Google AdSense to remove and stop approving subdomain sites from March

Google AdSense has announced that it will remove and stop approving subdomain sites from March 20, 2023. Below is what it means for AdSense publishers running ads on their subdomains.

Google AdSense subdomain removal

If you run a subdomain monetized with Google Adsense, then Google has made changes to how it handles the addition of subdomain sites. From  March 20, 2023, only subdomains of blogspot.com (for example john.blogspot.com) and sites in the public suffix list can be added.

The public suffix list comprises those suffixes that you can use to register a domain or subdomain with. Other than Top Level Domains (TLDs) like .com, .net, .org, .aero, .edu, .pro, .mx, .eu, .cn, .uk, .de, .ac. etc., examples of public suffix domains include blogspot.com, withgoogle.com, amazonaws.com, azurewebsites.net, customer-oci.com, etc.  

The difference between the public suffix list and domain extension is that a private root domain like blogspot.com which is not a domain extension can be added to the public suffix list if it allows the public to register subdomains.

Here is a complete public suffix list. You can also read the guidelines for adding your root domain to the public suffix list.

It is important to note that other than blogspot.com  most domains in the public suffix list are not known to be used for AdSense monetization.

Can I still monetize my subdomain?

Yes, you can still monetize your subdomain if you own the root domain that has been approved for Google AdSense monetization. You will need to use the root domain’s AdSense code for subdomain monetization.

We see these changes as a means of Google trying to reduce running ads on low-quality sites that are created by users trying to circumvent the approval process. We also see it as a way of Google reducing the approval process by focusing approval on the root domain.

Independent publishers need not worry as the changes are not likely to affect them. The only thing you need to take note of as a publisher is that any penalty placed on your subdomain will also affect your root domain.

If you want to check which sites have been affected, log in to your Adsense account and click on sites. If you have a subdomain labeled as needs attention or not reviewed then it means it is affected by the changes.

You might be interested to read about the top monetization platforms or use Adsense Banned Words Checker.