Ads.txt review stuck? Three quick checks to clear AdSense warnings

ads.txt file check

If AdSense keeps showing an ads.txt needs attention warning even after you edited the file, the issue is usually about how Google crawls and caches that file—not that you wrote it wrong. Based on Google’s own specs and real troubleshooting, here are the three checks that resolve most stuck re-reviews.

Why ads.txt re-review gets stuck

Google’s crawler must (1) find the file at the exact root path, (2) read a line that matches the spec perfectly, and (3) refresh its cache. Miss any one and the warning can linger for days.

Check 1: File lives at the public root

Why it matters Google only looks for https://your-domain/ads.txt. A different path—or a file that requires auth—won’t be read.

Do this

Open https://your-domain/ads.txt in a browser; confirm a 200 OK and plain text.
No redirects to other paths; no 404/403; no login prompts.
On Next.js/Vercel, place the file in public/ads.txt so it deploys to the root.

Check 2: Lines match the official format exactly

Why it matters ads.txt is strict; a single stray character can invalidate the line.

Correct pattern

google.com, pub-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

Order: ad system domain, publisher ID, relationship, certification ID (optional but recommended).
Use commas, not tabs; no extra spaces or comments; one record per line.

Common mistakes

Typo in the pub- number.
Hidden characters (copy/paste from editors that add non-ASCII spaces).

Check 3: Allow for crawl and cache timing

Why it matters Updates are not instant. Google recrawls periodically, and CDNs may keep serving the old file.

Guideline

Expect 48 hours to several days for the warning to clear.
Purge CDN cache (Vercel, Cloudflare, etc.) after edits.
Avoid rewriting the file repeatedly; it can extend the crawl window.

Quick checklist before you wait

ads.txt is at the site root and publicly reachable.
Each line follows google.com, pub-..., DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 with no extra characters.
CDN cache cleared; now wait at least 2–7 days for recrawl.

Summary

Most ads.txt re-review delays come from path issues, tiny syntax slips, or caching. Fix the root path, verify the exact line format, purge caches, and give Google a few days. Follow that order and the AdSense warning usually disappears without further edits.