Why Is My Instagram Ad Pending Approval? Immediate Solutions In 2025

Is your Instagram ad pending approval for too long? Is this disrupting your business plans? Don’t worry, let me help you overcome this issue. Learn why this happens, how to fix it, and get ads approved fast with our helpful tips and solutions.

What Does Pending Approval Mean On Instagram Ads?

When you run ads on Instagram, you must wait for a review process, where the platform checks whether your ads meet its ad policies or not.

If Instagram says your ad is pending approval, it means the ad is under Instagram’s review process. This status persists from when you submit the ad until it is either accepted or denied.

How are Instagram ads reviewed?

Let’s break down the process of how Instagram reviews your ad:

You submit ad → Automatic system reviews ad → Human team reviews ad (optional) → Ad approved or rejected.

So, how long does Instagram take to review an ad?

According to Meta, ads are often reviewed within 24 hours after it’s submitted. However, this process may take longer for some reason, making your Instagram ad stuck on pending approval.

How do I know if my Instagram ad is approved?

You can check your Instagram notifications and the Ad Tools section for your ad status.

• If it says active, your ad is approved.
• If it says in review or pending approval, then your ad hasn’t been approved yet.
• If it says rejected, your ad is not approved.

Previous article: Why Is My Instagram Ad Not Spending? How To Check & Fix It In 2025

Why Is My Instagram Ad Pending Approval And How To Fix? (2025)

Your Instagram ad may get jammed in the pending approval status for various reasons. 

Let’s discuss them one by one and find the best solution for each.

Reason #1: There are too many ads submitted

Dealing with over 2 million active advertisers per month (source: Social Pilot), Instagram’s review system may sometimes be overloaded. If you submit ads in peak seasons like Christmas or Black Friday, prepare to wait longer.

How to get your ad approved fast?

Submit the ad several days before and schedule it for the actual day you want to start advertising.

Reason #2:You layer too many targeting criteria 

This complicates your audience targeting, so the review systems have to process further loads of information and take more time.

How to fix the pending approval Instagram ad?

Remove some targeting options and resubmit your ad.

Reason #3: Your ad includes restricted or sensitive content

Advertising restricted products and using sensitive content can trigger a human review and stretch out the review time.

Some restricted products and sensitive content on Instagram include:

• Alcohol
• Weapons
• Cosmetic and weight loss products
• Contraception products
• Financial and insurance products
• Gambling
• Cryptocurrency products
• Illegal substances
• Adult products
• Political content
• Suggestive images

Solution

Don’t go overboard with your ad content and imagery. Beware of forbidden products and services for Instagram ads. Also, stay updated with Meta’s ad policies to avoid violations. 

Learn more: How To Fix An Ad Account Disabled On Instagram

Reason #4: Your landing page is not functioning properly

Any trouble in the landing page linked to your ad can delay the review process. If your website doesn’t match your ad or is low-quality, your Instagram ad will keep pending approval.

How to troubleshoot it?

Double-check your landing page to make sure it’s functional. Change the destination URL or create ads that click to Instagram DMs instead. 

Reason #5: You submit the ad at off-business hours

If you publish your Instagram ads after business hours, you may have to wait longer. It’s understandable because most human reviewers are not available during this time.

Fix

Submit your ads during working hours: 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday. 

Reason #6: You edit the ad after submitting

Any changes in ad targeting, ad creatives, optimization, and billing events will initiate a new review. Your ad will have to queue again, which means you may have to wait longer.

How to avoid it?

Review your ad meticulously before publishing. Don’t attempt to change it after that if it is not necessary. 

Reason #7: You are using a new or low-reputable ad account

Instagram treats advertisers who previously violated ad policies or haven’t spent much differently. They often scrutinize those accounts more strictly and involve human reviewers to ensure safety and compliance. Therefore, the process can take more time than normal.

How to speed it up?

Use aged ad accounts with long-spending histories and a high reputation. 

Pro tip: Rent Facebook agency accounts to run Instagram ads. They are reputable and usually prioritized to get quick approval by Meta. 

Reason #8: Your ad includes complex elements

Complicated elements such as animations and special effects make it harder for the automated review to process your ad, making your ad pending approval on Instagram for longer than usual.

How to get an Instagram ad approved?

Try duplicating ads, replacing those elements, and then submitting the new one. This may get your ad approved faster.

Conclusion

It’s not a big issue having an Instagram ad pending approval. When you know why the issue happened and stay updated on Instagram’s policies, you will be able to get your ads through to your audience.

Feel free to pose questions or discuss more about this topic with GDT Agency in the comment section below.

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