Top Sites withads.txt Errors
Real validation results from major publishers. See exactly what errors cost them revenue every day.
Real Errors from Real Sites
We've checked ads.txt files from major publishers. Here are the actual errors we found - the same mistakes that could be costing you money right now.
Reuters.com
4 Errors + 48 WarningsOne of the world's largest news agencies with critical ads.txt errors affecting their programmatic revenue.
Specific Errors Found:
- • Line 270: Invalid domain format in MANAGERDOMAIN
- • Line 277: Line has too many fields (maximum 4)
- • Line 313: Line must have at least 3 fields
- • Line 402: Invalid certification ID format
Sample Problematic Lines:
freestar.com, 792, DIRECT
google.com, pub-3605257360853185, RESELLER, f08c47fec0942fa0CNN.com
7 Errors FoundMajor news network with multiple syntax errors in their ads.txt file, potentially losing significant revenue.
Common Issues:
- • Missing commas in entries
- • Invalid relationship parameters
- • Malformed certification IDs
- • Syntax formatting errors
Impact:
With ~200M monthly pageviews, even small CPM drops from these errors add up to significant losses.
WashingtonPost.com
Multiple ErrorsMajor newspaper with domain format errors and invalid entries in their ads.txt file.
Specific Problems:
- • Line 4: Invalid domain format in MANAGERDOMAIN
- • Line 61: Invalid domain format
- • Malformed domain entries
- • Incorrect field formatting
Problematic Entry Example:
vi.ai [vi.ai], g-009fe0710d5834a11d8876ea33d47565b9, DIRECTMajor E-commerce Site
12+ ErrorsTop online retailer with multiple formatting errors affecting their high-value e-commerce inventory.
Typical E-commerce Issues:
- • Missing commas after domain names
- • Wrong DIRECT/RESELLER values
- • Invalid seller account IDs
- • Malformed certification authority IDs
Why This Matters:
E-commerce sites typically have higher CPMs, so ads.txt errors hit their revenue harder than other sites.
Most Common ads.txt Errors
Based on our analysis of 50,000+ ads.txt files, here are the errors we see most often
Formatting Errors
Missing commas, extra fields, or incorrect syntax. These are the most common and easiest to fix.
Domain Issues
Invalid domain formats, wrong subdomains, or malformed domain entries in ads.txt files.
ID Problems
Invalid publisher IDs, wrong certification authority IDs, or malformed account identifiers.
Relationship Errors
Wrong DIRECT/RESELLER values, missing relationship parameters, or incorrect relationship types.
Field Count Issues
Too many or too few fields per line. ads.txt requires exactly 3-4 fields per entry.
Certification Problems
Invalid certification authority IDs, wrong format, or missing required certification fields.
Don't Make These Same Mistakes
If major publishers like Reuters and CNN have these errors, yours might too. Check your ads.txt file now - it takes 30 seconds.