Facebook Ad Account Spending Limit Reached: How to Get Ads Running Again
Quick fix
Facebook ad account spending limit reached means your ads have paused, even though Ads Manager still lists them as active. An admin can fix it in Payment settings: in the Account spending limit section click Options, then change, remove or reset the limit. Ads start running again in about 15 minutes.
- Open Payment settings as an ad account admin.
- In
Account spending limit, clickOptions. - Change, remove or reset the amount spent.
- Allow about 15 minutes for ads to restart.
Can't fix it yourself? Send me the details
What this error means
An account spending limit is a lifetime cap you set on total spend across all campaigns. It doesn't affect delivery until it's reached, then every ad pauses. The amount spent doesn't reset by itself, so ads stay paused until someone changes it.
Meta describes it as a flexible lifetime cap on the total money your ad account can spend across all ad campaigns.
Why it happens
1You reached the cap you set
Spend hit the limit, so every ad paused.
How to tell if this is you: You got a notification about the pause.
2The amount spent didn't reset
It doesn't reset automatically, for example at the end of the month.
How to tell if this is you: The limit was set for one month and never reset.
3It's actually Meta's daily limit
If you haven't reached your own limit, you may have hit the daily spending limit Meta sets.
How to tell if this is you: Spend stops at the same amount each day and resumes next day.
How to fix it
- Go to Payment settings.
- In the
Account spending limitsection, clickOptions. - Click
Remove, or change the amount, or reset the amount spent. - If you see an error about too many changes, wait about an hour.
How long it takes
Meta says a removed, changed or reset limit takes effect in about 15 minutes, after which ads run again.
How to stop it happening again
- Set the limit to reset automatically on the 1st of each month if that option is available.
- Remember spend already made counts toward a new limit.
From my desk
Only when a client wants a hard cap, for example a fixed monthly budget. Otherwise I rely on campaign budgets, because a forgotten account limit is a classic reason ads suddenly stop. If one is set, I note it down and check it first whenever delivery stops without a clear cause.
Muhammed Abdul Kalam
When to get help
- Payments keep failing with a card that works everywhere else.
- The ad account was disabled after a failed payment and paying the balance has not restored it.
Stuck on this? Send me the details.Tell me what the platform shows and what you've tried so far.
Send me the detailsFAQs
Why do my ads say Active when they are not spending?
When the account spending limit is reached, ads pause but are still listed as active in Ads Manager.
Does the spending limit reset every month?
Not automatically. You may have an option to reset it on the 1st of each month.
How long until ads restart?
About 15 minutes after you change, remove or reset the limit.
Who can change the spending limit?
An admin of the ad account.
Why can I not set a spending limit?
Accounts that use available funds to pay for ads can't set an account spending limit.