Duplicate keywords

Understand duplication options for Apple Search Ads Advanced search results
campaign keywords

In Apple Search Ads Advanced search results campaigns, you can duplicate keywords from one ad group to another — or to multiple ad groups whose search results campaigns are within the same campaign group. Each keyword’s match type will be copied, and you can choose to copy keyword-level max CPT bids, use the ad group default max CPT bid, or set a custom bid.

How to duplicate keywords

  1. Go to the Keywords tab within a search results ad group.
  2. Select the individual keywords you want to duplicate.
  3. Choose Duplicate Selected Keywords or All Keywords from the Actions menu.
  4. Select the destination ad groups and campaigns.
  5. Choose to use the existing keyword or ad group default max CPT bid, or set a new bid.
  6. Click Duplicate, and Apple Search Ads will copy your keywords.

Note that an ad group can have up to 5000 keywords. If the number of selected keywords to duplicate results in your destination ad group exceeding this limit, you can’t duplicate this list of keywords. Select up to the number of keywords recommended in the error message, and try again.

Specific keywords can’t be duplicated if they already exist in the destination ad group with the same match type, or if the bid amount exceeds the campaign’s budget. You can’t duplicate keywords once the process is complete.

How to duplicate negative keywords

You can duplicate campaign negative keywords from one search results campaign to another. Ad group negative keywords can be duplicated to another ad group in the same campaign, or in a different campaign.

To duplicate negative keywords:

  1. Go to the ad group’s Negative Keywords tab, or the Negative Keywords tab on the campaign’s All Keywords dashboard.
  2. Click Selected Negative Keywords or All Campaign/Ad Group Negative Keywords from the Actions menu.
  3. Select a destination campaign or ad group for your negative keywords.
  4. Click Duplicate.

Note that each ad group and campaign can have up to 5000 negative keywords. If the number of selected negative keywords pushes your destination ad group or campaign over this limit, the duplication process is aborted.

Specific negative keywords may not be duplicated if they already exist in the destination campaign or ad group with the same match type.

If you’re experiencing issues when trying to duplicate keywords

There are a few reasons why duplication may fail:

  • Your destination campaign or ad group would exceed the keyword or negative keyword limit.
  • More than 200 unique items were skipped during the duplication process.

Ad group keywords, ad group negative keywords, and campaign negative keywords are skipped during the duplication process because:

  • Your keywords and match type already exist in the destination ad group.
  • Your bid amount for that keyword isn’t valid in the new campaign. If your keyword bid amount is higher than your destination campaign's daily budget, your keyword won’t duplicate. Adjust your daily budget or bid amount, and try again.
  • Your negative keyword text and match type already exist in the destination campaign or ad group.
  • There’s already an ad group with the same name and suffix in the destination campaign.