How to Add Google AdSense Code in WordPress Easily

How to Add Google AdSense Code in WordPress Easily

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Adding Google AdSense to your WordPress site is a crucial step for many bloggers and website owners looking to monetise their content. In 2025, the process has become more streamlined and user-friendly, with Google itself providing an official plugin that simplifies the entire setup.

This guide will walk you through the three primary methods of adding AdSense to your WordPress site, from the easiest to the most hands-on approach. We will also cover best practices for ad placement to ensure a positive user experience while maximising your revenue.

 

Phase 1: Preparation is Key

Before you can add any code, you must have an active and approved Google AdSense account. If you haven’t already, head over to the Google AdSense website and sign up. You’ll need to provide your website’s URL, your email address, and some contact information.

Google’s team will review your site to ensure it complies with their Program policies. This review process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, so be patient. You can check the status of your review in the “Sites” card on your AdSense homepage.

Once your account is approved, you’ll be given a unique AdSense code snippet. This is the code you will be adding to your WordPress site.

 

Method 1: The Official & Easiest Way (Recommended for Beginners)

 

The most straightforward and recommended method for adding AdSense code to your WordPress site in 2025 is by using the official Site Kit by Google plugin. This plugin is not only free and developed by Google, but it also integrates AdSense with other key Google services like Analytics and Search Console, providing a unified dashboard for all your site’s metrics.

 

Step 1: Install and Activate Site Kit

 

  1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  2. In the search bar, type “Site Kit by Google.”
  3. Find the plugin in the search results, click Install Now, and then Activate.

 

Step 2: Set Up Site Kit

  1. After activation, click the Start Setup button.
  2. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect your WordPress site to your Google account. You’ll be asked to grant permission for Site Kit to access data from various Google services.
  3. Once the basic setup is complete, navigate to the Site Kit dashboard.

 

Step 3: Connect AdSense

 

  1. On the Site Kit dashboard, find the AdSense tab or section.
  2. Click Connect Service and follow the instructions to link your AdSense account to Site Kit.
  3. Site Kit will automatically place the necessary AdSense code on every page of your site. It is designed to work with Google’s Auto ads, which uses machine learning to find the best ad placements for your site.

Note: To ensure ads are displayed, you must have Auto ads enabled in your AdSense account. Site Kit does not have permission to change these settings for you.

 

Method 2: Using a Dedicated Ad Management Plugin (Recommended for Control)

While Site Kit is excellent for beginners who want a hands-off approach, many publishers prefer more control over where their ads are displayed. This is where dedicated ad management plugins come in. These plugins allow you to insert individual ad units, manage their placement with precision, and even set up conditional logic to show different ads to different users.

A popular and highly-rated option is the Ad Inserter plugin, known for its powerful features and user-friendly interface. Other great options include Advanced Ads and WP Simple Adsense Insertion.

 

Step 1: Install and Activate an Ad Management Plugin

 

  1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for a plugin like “Ad Inserter” or “Advanced Ads.”
  3. Install and activate your chosen plugin.

 

Step 2: Create Ad Units in AdSense

 

  1. Log in to your Google AdSense account.
  2. Navigate to the Ads > Ad units section.
  3. Click on New ad unit. You’ll be given several options:
    • Display ads: The most common and flexible ad format.
    • In-feed ads: Designed to blend in with your list of articles.
    • In-article ads: Optimised to appear between paragraphs within your content.
  4. Choose the ad format you want and give it a descriptive name (e.g., “Homepage Sidebar Ad”).
  5. Set the ad size (Responsive is generally the best choice as it adjusts to any screen size).
  6. Click Create and copy the code snippet that Google provides.

 

Step 3: Insert the Ad Unit Code with the Plugin

 

  1. Return to your WordPress dashboard and go to the settings page for your ad management plugin. For Ad Inserter, this is usually found under Settings > Ad Inserter.
  2. Paste the AdSense code you copied into an ad block.
  3. Use the plugin’s settings to choose where you want the ad to appear. You can place it in a widget area (like your sidebar or footer), after a specific paragraph in your posts, or even on a particular page.

Best Practices for Ad Placement:

  • Above the fold: Ads placed at the top of the page, visible without scrolling, tend to have a higher click-through rate (CTR).
  • In-content: Placing ads between paragraphs (for example, after the second or third paragraph) can be highly effective as users are already engaged with the content.
  • Sidebar: A classic placement that works well, especially on desktop views.
  • Please keep it clean: Avoid placing too many ads close together or in a way that disrupts the user experience. Google’s policies strictly prohibit this. A clean layout with a few strategically placed ads can be more profitable in the long run.

 

Method 3: The Manual Way (For Advanced Users)

 

For those who prefer not to use a plugin, or who need to add the code for a specific reason (e.g., a lightweight site), you can manually insert the AdSense code into your theme files.

Warning: This method requires editing your theme’s files directly. A single mistake can break your site. We recommend creating a backup of your site and using a child theme before proceeding. If you update your theme, any manual changes will be lost, which is a significant reason why plugins are so popular.

 

Step 1: Get Your AdSense Code

 

  1. Log in to your Google AdSense account.
  2. Go to Ads > Overview and click the Get Code button under “Auto ads.”
  3. Copy the entire code snippet.

 

Step 2: Add the Code to Your Theme’s Header

 

The most common place to insert the code is in your theme’s header.php file, which is loaded on every page of your site.

  1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor.
  2. From the list of theme files on the right, find and click on Theme Header (header.php).
  3. Locate the <head> section of the file.
  4. Paste the AdSense code snippet just before the closing </head> tag.
  5. Click Update File to save your changes.

Note on Block Themes: If you are using a modern block-based theme, such as Twenty Twenty-Four, you won’t have a traditional header.php file to edit. Instead, you’ll need to use the Site Editor. Go to Appearance > Editor, click on Templates or Template Parts (Header or Footer), and add a Custom HTML block to paste the code.

 

Step 3: Verify and Enable Ads

 

After adding the code, return to your AdSense account and click the Verify button. Google will then scan your site to ensure the code has been placed correctly. Once verified, you should see ads begin to appear on your site within a few hours.

 

Final Thoughts on Monetisation

 

Adding AdSense is just the first step. To maximise your earnings, focus on creating high-quality, valuable content that people actually want to read. The more traffic you have and the more engaged your audience is, the higher your potential revenue. Regularly check your AdSense reports to see which ad units are performing best and adjust your strategy accordingly. By combining good content with a strategic approach to monetisation, you can build a sustainable and profitable website in 2025.

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