RE: image asset url return stock image unavailable

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting the Google Ads API support team. 

Please be informed that I have removed your response from the forums as it contained the PII information.

Based on the provided description of the issue, I understand that you are retrieving the URL of the image assets using the Google Ads API and the URL that you are receiving in the response body is displaying as “Stock image unavailable”. But, the same image assets are present and visible in the UI.

In order to further investigate this issue, please provide the complete API logs (request and response with request-id and request header) generated at your end for the provided GAQL query without redacting any information.

If you are using a client library and haven't enabled the logging yet, I would request you to enable logging for the specific client library that you are using. You can refer to the guides Java, .Net, PHP, Python, Ruby or Perl to enable logging at your end. For REST interface requests, you can enable logging via the curl command by using the -i flag.

You can send the details via Reply privately to the author option, or direct private reply to this email.

Thanks,
 

Google Ads API Team

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[2025-04-11 08:52:05Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01pSaDr:ref" (ADR-00299516)

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Please be informed that I have removed your response from the forums as it contains the PII information.

With regard to the issue you are experiencing, I am checking with the rest of our team and one of our colleagues will reach out to you once we have an update on this.

Thanks,
 

Google Ads API Team

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[2025-04-14 07:33:40Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01pSaDr:ref" (ADR-00299516)

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi:

Before making that conclusion, could you please double-check if this issue only affects stock images or if it impacts regularly uploaded image assets as well for this user. This helps confirm the scope matches the existing bug.

If it is only for stock images, due to Google’s ongoing partnership with Shutterstock, Getty Images, and other stock image providers, licensed content such as stock photo image assets are only be available internally within Google products or features. When attempting to access a stock image, Google redacts URLs for stock images when requested via the API. If the stock_id is populated, the URL will be replaced with a fallback URL, obfuscating the original asset per our licensing agreement. 

This looks like a case of works as designed.

Thanks,
 

Bob Hancock Google Ads API Team

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[2025-04-14 15:08:46Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01pSaDr:ref" (ADR-00299516)

[Lộc Đoàn]

Hi Google Ads Team,

It seems they are stock image. But why when I download the excel file on Google Ads UI, it shows me the correct url of the image, not the "stock image unavailable"? I attached an image where I download the excel file.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Loc:

UI and API behavior may differ. The is no guarantee of parity between the two. The API intentionally omits the direct image URL to prevent automated downloading of copyrighted stock photos.
 

Thanks,
 

Bob Hancock Google Ads API Team

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[2025-04-17 12:19:44Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01pSaDr:ref" (ADR-00299516)