Why is my Facebook Ads transaction "Under Review"?

If your Facebook Ads transaction is marked as "Under Review", it means Facebook is temporarily holding or reviewing your payment or ad activity for security, policy, or verification reasons. Here's a detailed breakdown of what it means, why it happens, and what you can do:

🕵��♂️ What "Under Review" Means
The "Under Review" status usually shows up in your Billing section or next to your ads or payment after you've attempted a transaction or made changes to your account. During this time:

Your payment may not go through immediately.

Your ads might be paused until the review is completed.

You won't be charged again until the issue is resolved.

🔍 Common Reasons for a Payment Being Under Review
1. Suspicious or Unusual Activity
Facebook detected something that looks like potential fraud, such as:

A new payment method.

Payments from a different IP address, country, or device.

Rapid spending increases or multiple attempts.

2. New or Unverified Payment Method
If you're using a new card, virtual card, or PayPal account, Facebook may pause to verify it's legit.

Facebook may also be verifying if the card issuer accepts digital ad transactions.

3. Business or Account Verification Pending
If you're running ads under a business account, and Facebook requires business verification, payments may be held until verification is complete.

4. Payment Method or Bank Issues
Your bank or card issuer may be flagging the transaction.

Facebook may retry the payment but keep it in review in the meantime.

5. Policy Violations or Account Restrictions
If your account has violated Facebook Ads policies, payments may be put under review while Facebook assesses the situation.

🛠� What You Can Do About It
✅ 1. Check Your Billing and Account Quality
Go to Billing and look for any alerts or pending issues.

Check Account Quality for ad account restrictions, policy violations, or payment-related issues.

✅ 2. Wait a Few Hours
Many "Under Review" statuses clear up automatically within a few hours (sometimes up to 24 hours).

Don't make repeated changes — this can slow down the process.

✅ 3. Avoid Switching Payment Methods Repeatedly
Too many changes can raise additional flags.

Stick with one verified payment method until the review is resolved.

✅ 4. Contact Facebook Ads Support
If it's been more than 24 hours, or if your ad campaign is time-sensitive:

Go to Meta Business Help.

Click "Get Help" and select Ads > Billing > Payment Review Issue.

Request chat support or submit a support ticket.

✅ 5. Verify Your Identity or Business (If Requested)
Facebook may ask you to upload documents or confirm business details.

Complete any verification steps under Business Settings > Security Center.

⚠️ Heads-Up:
If you're using a virtual card or prepaid method, and Facebook flags it, you may want to switch to a traditional debit or credit card.

Avoid using VPNs or proxies when accessing your ad account, as this can trigger security reviews.

Summary:
"Under Review" means Facebook is checking your transaction before approving it — usually for security or policy reasons. Most reviews are automated and temporary, but if it's taking too long or affecting your campaigns, reach out to support for faster resolution.