---
# System prepended metadata

title: Facebook Ads Not Delivering? How to Solve It
tags: [facebook ads, agrowth, meta ads]

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# Facebook Ads Not Delivering? How to Solve It

When you launch a new Meta campaign, you expect results: impressions, clicks, and conversions. But instead, you refresh Ads Manager only to see $0 spend and no delivery — even though your campaign shows “Active.” This issue, known as Facebook ads not delivering, is one of the most common and costly challenges facing performance marketers today.
The good news: in most cases, the problem isn’t a broken system — it’s a fixable configuration or auction eligibility issue. This guide breaks down exactly why ads don’t enter the delivery auction, how to diagnose the real cause, and proven fixes used by advanced advertisers to restore performance quickly.

What “Not Delivering” Really Means in Meta Ads
When your campaign is “Active” but getting zero impressions, Meta isn’t allowing it to participate in the auction at all. This is fundamentally different from:
Status
What It Means
Under-delivering
Ads are serving but below budget
Learning Limited
Not enough conversions for optimization
Poor performance
Ads serve but results are weak

👉 Not delivering = No chance to compete → No data → No revenue
Before adjusting anything, you must understand what is preventing entry into the auction.

Quick 10-Second Diagnosis in Ads Manager
1️⃣ Go to the Ad Set level
 2️⃣ Locate the Delivery column
 3️⃣ Hover over the status message
This tooltip is the most accurate diagnostic you’ll get from Meta — it often states the exact blocker:
Audience too small


Pending review


Bid too low


Payment issue


Event not active


Account restricted


📌 Rule: Fix the reason in the tooltip first before changing anything else.

Top 12 Reasons Facebook Ads Aren’t Delivering (And How to Fix Each)
Below is the definitive cause–and–solution breakdown for real-world campaign troubleshooting.

1️⃣ Ad Still Under Review or Rejected
Meta’s content review delays prevent delivery until fully approved.
Fixes
Check Ad Quality or Ad Set hover tooltip


Edit the creative → request manual review


Remove restricted terms/sensitive claims


If rejections stack up, your account trust score drops — slowing future approvals.

2️⃣ Audience Too Small or Over-Filtered
Hyper-specific segments reduce auction eligibility.
Recommended audience sizing:
Awareness: 500K – 5M


Conversion: 50K – 300K


Fixes
Expand age/location


Remove narrow stacking filters


Leverage Advantage+ Audience to unlock reach



3️⃣ Audience Overlap Between Your Own Ad Sets
Your ads are competing against each other, so Meta throttles weaker ones.
Fix
 Run an Audience Overlap report → Combine or restructure redundant sets.

4️⃣ Low Bid Cap or Budget
If your bid is too low, your ad never enters the auction.
Fixes
Increase bid (Bid Cap/Cost Cap)


Raise daily budget (min. $20–$50 for conversions)


Avoid tiny budgets under $5/day



5️⃣ Incorrect Schedule or Future Start Time
A simple calendar misalignment stops everything.
Fix
Ensure the campaign start time has passed


Re-check timezone settings in Business Manager



6️⃣ Algorithm Restart Caused by Frequent Edits
Too many changes reset the learning process repeatedly → freeze delivery.
Fix
Bundle modifications every 24–48h


Test variations using Duplicate instead of “Edit”



7️⃣ Pixel or Conversion Event Not Firing
Delivery pauses because Meta believes your goal is impossible to track.
Fix
Test Pixel/CAPI events in Events Manager → Test Events


Switch to a verified conversion event


Confirm domain prioritization for iOS (AEM)



8️⃣ Account Spending Limit Reached
A common oversight when scaling new accounts.
Fix
 Billing → Reset or remove account spending limit

9️⃣ Credit Card Declined or Expired
Billing failure = all delivery stops instantly
Fix
Add new payment method


Confirm auto-billing success


If this is the issue, fix billing before editing campaigns further.

🔟 Business Manager or Ad Account Restriction
Policy or trust-score issues block delivery globally.
Fix
Go to Account Quality and resolve flags


Submit an appeal if violation is incorrect


Enable 2FA on all admins



11️⃣ Low Relevance or Fatigue
Aged creatives with negative signals get deprioritized.
Fix
Refresh creatives every 7–14 days


Improve hooks/layouts/formats (carousel, Reels ads)



12️⃣ Too Many Ads Competing for Limited Data
Fragmentation = weak signals → algorithm confusion
Fix
Consolidate campaigns


Use CBO (Campaign Budget Optimization)


Fewer ad sets = faster machine learning



How to Systematically Fix Ads Not Delivering (Decision Flow)
Diagnostic Result
Best Action
Tooltip shows payment issue
Fix billing → Wait 1–2hrs
Tooltip shows audience error
Broaden targeting
Tooltip shows limit or freeze
Duplicate ad set (hard reset)
Pixel warning
Validate conversion event
Everything looks fine
Raise budget + simplify structure

📌 Only change ONE major variable at a time
 Changing too much resets learning → delays recovery

Advanced Pro Techniques to Prevent Future Delivery Issues
✔ Use a Warm-Up Strategy for New Accounts
 Start with Engagement/Traffic for 3–5 days before conversion campaigns.
✔ Avoid “Dark Periods”
 Inactive accounts for 30+ days often re-enter strict review mode.
✔ Strict Account Hygiene
 Monthly:
Remove dormant users


Audit permissions and billing


Validate Pixel health


✔ Let Automation Work for You
 Advantage+ Shopping = best-performing setup for most eCommerce accounts
✔ Pause Losers Fast
 Meta prioritizes winners:
 Optimize budget toward high-CTR/high-conversion assets quickly.

When It's Time to Contact Meta Support
Only escalate after confirming:
 ✔ Billing good
 ✔ Pixel tracking good
 ✔ Creative approved
 ✔ No delivery after 72 hours
Provide:
Ad account ID + ad set ID


Screenshots of active status & no impressions


Pixel firing evidence


Ask support to perform an internal delivery restart

FAQs
Why is my ad Active but not delivering?
 Because it isn’t entering Meta's auction — usually due to targeting, bidding, or account integrity issues.
How fast should ads start delivering?
 Typically within a few hours — but allow up to 24 hours for stability after publication.
Does increasing budget always help?
 Only if low budget is the reason. It won’t fix a policy or pixel issue.
Can duplicating ad sets solve delivery freezes?
 Yes — it resets the auction classification for that ad set, often restarting delivery.

Final Advice: Diagnose, Fix, Then Wait
The biggest mistake advertisers make is editing nonstop while waiting for delivery.
 Give the algorithm time to respond:
Fix → Wait 24–72 hours → Evaluate → Adjust
With the right troubleshooting flow, delivery issues become a brief setback — not a performance disaster.

Recommended Resources for Facebook Ads Not Delivering
[Facebook Ads Not Delivering](https://agrowth.io/blogs/facebook-ads/facebook-ads-not-delivering)
The complete resource to uncover delivery issues and restore campaign performance.
[Facebook Ads Account Restricted](https://agrowth.io/blogs/facebook-ads/facebook-ads-account-restricted)
Explains causes of account restrictions and step-by-step recovery actions
[Rent Meta Agency Ads Account](https://agrowth.io/pages/rent-meta-agency-ads-account)
Operate on a more stable account infrastructure with invoice billing and advanced support pathways.
The complete resource to uncover delivery issues and restore campaign performance.