INVALID_CONVERSION_ACTION
Google Ads couldn't find the conversion action you specified. Learn the most common causes — deleted actions, MCC mismatches, wrong action types — and how to fix each one.
Common Causes
| # | Cause | Likelihood | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conversion action deleted or paused | Very Common | The conversion action you're referencing has been deleted, removed, or paused in Google Ads. Paused actions won't accept new conversions. Deleted actions return this error. |
| 2 | Wrong Google Ads account (MCC mismatch) | Common | You're uploading to account A, but the conversion action exists in account B. In MCC setups, cross-account conversion tracking must be properly configured. The conversion action must be owned by or shared with the account that recorded the click. |
| 3 | Wrong conversion action type | Common | You created a 'Website' conversion action but are trying to upload offline conversions to it. Offline conversion uploads require an 'Import' type conversion action (specifically 'Track conversions from clicks' or 'Track conversions from calls'). |
| 4 | Conversion action name typo | Moderate | The conversion name in your upload file doesn't exactly match the name in Google Ads. Matching is case-sensitive and whitespace-sensitive. |
| 5 | Conversion action in a different MCC | Less Common | In multi-MCC structures, the conversion action might be in a parent MCC that hasn't shared it with the child account you're uploading to. |
What It Means (Plain English)
Google Ads cannot find a conversion action matching the name or ID you specified in your upload. The conversion action either doesn’t exist, has been deleted, is the wrong type, or belongs to a different account.
Every record in your upload batch that references the invalid conversion action will be rejected.
How to Fix It
Step 1: Verify the Conversion Action Exists
In Google Ads, navigate to Goals → Conversions and confirm:
- The conversion action exists and is active (not paused or deleted)
- The name matches exactly what you’re sending in your upload
Step 2: Check the Conversion Action Type
The conversion action must be an Import type, not a Website or App type:
- Click on the conversion action → Settings
- Under “Source,” confirm it says Import (not “Website” or “Google Analytics”)
- The specific source should be “Track conversions from clicks” or “Track conversions from calls”
Step 3: Verify Account Ownership
If using an MCC structure:
- Confirm which account owns the conversion action
- Confirm you’re uploading to the same account (or a child account with sharing enabled)
- Share the action from the manager account if the click landed in a child account: Goals → Conversions → the action → Settings.
Step 4: Use Conversion Action ID Instead of Name
If name matching is causing issues, use the conversion action resource name (numeric ID) instead. This eliminates case-sensitivity and typo issues:
conversionAction: "customers/1234567890/conversionActions/987654321"How TUOCA Prevents This
The Upload Offline Conversions App validates conversion actions before uploading:
- Pre-upload validation — TUOCA verifies the conversion action exists and is active in the target account before sending any data
- Dropdown selection — Instead of typing conversion action names, you select from a list pulled directly from the Google Ads API — eliminating typos
- Resource name matching — TUOCA uses conversion action IDs internally, not display names, ensuring exact matches regardless of name changes