Top line:
New Google Ads setting allows imagery from your linked Google Business Profile to serve in location-based ads. This low-vis setting could impact creative control for location-based ads.
Google says:
Google Ads can enhance your Ads campaigns with photos and rich media uploaded by owners or managers of the linked Google Business Profile, helping you achieve your performance goals.
We Say
It allows creative assets to appear in your ads that you didn’t upload. A big watch out for brand-sensitive/compliance-heavy advertisers.
Why Should You Care?
This is a lesser-known setting equivalent to Auto-apply settings, but buried like the Account-level automated assets settings. If your brand has compliance issues or strict brand controls, this should be audited promptly.
To view this setting in Google Ads you can find it here:
Tools > Shared Library > Location Manager > Settings

There are two boxes to analyze:
- Google Business Profile merchant photos
Allow Google Ads to use GBP merchant-uploaded photos and rich media in your Ads campaigns. - Google-owned location imagery
Allow Google Ads to use Google-owned photos and other rich media from Google in your Ads campaigns.
When to opt out
if:
The GBP photos are ugly, dark, outdated or UGC.
Compliance/brand is an issue
The storefront looks closed or messy
There are no good images yet
You want full control over brand creative
When to opt in
if:
The business is visual/local (retail, hospitality, gyms, clinics)
The store looks good
The photos are modern
They can significantly improve:
Trust
Local intent CTR
Store visit rate
What is not affected by making this change?
These checkboxes do not control:
Business name
Address
Phone number
Store hours
Map pin
Location extensions
Directions button
Call button
Store visit reporting
All of those come from the linked Google Business Profile location, not the image settings.
Your location will still show normally in:
Search ads
Maps
Local extensions
PMAX store placements
