platforms. Google’s reviewed guidance does not specify how every Google Shopping placement is treated. |
| Fewer ads about a topic or brand | Reduces the frequency of ads about selected topics or brands. | Does not block them; a related search may still bring up a relevant ad. |
| Sensitive-topic limits | Asks Google to make a best effort to avoid ads in selected categories on Search, YouTube, and Discover. | Does not guarantee all related ads are avoided and is not a stated universal Shopping control. |
| Activity controls | Changes whether specified activity can be used to help personalize ads. | Is not the same as turning off all ad personalization, and does not turn off personalized recommendations on Google services. |
Why you may still see ads while shopping
Turning personalization off does not mean Google stops showing ads. Google says ads can be based on general or contextual factors, and a relevant search can still produce an ad connected to the item you searched for. Also, the official guidance describes account controls across Google services but does not explicitly settle how every ad or product listing within Google Shopping responds. Treat the setting as a way to limit account-based personalization, not as a promise to remove Shopping ads.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- New finds, old favorites, one card. Choose a unique gift card design featuring your favorite games or apps. This card can also be used for anything else on Google Play. There’s something for everyone, so find what’s yours. Go Play.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift code, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
Rank #4
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
Rank #3
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
Rank #2
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
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