Some Google Ads users are reporting a possible issue with the platform’s date range comparison feature. Instead of displaying clear comparison data, the dashboard may show only lines without the expected performance changes.

The problem was recently highlighted by Google Ads specialist Anthony Higman on LinkedIn. According to his post, multiple members of his team could no longer get the comparison ranges to work correctly, even after trying several possible fixes.

However, the issue does not appear to be affecting every Google Ads account. Several advertisers responding to the post said that their comparison reports were working normally. Therefore, this may be a temporary account-level bug, a limited interface issue, or an inconsistent platform error.

What Is the Google Ads Comparison Date Range Feature?

The Google Ads comparison date range feature allows advertisers to compare campaign performance across two different periods.

For example, an advertiser can compare:

This month with the previous month
This week with the previous week
The last 30 days with the previous 30 days
A custom period with another custom period

After comparison mode is enabled, Google Ads normally displays changes in important metrics such as:

Clicks
Impressions
Conversions
Cost
Conversion value
Click-through rate
Cost per conversion

This feature helps advertisers understand if campaign performance is improving or declining.

Google’s official guidance explains that advertisers can activate the Compare option inside the date range selector. Users can then choose a previous period, previous year, or custom comparison range.

What Problem Are Advertisers Seeing?

The reported issue appears when users try to compare two date ranges inside Google Ads.

Instead of showing the usual comparison numbers, percentages, or visible performance changes, the interface may display only chart lines.

This makes it difficult for advertisers to understand the difference between the selected periods. As a result, they may need to calculate performance changes manually or export the data into another reporting tool.

Anthony Higman reported that the issue was affecting both him and other members of his team. He also mentioned that they had tried several solutions without success.

Still, responses to the post showed mixed results. Some PPC professionals said the feature was working correctly in their accounts. One user also confirmed that it was functioning at the Google Ads manager account level.

Therefore, the issue may not be a platform-wide Google Ads outage.

Is This a Confirmed Google Ads Bug?

At the moment, there does not appear to be enough public evidence to confirm that this is a widespread Google Ads bug.

The original report shows that multiple users within one team experienced the problem. However, many other advertisers said that their comparison ranges were working as expected.

This suggests several possible explanations.

The issue could be connected to:

A temporary interface error
A specific Google Ads account
A browser or cache problem
Certain campaign or report settings
A limited feature test
A gradual platform update
A problem affecting only selected users

Google frequently tests changes across different accounts. Because of this, two advertisers may see different layouts or reporting behavior at the same time.

Until Google confirms the issue, advertisers should treat it as a possible limited bug rather than a confirmed global problem.

Why Date Range Comparisons Matter in Google Ads?

Date range comparisons are an important part of Google Ads campaign management.

Looking at current numbers alone does not always provide enough information. A campaign may have generated 100 conversions, but that figure becomes more useful when it is compared with an earlier period.

For example, an advertiser may discover that:

Conversions increased by 20 percent
Cost per conversion decreased
Clicks increased but sales declined
Ad spend increased without better results
One campaign improved while another lost performance

These comparisons help advertisers make better decisions.

Without comparison data, it becomes harder to identify trends, measure campaign improvements, or notice sudden performance drops.

How to Check Google Ads Comparison Ranges?

Advertisers can normally compare date ranges by following these steps:

Sign in to the Google Ads account.
Open the campaign, ad group, keyword, or reporting section.
Click the date range in the top-right corner.
Turn on the Compare option.
Choose Previous period, Previous year, or Custom.
Select the required dates.
Click Apply.

The chart and reporting table should then display information for both periods. Google Ads may also show percentage changes below important metrics.

Google recommends using equal and continuous periods when generating certain comparison explanations. For example, a seven-day period should normally be compared with another seven-day period directly before it.

Possible Fixes for Google Ads Comparison Range Issues

Advertisers experiencing the problem can try several basic troubleshooting steps.

1. Refresh the Google Ads Dashboard

Start by refreshing the page. Temporary loading problems can prevent reporting elements from appearing correctly.

A hard refresh may also help reload the dashboard files.

On Windows, users can press Ctrl + F5. On Mac, users can press Command + Shift + R.

2. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Old browser data may interfere with the Google Ads interface.

Clearing the browser cache and cookies can help load a fresh version of the platform. After clearing the data, sign back into Google Ads and test the comparison feature again.

3. Try Incognito Mode

Open Google Ads in an incognito or private browsing window.

This can help determine if the problem is caused by stored browser data, extensions, or account settings within the browser.

If the feature works in incognito mode, the issue is likely connected to the normal browser session.

4. Use a Different Browser

Try opening Google Ads in another supported browser.

For example, users experiencing the issue in Chrome can test it in Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

If the comparison works in another browser, the original browser may be causing the problem.

5. Disable Browser Extensions

Ad blockers, privacy extensions, reporting tools, and other browser add-ons can sometimes affect how Google Ads loads.

Temporarily disable extensions and reload the account. Then check if the comparison percentages and values appear correctly.

6. Select Equal Date Ranges

Make sure both comparison periods have the same number of days.

For example, compare July 1 to July 7 with June 24 to June 30. Avoid comparing a seven-day range with a ten-day range when testing the feature.

Google states that equal and continuous periods may be required for certain explanations and comparison insights to appear.

7. Test a Different Campaign or Report

The issue may only affect a specific campaign, view, metric, or reporting table.

Try opening another campaign or changing the reporting columns. Users can also test the feature at the account level instead of the campaign level.

This can help identify if the problem is limited to one section.

8. Remove Filters and Segments

Active filters or reporting segments may change how comparison data appears.

Remove unnecessary filters, segments, or custom columns. Then return to the default campaign view and test the date comparison again.

9. Export the Google Ads Data

If the comparison interface is still not working, export the report as a spreadsheet.

The current and previous periods can then be compared manually using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.

Although this requires extra effort, it helps advertisers continue their analysis until the dashboard issue is resolved.

10. Contact Google Ads Support

Advertisers should contact Google Ads support if the issue continues across multiple browsers, campaigns, and team members.

When reporting the problem, include:

The Google Ads customer ID
Screenshots or screen recordings
The selected date ranges
The affected campaigns
Browser and device information
Steps already taken
The time the issue started

Clear details can help the support team investigate the problem faster.

How to Compare Performance Manually?

Advertisers can still measure changes manually if the built-in comparison feature is unavailable.

Use this formula: Percentage change = ((New value – Old value) ÷ Old value) × 100

For example, suppose a campaign generated 120 conversions this month and 100 conversions last month.

The calculation would be: ((120 – 100) ÷ 100) × 100 = 20 percent

This means conversions increased by 20 percent.

Advertisers can use the same method to compare clicks, impressions, costs, conversion value, and other metrics.

Should Advertisers Be Concerned?

The reported issue is inconvenient, but it does not necessarily mean that campaign data has been lost.

Based on the available reports, the problem appears to affect how comparison information is displayed. There is currently no clear evidence that the underlying campaign performance data has disappeared.

Google’s help documentation also explains that date range changes should update both charts and reporting tables. Users can compare two periods side by side when the feature works correctly.

Advertisers should still check their original metrics before making major campaign changes. A display problem can make performance look incomplete or confusing, even when the account data remains available.

Best Practices During Google Ads Reporting Issues

Reporting errors can lead to rushed decisions. Therefore, advertisers should use a careful approach.

First, avoid making large budget changes based on incomplete comparison information.

Next, verify the numbers through another method, such as exported reports, Google Sheets, Looker Studio, or the Google Ads mobile app.

It is also helpful to record daily campaign metrics. Regular reporting creates a backup that can be used when the dashboard behaves unexpectedly.

Finally, keep notes about any platform issue. Include the date, affected accounts, screenshots, and troubleshooting steps. This information can be useful when contacting support or reviewing campaign performance later.

Final Thoughts

Some advertisers are reporting that Google Ads comparison date ranges are not displaying correctly. Instead of showing clear performance changes, the platform may show only chart lines.

However, the issue does not appear to affect every account. Several PPC professionals have confirmed that the comparison feature is working normally for them. This suggests that the problem could be temporary, account-specific, or limited to certain users.

Advertisers experiencing the issue should refresh the dashboard, clear their browser data, test another browser, remove filters, and select equal comparison periods. They can also export campaign data and calculate the changes manually.

Most importantly, avoid making major campaign decisions until the numbers have been verified. Google Ads reporting bugs can be frustrating, but careful checking can prevent inaccurate conclusions and unnecessary account changes.