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How to export the Google Ads search terms report (2026)

By Abhishek Pal, performance marketer (apships.com). Last updated 2026-11-01.

To export the Google Ads search terms report, open Campaigns, then Insights and reports, then Search terms. Set the last 30 days, keep your columns, select the campaign scope, and download a CSV using the steps below. Google documents the location in its search terms report guide.

1. Open the report with individual searches

Start with the words people searched, not just the keywords you chose to target. Search terms insights groups queries into themes; the search terms report shows individual queries. Some low-volume queries are withheld for privacy, so the export is not a record of every search. These distinctions are covered in Google's explanation of the report.

Before changing anything, decide which campaigns you want to review. Write their names beside your working notes. This gives you a simple check later: does the file contain the campaigns you intended to examine?

2. Set the last 30 days

Open the date control at the top right and set the range to Last 30 days. Google documents the date control's location. Check the displayed start and end dates before exporting.

I recommend this window for a monthly first pass. Record the dates in your review notes so you can compare like with like next month. Avoid starting with All time: that mixes your current review with older periods you may not intend to act on.

Treat recent zero-conversion rows as questions. Google explains that conversions can arrive after the click, making recent results look weaker while spend is already reported. Check your usual delay before deciding that a relevant query has failed. See Google's conversion-delay guidance.

3. Filter out Performance Max campaigns

Performance Max search terms have been available in reporting since 2025. Google's August 7, 2025 announcement confirms access across all Performance Max campaigns. Its current Performance Max report guide describes the dedicated view and says historical data starts in March 2023. That historical date is different from the rollout date.

For this review workflow, export Search and Shopping campaigns separately. Google documents a campaign type selector in the Views bar at the top when an account has multiple campaign types. Use that selector to narrow the view to Search, then export the search terms. Repeat with Shopping if needed. Check the campaign names before each download. See Google's campaign type selector instructions.

The tool reviews Search and Shopping terms and sets Performance Max rows aside. Keep those rows out of this upload by selecting the intended campaign type first. A file containing only Performance Max campaigns will not provide the Search or Shopping review you came for.

4. Keep every column in the export

Keep all existing columns. Use the Columns control to add anything missing from the checklist below, rather than trimming the report down to a list of queries. Google explains the report's column controls and how to choose columns and apply the selection.

The report's Match type describes the relationship between the query and the keyword that triggered the ad. It is not a recommendation for the negative match type you should choose. Google's guide to the Keyword and Match type columns explains that relationship. Make the exclusion decision separately.

What does Added/Excluded mean?

The column shows whether a search term is already one of your keywords (Added), already a negative keyword (Excluded), both in different places (Added/Excluded), or neither (None). The review skips Excluded rows, because they are already blocked, and never proposes a negative for an Added keyword, because that keyword is live by your choice.

Preserve this column for the review. Before applying a proposed negative, check the intended campaign's existing keywords and exclusions rather than treating a status label as your decision.

5. Download a CSV file

Use the download icon above the table, then choose a CSV format from the download options. Google's download instructions list Excel CSV separately from XLSX; its performance reporting guide also lists .csv. Choose CSV for this workflow, not an XLSX workbook.

Keep the original download unchanged and make a working copy for notes. Check the date range, campaign names, and required columns before uploading. If something is missing, correct the report and export again. Avoid trying to reconstruct missing context from memory.

6. Make three passes through the file

These are review prompts, not automatic exclusion rules. Keep a short reason beside each candidate so someone else can understand why you flagged it.

  1. Spend without conversions. Start with costly rows showing no conversions. In a hypothetical example, a query with $75 spent and zero conversions deserves inspection, not an automatic $75 savings claim. Check relevance and conversion delay first.
  2. Intent that may not fit. Look for job, free, wholesale, and how-to searches. Compare each whole query with what you sell. In a hypothetical example, job searches may be useful to a recruiter, while wholesale searches may be useful to a distributor. The word alone is not a verdict.
  3. Competitor names. Review them separately. Decide whether the campaign is meant to attract comparison shoppers. Keep relevant or converting searches under review; propose exclusions only where the intent does not fit the campaign.

Check these mistakes before you upload

For a second pass, use the search-term review at negatives.apships.com. Upload the CSV for a free summary of wasted spend; the $39 full report includes a paste-ready negative-keyword file. It requires no account access or login and deletes the file after the run. Suggestions use exact or phrase match only. Savings are estimates, and every suggestion needs your review.

Questions

Where is the Google Ads search terms report?
Open Campaigns in the left navigation, expand Insights and reports, then select Search terms. Use the search terms report for individual queries rather than the grouped themes in search terms insights.
Which file format should I download?
Choose a CSV format. Google documents CSV and Excel CSV options separately from XLSX. Keep the downloaded file as .csv for this review workflow.
Which columns should I keep?
Keep all existing columns. Check that Search term, Match type, Added/Excluded, Campaign, Clicks, Impr., Cost, and Conversions are included. Preserve the original export and use a separate copy for your notes.
Does the report include Performance Max search terms?
Yes. Google confirmed availability across all Performance Max campaigns in August 2025. For this tool, prepare Search or Shopping campaign exports separately; Performance Max rows are set aside.

Sources

Have an export ready? The search-term review finds the wasted spend in it for free. The full report is $39. Run it on your file.

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