Hi team, Kirill Zharskii from Fivetran engineering team is here with a question related to Search Ads API. Several of our connectors are facing an issue trying to fetch acls endpoint: curl -X GET -H 'Accept: application/json' -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Authorization: Bearer <BEARER_TOKEN>' -H 'X-AP-Context: orgId=null' -A 'Jersey/2.45' 'https://api.searchads.apple.com/api/v5/acls?limit=1000&offset=0' the response is 503 service unavailable, but the request for token works fine. the issue started about 12 hours ago and going on. could you please share some input? TIA

Hi Apple Developer Community, I'm experiencing persistent issues with the Apple Search Ads API since today morning (August 16, 2025). My application keeps getting "Service Unavailable" errors when trying to connect to the API endpoints. Error Details: Error Message: "Service Unavailable" HTTP Status: 503/500 API Endpoint: https://api.searchads.apple.com/api/v5/* Frequency: Consistent failures since August 16, 2025 What I've Tried: Verified API credentials and certificates are valid Tested multiple API endpoints Checked network connectivity The API was working fine until yesterday, and no changes were made to our implementation. Any insights or updates from the community would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

Here’s the situation: The Apple ID originally tied to our ads account was locked months ago. We migrated everything else—App Store Connect, Developer access, etc.—to a new Apple ID, and all other services transitioned smoothly. We assumed Apple Ads would follow suit, but nope. About a month ago, we tried to access Apple Ads to pause our campaign and realized we were locked out. Since then, we haven’t been able to access Apple Ads at all. We can’t pause or modify our active campaign, which is now running (and charging us) against our wishes. Attempts to create a new account with our current credentials have failed, but our access to all other Apple services is totally fine. We’ve tried every support avenue: • Developer Support (no resolution) • 1-800-MY-APPLE (no resolution) • The “Contact Us” form for Apple Ads (form won’t load, or throws an error when it does) We’re at a loss. We’re being charged for a campaign we can’t control, and support channels are a dead end. Has anyone found a way out of this mess, or have advice on how to get Apple to actually respond? Any help or war stories appreciated.

Hi, We have previously created a Appls Ads account before around a week ago. And now everytime we login it brings us to the "create account" sign up page. When we fill this page in again with out details and press "Sign Up" it won't let us, as an account has already been associated with the emails. The problem is I also cannot contact support using the form on the website - Everytime I fill it in it says "please fix errors below" - Even though there are no errors. I have tried messaging various other apple support people to try and put me through specificaly to the Ads support but I am having no luck there.. So we are now stuck, we cannot login or sign up again - Any ideas?

import requests import time import json import gspread import base64 import hashlib from oauth2client.service_account import ServiceAccountCredentials from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization, hashes from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import ec from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend import jwt def base64url_encode(data): return base64.urlsafe_b64encode(data).rstrip(b'=') def generate_apple_jwt(): with open(PRIVATE_KEY_PATH, "rb") as key_file: private_key = serialization.load_pem_private_key( key_file.read(), password=None, backend=default_backend() ) headers = { "alg": "ES256", "kid": KEY_ID, "typ": "JWT" } payload = { "iss": TEAM_ID, "sub": CLIENT_ID, "aud": "https://api.searchads.apple.com", "iat": int(time.time()), "exp": int(time.time()) + 3600, } header_bytes = base64url_encode(json.dumps(headers, separators=(',', ':')).encode('utf-8')) payload_bytes = base64url_encode(json.dumps(payload, separators=(',', ':')).encode('utf-8')) signing_input = header_bytes + b'.' + payload_bytes signature = private_key.sign( signing_input, ec.ECDSA(hashes.SHA256()) ) jwt_token = signing_input + b'.' + base64url_encode(signature) return jwt_token.decode('utf-8') what is wrong??

Hi, Last month ads basic was working properly, showed me having 58 installs. This month, 5 installs and it is almost the end of the month...but the invoices I get are telling me that I am paying for ads basic clicks, way more than 5. Ads Advanced is working as normal, volumes as expected. Just wondering if anyone else having this happen too? Thanks, Colin

There is a serious problem with the visibility of independent developers' apps in the App Store that has persisted for several years. If you don't have a well-known brand behind you, it's nearly impossible to get even minimal visibility. This is very serious because many apps are perceived as failures when in reality it's already an achievement if they receive a couple of downloads (in the case of free apps) per day. Especially for well-developed apps with very good results, this can be devastating for the morale of small developers because they may become convinced they have no chance of success and consequently abandon the development of innovative apps, creating an App Store filled only with the usual, old and boring apps. This serious flaw in the App Store visibility algorithm becomes evident when there are days when, for no reason, an app goes from 2 to 300 daily downloads and then the next day returns to just a couple of daily downloads again, and the positive feedback resulting from that day demonstrates how many apps have extreme potential for success but are simply... in a kind of eternal shadow ban. You need to understand that, paradoxically, innovation comes precisely from small developers, and although you may not realize the problem until it affects large software houses, this enormous imbalance eliminates the innovative element in the App Store. While the average user may not consciously realize this difference, at an unconscious level they lose excitement and motivation to continue discovering and investing in Apple's app ecosystem. I hope that you will finally take action on this matter.

Hi Apple Developer Support, I’m working on a Node.js script to fetch all apps listed under the Education category and Reference subcategory from the US App Store, where the app name includes "exam prep". My goal is to list these apps in descending order of their earned revenue (including both paid apps and those with subscriptions). To proceed, I’m looking for guidance or code-level support on: Accessing App Store metadata programmatically via Apple-approved APIs. Filtering apps by category, subcategory, and keywords in the app name. Sorting the result set by revenue (paid and subscription earnings). Is there any recommended API or service (official or via App Store Connect) that I should be using to achieve this? Appreciate any direction, documentation, or sample code that can help. Thanks in advance!

Apologies if this isn't tagged right but dev tools and services seemed the most appropriate since this is related to the workbench Ad Tester tool. I'm seeing a behavior where the preview link is not being generated. Specifically, I am seeing a POST request to the following URL consistently fail: https://iadworkbench.apple.com/adtester/api/v1/ads/previewLink?orgId=1127861 Variations/scenarios I have tried so far: All possible ad format choices on all possible devices All options for the placement type Both third party and uploaded creative sources Uploaded creative sources appear to be failing to upload as well A simple div with a "hello world" content fails as a third party creative source Multiple apple accounts I created a new account specifically to test if my primary apple ID was experiencing issues with this Multiple browsers I have tried multiple versions of Chrome/Firefox/Safari I tested with and without browser extensions to determine whether an extension was interfering or not Clearing session/local storage along with cookies I also created new profiles in browsers to verify that I was getting a fresh browser environment In all of these cases, the API request to generate a preview link is consistently failing with a 500 error code. It's worth noting that the web preview option works, but this isn't a truly accurate test environment and can't be solely relied on when testing ad content. I don't know exactly when this started happening as I have not used it in the last couple of weeks but I have used the workbench ad tester extensively in the past the same way I have been trying with my current test without issue. That coupled with the fact that the request for the preview link consistently fails in all of the test scenarios I've outlined above leads me to believe there is a problem with the API that is responsible for generating the preview links.

Hi, I wanted to know if there are rate limits available for Apple search ads API? Or if there is a number that we should try to be under to ensure we never cross the rate limits? Best, Ritvik

Is it possible to integrate a button in an app that displays advertisements to support charities -without offering any direct reward to the user?

I am unable to access search ads, basic tab, from last 10 days. It keeps showing error "We're busy updating Apple Search Ads and will be back online within the next few hours. Ads will continue serving during this time." Is anyone else facing the same issue? or have any solution?

Hi, I am using Apple Search Ads (Basic), and I’ve noticed that my bank account has been debited weekly. However, when I recently tried to access the reports, they appear empty. Please see the attached screenshots for reference. Is there a customer support representative from Apple Search Ads who can assist me with this issue? Thank you.

Hi ! I am trying to insert interstitial ads in my app with facebook ads. I found app id, placement id and when I am running my app I have the following error : Interstitial ad failed to load with error: Error Domain=com.facebook.ads.sdk Code=1001 "No fill" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No fill, FBAdErrorDetailKey={ msg = "No fill"; }} Could you help me ?

For over a week now my ads have been live and the status is running but I have $0 spend, impressions, etc... Any ideas about what I'm missing would be greatly appreciated!

Does anyone have any luck getting Search Ads Basic to work? Since I released my app, I've attempted to get a campaign going. This was months ago. It occasionally spends a little. Each time, well under my max. It usually sits at zero. I try raising the max and raising the budget and it will show a little activity then stop again. What is the trick? There doesn't seem to be very many things to change. 90 countries, max CPI way higher than the average when it does spend, trying a $1500 budget. It's like it's glitched out.

I am using an ASO tool. After linking my Search Ads account campaign with my App Store Connect account, it gets my email and app specific password then makes API call to search ads. I couldn't find any documentation regarding this flow. Can someone lead me to the correct path where I can implement a similar flow? Thank you all

Hi I'm building native app for SearchAds. Is it possible to use app specific password with SearchAds API or get a token using app specific password? I know its possible using JWT: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/apple_search_ads/implementing_oauth_for_the_apple_search_ads_api But using that in the app is not very user friendly even if the app will generate public and private keys.

I finally got ASA Basic to spend a little. After months of nothing. Maybe my max was too low but it was always higher than the average I am seeing. Then when the update occurred that announced the addition of other countries, I selected all those. I noticed they were all flagged with an error and I also didn't get any new installs. So I deselected all those such that the error flags were gone. But days have gone by and not one new install attributed to Basic. Any ideas?

I'm trying to buy ASA for my vision pro only app, but when I enter my app, it says cannot find my app. When I click on "Can't find your app?", it brings me to a page that says "To set up an Apple Search Ads account, you must have an app for iPhone or iPad currently on the App Store". So wondering is ASA available for visionOS?