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Having a valid payment method is crucial to keeping your ads running.
In this video, we’ll show you how to add, edit, or remove a payment method.
A “payment method” is what you use to pay your AdWords costs, such as a credit or
debit card. You manage your payment methods on the “billing settings” page.
To get there, click the gear icon and choose “Billing.” Then click the “Billing settings”
link on the side of the page. The “payment method” section shows how
you’re currently paying for AdWords.
The “primary payment method” shows what credit or debit card you want to use for your
automatic AdWords charges.
We also recommend you add a “backup payment method” to your account just in case your
primary payment method can’t be charged for some reason. For example, if your credit
card expires or there’s a hold on your card. This will help make sure your ads keep running
even if your primary payment method is down.
To change how you pay, you’ll first need to add your new payment method to your account,
then assign it as either your primary or backup payment method. If you plan on using a credit
or debit card only for occasional, manual payments, go ahead and leave it unassigned.
When you’re ready to add a new payment method, just click the “Add new payment method”
button and fill out the payment details.
If you want to assign this as your primary payment method, make sure the box is checked
next to “Set this payment method as primary.”
When you’re done, click “Save.” To assign a payment method as your primary
or backup, click the appropriate option next to the unassigned payment method.
To update your payment method, find it on the page and click “Edit.” Make your changes,
then click “Save.”
When you’re updating a credit or debit card, you’ll be able to change only your name,
the expiration date, and the billing address. You don’t need to update the 3-digit CVC
number, even if it’s changed.
If you want to remove a payment method from your account, you’ll first need to make
sure it’s not assigned as your primary one. You need an active primary payment method
in your account at all times, so if you want to remove a payment method that’s currently
assigned as a primary, you’ll first need to assign another payment method as your primary.
At that point, you can remove the payment method you want by clicking the “Remove”
link next to it.
Now that you know how to manage your different payment methods, you’ll be able to keep
your ads running in a way that works for you.
For more information about billing and other AdWords features, visit the AdWords Help Center.
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