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To check how an existing Microsoft Advertising search ad may appear, open Tools > Ad Preview & Diagnostics, enter a query, set the relevant language, location, and device, then run the preview. A preview checks a particular search context; it is not proof that your ad will serve in every live auction. To compare a campaign change using real traffic, use a separate campaign experiment.
Preview an existing search ad
- Open the tool. In Microsoft Advertising, go to Tools > Ad Preview & Diagnostics. Menu wording or placement may vary by account and interface version. See Microsoft’s Ad Preview & Diagnostics help.
- Enter the search. Type the keyword or query you want to check.
- Match the targeting context. Select the relevant language, location, and device. Earlier English help instructions also identify the domain as a setting; use it if it appears in your account.
- Run the preview. Check whether the ad appears and read any diagnostic details or suggested actions if it does not.
- Verify delivery status separately. Review the Delivery column for the campaign, ad group, ad, and keyword. Open or hover over a status explanation, and check asset policy details where applicable.
What a preview can—and cannot—tell you
Ad Preview & Diagnostics simulates a result for the query and targeting context you selected. Microsoft says it checks delivery on bing.com, not Yahoo or other syndicated properties, and it does not display ad extensions alongside the ad. Its current help page lists support for responsive search ads and product ads, but not dynamic search ads. If an account is inactive or suspended, the tool may show the results page without diagnostic information. These are limits of the preview, not evidence that the ad will never run elsewhere.
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A missing ad in one preview is not a universal delivery verdict: auction results depend on the specific search and targeting context. Likewise, an Eligible status means the ad is available to display unless an account error prevents it; it does not guarantee an impression in every auction. Use the preview diagnostics and Delivery status together to investigate. See Microsoft’s help for the preview tool and Microsoft’s delivery-status guidance.
Understand what appears in a responsive search ad
Responsive search ads let you provide 3–15 unique headlines and 2–4 descriptions. Microsoft can combine those assets for a query, and the ad may show fewer assets depending on screen size. A preview therefore does not mean every headline and description you submitted will appear together. Microsoft documents the format for Search campaigns with SearchStandard ad groups, not SearchDynamic ad groups. See Microsoft’s responsive search ads documentation.
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Use an experiment to test a campaign change
A preview is a visibility check, not a performance test. To compare a substantive change, create an experiment from a base search campaign, split budget and traffic, and compare results over the dates you choose. Microsoft’s Campaign Management API documentation says a base campaign can have up to 10 nonconcurrent experiments. It also says experiments cannot use campaigns with Dynamic Search Ads settings or shared budgets; check eligibility in the product before setting one up. See Microsoft’s experiment documentation.
| Approach | What it answers | Traffic and budget | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad Preview & Diagnostics | Whether an existing ad appears for a selected query and targeting context, with diagnostic information where available. | It is a preview check, not a traffic-split campaign test. | Documented for Bing.com; supports responsive search and product ads, not dynamic search ads; extensions are not shown. |
| Campaign experiment | How a campaign change performs against the base campaign over the selected period. | Splits budget and traffic between base and experiment. | Eligibility restrictions include Dynamic Search Ads settings and shared budgets. Verify current in-product eligibility. |
Choose an allocation method
- Traffic-based: Randomizes each search between the base and experiment, so the same person can encounter both.
- Cookie-based: Keeps an individual with one source. This may make the comparison more consistent for that person, but can take longer to collect statistically significant data.
Do not confuse the search preview with other Microsoft preview features
Microsoft’s public Ad Preview page lets a user enter a website URL to see generated ad concepts. That planning and creation experience is different from the logged-in Ad Preview & Diagnostics tool, which checks delivery for existing search ads.
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Microsoft has also announced an Ad Preview Hub for Audience ads and, in an August 2026 update, described global general availability for Performance Max previews, including creative components across placements and devices and shareable view-only links. Those are separate, changing features; do not assume they preview Search ads unless Microsoft’s current documentation explicitly says so. See Microsoft’s February 2026 product roundup and Microsoft’s August 2026 product roundup.
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