How to Set Up Automated Rules in Meta Ads Manager

An automated rule watches your campaigns, ad sets or ads and acts when a condition you set is met. It can change something, such as pausing an ad, or simply notify you. Because Meta applies rules at the ad account level, a rule still works when a teammate builds the ad. This feature is only available on a computer.

Where should you create the rule?

You want the rule to cover	Create it from
Specific campaigns, ad sets or ads	The campaigns table in Ads Manager
All campaigns, ad sets or ads	The Automated rules page in Ads Manager

How do you create a rule for specific items?

1. Go to Meta Ads Manager and tick the campaign, ad set or ad.
2. Open the More dropdown and choose Create a new rule.
3. Choose Custom rule to set your own conditions.
4. Name the rule and choose which campaigns or ad sets it applies to.
5. In the Action dropdown, choose what the rule does when conditions are met.
6. Choose the conditions, select Add, and use + for more.
7. Adjust the time range and the schedule.
8. Add subscribers who should get notifications, then select Create.

The time range sets how many days of data the rule looks at, and the schedule sets how often it checks.

How do you create a rule for everything?

1. Go to the Automated rules page in Meta Ads Manager.
2. Click + Create rule.
3. Name the rule and choose which campaigns or ad sets it applies to.
4. Pick the action, add the conditions, and set the time range and schedule.
5. Add subscribers, then select Create.

Are there ready-made rules?

Yes. When you create a rule from the campaigns table, Meta offers two options besides Custom rule:

• Reduce auction overlap creates a rule that stops your ad sets competing against each other.
• Reduce audience fragmentation creates a rule that combines ad sets’ audiences so they spend budgets more efficiently.

What limits apply to rules?

• Up to 250 automated rules per ad account, active and inactive combined.
• One of each condition per rule.
• One rule can cover objects on a single level only, such as 3 campaigns or 3 ad sets, not both.
• Rules can’t run on ads about social issues, elections or politics.
• Rules can’t pause reservation campaigns.

FAQ

What can a rule be used for?

Meta’s examples include pausing a low-performing ad when it hits a specific metric, raising a budget after a certain number of clicks, raising a bid when daily spend is below an amount, raising a budget based on return on ad spend, and turning off a campaign every Friday.

Who can be a subscriber to a rule?

Meta says the person must have admin permissions on the ad account and full control access to the business portfolio that owns it. Subscribers receive the rule’s notifications, which Meta says is useful when several people work on one ad account.

Do I still need to check my ads if rules are on?

Yes. Meta says that while automated rules may cut the time needed to manage your ads, you should still monitor the overall performance of your ads to make sure they meet your marketing goals.