konquest-meta-ads-mcp

update_ad

Update an existing ad by modifying its name, status, or attaching an existing creative, with pre-write backup and post-update validation.

Instructions

Update an existing ad. Supervised write - validates before applying.

Takes a pre-write snapshot for rollback, validates the update payload, applies via Meta API, and verifies post-write state.

Note on creative_id: Swaps the creative attached to this ad. The new creative must already exist (created via create_multi_asset_ad or the Meta UI). This does NOT create a new creative - it re-points the ad to an existing one.

Args: ad_id: Ad ID to update. name: New ad name. Subject to naming enforcement. status: New status. Allowed: 'PAUSED', 'ACTIVE', 'ARCHIVED'. Activating requires confirmation-level validation. creative_id: ID of an existing creative to attach to this ad. Format: numeric string (e.g., '120239290442460377').

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`ad_id`	Yes
`name`	No
`status`	No
`creative_id`	No

Implementation Reference

meta_ads_mcp/core/ads.py:940-1190 (handler)

The `update_ad` function is the main handler for updating an existing ad. It validates status/creative_id inputs, takes a pre-write snapshot, enforces naming rules, runs validation, calls Meta API, verifies post-write state, and logs the mutation.

# --- Phase C.3: Ad update ---

@mcp.tool()
def update_ad(
    ad_id: str,
    name: Optional[str] = None,
    status: Optional[str] = None,
    creative_id: Optional[str] = None,
) -> dict:
    """
    Update an existing ad. Supervised write - validates before applying.

    Takes a pre-write snapshot for rollback, validates the update payload,
    applies via Meta API, and verifies post-write state.

    Note on creative_id: Swaps the creative attached to this ad. The new creative
    must already exist (created via create_multi_asset_ad or the Meta UI).
    This does NOT create a new creative - it re-points the ad to an existing one.

    Args:
        ad_id: Ad ID to update.
        name: New ad name. Subject to naming enforcement.
        status: New status. Allowed: 'PAUSED', 'ACTIVE', 'ARCHIVED'.
            Activating requires confirmation-level validation.
        creative_id: ID of an existing creative to attach to this ad.
            Format: numeric string (e.g., '120239290442460377').
    """
    timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")

    # --- At least one field must be provided ---
    if all(v is None for v in [name, status, creative_id]):
        return {
            "error": "No update fields provided. Specify at least one field to update.",
            "supported_fields": ["name", "status", "creative_id"],
            "blocked_at": "input_validation",
        }

    # --- Status validation ---
    allowed_statuses = ["PAUSED", "ACTIVE", "ARCHIVED"]
    if status is not None:
        status_upper = status.upper().strip()
        if status_upper not in allowed_statuses:
            return {
                "error": f"Invalid status '{status}'. Allowed: {allowed_statuses}",
                "blocked_at": "input_validation",
            }
        status = status_upper

    # --- Creative ID validation ---
    if creative_id is not None:
        creative_id = creative_id.strip()
        if not creative_id.isdigit():
            return {
                "error": f"Invalid creative_id '{creative_id}'. Must be a numeric string.",
                "blocked_at": "input_validation",
            }

    # --- Step 0: Pre-write snapshot ---
    api_client._ensure_initialized()
    try:
        current = api_client.graph_get(
            f"/{ad_id}",
            fields=["id", "name", "status", "effective_status",
                     "adset_id", "campaign_id", "creative",
                     "tracking_specs", "account_id"],
        )
    except MetaAPIError as e:
        return {
            "error": f"Cannot read ad {ad_id} for pre-update snapshot: {e}",
            "blocked_at": "pre_snapshot",
        }

    account_id = current.get("account_id", "")
    if account_id and not account_id.startswith("act_"):
        account_id = f"act_{account_id}"

    rollback_ref = f"update_ad_{ad_id}_{timestamp.replace(' ', '_').replace(':', '')}"

    # Extract current creative ID for rollback reference
    current_creative = current.get("creative", {})
    current_creative_id = current_creative.get("id") if isinstance(current_creative, dict) else None

    # --- Step 1: Naming enforcement (if name is being updated) ---
    effective_name = None
    naming_result = None
    if name is not None:
        from meta_ads_mcp.engine.naming_gate import enforce_naming

        naming_result = enforce_naming(
            proposed_name=name,
            object_type="ad",
            naming_inputs=None,
        )

        if naming_result["critical_block"]:
            return {
                "error": f"Naming enforcement BLOCKED: {naming_result.get('fix_suggestion', 'Invalid name')}",
                "naming_result": naming_result,
                "blocked_at": "naming_enforcement",
            }

        effective_name = naming_result["final_name"] or name

    # --- Step 2: Build update payload ---
    api_payload = {}

    if effective_name is not None:
        api_payload["name"] = effective_name
    if status is not None:
        api_payload["status"] = status
    if creative_id is not None:
        # Meta API expects creative as {"creative_id": "123"}
        api_payload["creative"] = _json.dumps({"creative_id": creative_id})

    # --- Step 3: Pre-write validation ---
    from meta_ads_mcp.validators.runner import run_validation, ActionClass

    action_class = ActionClass.ACTIVATE if status == "ACTIVE" else ActionClass.MODIFY_ACTIVE

    validation_result = run_validation(
        action_class=action_class,
        target_account_id=account_id,
        target_object_type="ad",
        target_object_id=ad_id,
        payload=api_payload,
        safety_tier=3,
    )

    validation_dict = validation_result.to_dict()

    if validation_result.verdict.value == "fail":
        return {
            "error": "Pre-write validation failed. Ad NOT updated.",
            "validation": validation_dict,
            "blocked_at": "pre_write_validation",
        }

    if validation_result.verdict.value == "requires_confirmation" and status == "ACTIVE":
        return {
            "status": "requires_confirmation",
            "message": "Activating an ad requires explicit confirmation. Review validation and re-submit.",
            "validation": validation_dict,
            "ad_id": ad_id,
            "current_status": current.get("status"),
            "requested_status": "ACTIVE",
        }

    # --- Step 4: API call - update ad ---
    from meta_ads_mcp.safety.rate_limiter import enforce_rate_gate
    rate_gate = enforce_rate_gate(ad_id, "write")
    if not rate_gate["allowed"]:
        return {
            "error": f"Rate limit gate BLOCKED: {rate_gate['block_reason']}",
            "blocked_at": "rate_limit_gate",
            "rate_state": rate_gate["state"],
            "usage_pct": rate_gate["usage_pct"],
        }

    try:
        result = api_client.graph_post(
            f"/{ad_id}",
            data=api_payload,
        )
    except MetaAPIError as e:
        return {
            "error": f"Meta API error during ad update: {e}",
            "validation": validation_dict,
            "blocked_at": "api_call",
            "rollback_reference": rollback_ref,
            "pre_update_state": {
                "name": current.get("name"),
                "status": current.get("status"),
                "creative_id": current_creative_id,
            },
        }

    # --- Step 5: Post-write verification ---
    verification = {
        "ad_id": ad_id,
        "fields_updated": list(api_payload.keys()),
        "mismatches": [],
    }

    try:
        updated = api_client.graph_get(
            f"/{ad_id}",
            fields=["id", "name", "status", "effective_status", "creative"],
        )

        if effective_name is not None:
            actual_name = updated.get("name", "")
            if actual_name != effective_name:
                verification["mismatches"].append({
                    "field": "name", "expected": effective_name, "actual": actual_name,
                })

        if status is not None:
            actual_status = updated.get("status", "")
            if actual_status != status:
                verification["mismatches"].append({
                    "field": "status", "expected": status, "actual": actual_status,
                })

        if creative_id is not None:
            updated_creative = updated.get("creative", {})
            actual_creative_id = updated_creative.get("id") if isinstance(updated_creative, dict) else None
            if actual_creative_id != creative_id:
                verification["mismatches"].append({
                    "field": "creative_id", "expected": creative_id, "actual": actual_creative_id,
                })

        verification["post_update_status"] = updated.get("status")
        verification["post_update_effective_status"] = updated.get("effective_status")
        verification["verified"] = len(verification["mismatches"]) == 0

    except MetaAPIError as e:
        verification["verification_error"] = str(e)
        verification["verified"] = False
        verification["note"] = "Ad was updated but post-verification read failed."

    # --- Step 6: Mutation log entry ---
    fields_summary = ", ".join(f"{k}={v}" for k, v in api_payload.items())
    log_entry = (
        f"### [{timestamp}] UPDATE ad\n"
        f"- **Ad ID:** {ad_id}\n"
        f"- **Account:** {account_id}\n"
        f"- **Fields:** {fields_summary}\n"
        f"- **Validation:** {validation_result.verdict.value}\n"
        f"- **Verification:** {'OK' if verification.get('verified') else 'MISMATCH'}\n"
        f"- **Rollback ref:** {rollback_ref}\n"
        f"- **Pre-update state:** name={current.get('name')}, status={current.get('status')}, "
        f"creative_id={current_creative_id}\n"
    )

    return {
        "ad_id": ad_id,
        "updated_fields": list(api_payload.keys()),
        "validation": validation_dict,
        "verification": verification,
        "pre_update_state": {
            "name": current.get("name"),
            "status": current.get("status"),
            "effective_status": current.get("effective_status"),
            "creative_id": current_creative_id,
            "adset_id": current.get("adset_id"),
            "campaign_id": current.get("campaign_id"),
        },
        "rollback_reference": rollback_ref,
        "mutation_log_entry": log_entry,
        "rate_limit_usage_pct": api_client.rate_limits.max_usage_pct,
    }

meta_ads_mcp/core/ads.py:942-1190 (handler)

The @mcp.tool() decorator registers update_ad as an MCP tool in the FastMCP server. This registration happens via the module import in server.py.

@mcp.tool()
def update_ad(
    ad_id: str,
    name: Optional[str] = None,
    status: Optional[str] = None,
    creative_id: Optional[str] = None,
) -> dict:
    """
    Update an existing ad. Supervised write - validates before applying.

    Takes a pre-write snapshot for rollback, validates the update payload,
    applies via Meta API, and verifies post-write state.

    Note on creative_id: Swaps the creative attached to this ad. The new creative
    must already exist (created via create_multi_asset_ad or the Meta UI).
    This does NOT create a new creative - it re-points the ad to an existing one.

    Args:
        ad_id: Ad ID to update.
        name: New ad name. Subject to naming enforcement.
        status: New status. Allowed: 'PAUSED', 'ACTIVE', 'ARCHIVED'.
            Activating requires confirmation-level validation.
        creative_id: ID of an existing creative to attach to this ad.
            Format: numeric string (e.g., '120239290442460377').
    """
    timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")

    # --- At least one field must be provided ---
    if all(v is None for v in [name, status, creative_id]):
        return {
            "error": "No update fields provided. Specify at least one field to update.",
            "supported_fields": ["name", "status", "creative_id"],
            "blocked_at": "input_validation",
        }

    # --- Status validation ---
    allowed_statuses = ["PAUSED", "ACTIVE", "ARCHIVED"]
    if status is not None:
        status_upper = status.upper().strip()
        if status_upper not in allowed_statuses:
            return {
                "error": f"Invalid status '{status}'. Allowed: {allowed_statuses}",
                "blocked_at": "input_validation",
            }
        status = status_upper

    # --- Creative ID validation ---
    if creative_id is not None:
        creative_id = creative_id.strip()
        if not creative_id.isdigit():
            return {
                "error": f"Invalid creative_id '{creative_id}'. Must be a numeric string.",
                "blocked_at": "input_validation",
            }

    # --- Step 0: Pre-write snapshot ---
    api_client._ensure_initialized()
    try:
        current = api_client.graph_get(
            f"/{ad_id}",
            fields=["id", "name", "status", "effective_status",
                     "adset_id", "campaign_id", "creative",
                     "tracking_specs", "account_id"],
        )
    except MetaAPIError as e:
        return {
            "error": f"Cannot read ad {ad_id} for pre-update snapshot: {e}",
            "blocked_at": "pre_snapshot",
        }

    account_id = current.get("account_id", "")
    if account_id and not account_id.startswith("act_"):
        account_id = f"act_{account_id}"

    rollback_ref = f"update_ad_{ad_id}_{timestamp.replace(' ', '_').replace(':', '')}"

    # Extract current creative ID for rollback reference
    current_creative = current.get("creative", {})
    current_creative_id = current_creative.get("id") if isinstance(current_creative, dict) else None

    # --- Step 1: Naming enforcement (if name is being updated) ---
    effective_name = None
    naming_result = None
    if name is not None:
        from meta_ads_mcp.engine.naming_gate import enforce_naming

        naming_result = enforce_naming(
            proposed_name=name,
            object_type="ad",
            naming_inputs=None,
        )

        if naming_result["critical_block"]:
            return {
                "error": f"Naming enforcement BLOCKED: {naming_result.get('fix_suggestion', 'Invalid name')}",
                "naming_result": naming_result,
                "blocked_at": "naming_enforcement",
            }

        effective_name = naming_result["final_name"] or name

    # --- Step 2: Build update payload ---
    api_payload = {}

    if effective_name is not None:
        api_payload["name"] = effective_name
    if status is not None:
        api_payload["status"] = status
    if creative_id is not None:
        # Meta API expects creative as {"creative_id": "123"}
        api_payload["creative"] = _json.dumps({"creative_id": creative_id})

    # --- Step 3: Pre-write validation ---
    from meta_ads_mcp.validators.runner import run_validation, ActionClass

    action_class = ActionClass.ACTIVATE if status == "ACTIVE" else ActionClass.MODIFY_ACTIVE

    validation_result = run_validation(
        action_class=action_class,
        target_account_id=account_id,
        target_object_type="ad",
        target_object_id=ad_id,
        payload=api_payload,
        safety_tier=3,
    )

    validation_dict = validation_result.to_dict()

    if validation_result.verdict.value == "fail":
        return {
            "error": "Pre-write validation failed. Ad NOT updated.",
            "validation": validation_dict,
            "blocked_at": "pre_write_validation",
        }

    if validation_result.verdict.value == "requires_confirmation" and status == "ACTIVE":
        return {
            "status": "requires_confirmation",
            "message": "Activating an ad requires explicit confirmation. Review validation and re-submit.",
            "validation": validation_dict,
            "ad_id": ad_id,
            "current_status": current.get("status"),
            "requested_status": "ACTIVE",
        }

    # --- Step 4: API call - update ad ---
    from meta_ads_mcp.safety.rate_limiter import enforce_rate_gate
    rate_gate = enforce_rate_gate(ad_id, "write")
    if not rate_gate["allowed"]:
        return {
            "error": f"Rate limit gate BLOCKED: {rate_gate['block_reason']}",
            "blocked_at": "rate_limit_gate",
            "rate_state": rate_gate["state"],
            "usage_pct": rate_gate["usage_pct"],
        }

    try:
        result = api_client.graph_post(
            f"/{ad_id}",
            data=api_payload,
        )
    except MetaAPIError as e:
        return {
            "error": f"Meta API error during ad update: {e}",
            "validation": validation_dict,
            "blocked_at": "api_call",
            "rollback_reference": rollback_ref,
            "pre_update_state": {
                "name": current.get("name"),
                "status": current.get("status"),
                "creative_id": current_creative_id,
            },
        }

    # --- Step 5: Post-write verification ---
    verification = {
        "ad_id": ad_id,
        "fields_updated": list(api_payload.keys()),
        "mismatches": [],
    }

    try:
        updated = api_client.graph_get(
            f"/{ad_id}",
            fields=["id", "name", "status", "effective_status", "creative"],
        )

        if effective_name is not None:
            actual_name = updated.get("name", "")
            if actual_name != effective_name:
                verification["mismatches"].append({
                    "field": "name", "expected": effective_name, "actual": actual_name,
                })

        if status is not None:
            actual_status = updated.get("status", "")
            if actual_status != status:
                verification["mismatches"].append({
                    "field": "status", "expected": status, "actual": actual_status,
                })

        if creative_id is not None:
            updated_creative = updated.get("creative", {})
            actual_creative_id = updated_creative.get("id") if isinstance(updated_creative, dict) else None
            if actual_creative_id != creative_id:
                verification["mismatches"].append({
                    "field": "creative_id", "expected": creative_id, "actual": actual_creative_id,
                })

        verification["post_update_status"] = updated.get("status")
        verification["post_update_effective_status"] = updated.get("effective_status")
        verification["verified"] = len(verification["mismatches"]) == 0

    except MetaAPIError as e:
        verification["verification_error"] = str(e)
        verification["verified"] = False
        verification["note"] = "Ad was updated but post-verification read failed."

    # --- Step 6: Mutation log entry ---
    fields_summary = ", ".join(f"{k}={v}" for k, v in api_payload.items())
    log_entry = (
        f"### [{timestamp}] UPDATE ad\n"
        f"- **Ad ID:** {ad_id}\n"
        f"- **Account:** {account_id}\n"
        f"- **Fields:** {fields_summary}\n"
        f"- **Validation:** {validation_result.verdict.value}\n"
        f"- **Verification:** {'OK' if verification.get('verified') else 'MISMATCH'}\n"
        f"- **Rollback ref:** {rollback_ref}\n"
        f"- **Pre-update state:** name={current.get('name')}, status={current.get('status')}, "
        f"creative_id={current_creative_id}\n"
    )

    return {
        "ad_id": ad_id,
        "updated_fields": list(api_payload.keys()),
        "validation": validation_dict,
        "verification": verification,
        "pre_update_state": {
            "name": current.get("name"),
            "status": current.get("status"),
            "effective_status": current.get("effective_status"),
            "creative_id": current_creative_id,
            "adset_id": current.get("adset_id"),
            "campaign_id": current.get("campaign_id"),
        },
        "rollback_reference": rollback_ref,
        "mutation_log_entry": log_entry,
        "rate_limit_usage_pct": api_client.rate_limits.max_usage_pct,
    }

meta_ads_mcp/server.py:28-28 (registration)
server.py imports the ads module which triggers the @mcp.tool() decoration of update_ad, registering it as an MCP tool.
```
from meta_ads_mcp.core import ads  # noqa: E402, F401
```

meta_ads_mcp/core/ads.py:949-967 (schema)

Input schema/parameters for update_ad: ad_id (required), name, status (PAUSED/ACTIVE/ARCHIVED), creative_id (numeric string).

"""
Update an existing ad. Supervised write - validates before applying.

Takes a pre-write snapshot for rollback, validates the update payload,
applies via Meta API, and verifies post-write state.

Note on creative_id: Swaps the creative attached to this ad. The new creative
must already exist (created via create_multi_asset_ad or the Meta UI).
This does NOT create a new creative - it re-points the ad to an existing one.

Args:
    ad_id: Ad ID to update.
    name: New ad name. Subject to naming enforcement.
    status: New status. Allowed: 'PAUSED', 'ACTIVE', 'ARCHIVED'.
        Activating requires confirmation-level validation.
    creative_id: ID of an existing creative to attach to this ad.
        Format: numeric string (e.g., '120239290442460377').
"""
timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")

meta_ads_mcp/core/creatives.py:597-645 (helper)

Companion tool for updating creative names. Creatives are immutable for copy/content. When changing ad copy, create a new creative and use update_ad(creative_id=new_id) to swap it on the ad.

@mcp.tool()
def update_ad_creative(
    creative_id: str,
    name: Optional[str] = None,
) -> dict:
    """
    Update an existing ad creative's name.

    IMPORTANT: Meta API does NOT allow changing copy, headline, CTA, or link URL
    on existing creatives. Creative content is immutable after creation.

    To change ad copy: create a NEW creative with create_ad_creative, then swap
    it on the ad with update_ad(creative_id=new_creative_id).

    Args:
        creative_id: Creative ID to update.
        name: New creative name.
    """
    if name is None or not name.strip():
        return {
            "error": "name is required. Meta only allows updating creative name (not copy/headline/CTA).",
            "note": "To change ad copy, create a NEW creative with create_ad_creative, then swap via update_ad.",
            "blocked_at": "input_validation",
        }

    api_client._ensure_initialized()

    try:
        current = api_client.graph_get(
            f"/{creative_id}",
            fields=["id", "name"],
        )
    except MetaAPIError as e:
        return {"error": f"Cannot read creative {creative_id}: {e}", "blocked_at": "pre_snapshot"}

    try:
        api_client.graph_post(
            f"/{creative_id}",
            data={"name": name.strip()},
        )
    except MetaAPIError as e:
        return {"error": f"Meta API error: {e}", "blocked_at": "api_call"}

    return {
        "creative_id": creative_id,
        "updated_name": name.strip(),
        "previous_name": current.get("name"),
        "note": "Only name updated. Creative content (copy, headline, CTA, image) is immutable. To change copy, create a new creative and swap via update_ad.",
    }

Tool Definition Quality

A4.7/5.0

Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Details the supervised write process: pre-write snapshot, validation, API application, and post-write verification. Explains validation for status activation and naming enforcement. With no annotations, this description fully discloses behavioral traits.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Well-structured: first line states purpose, then behavioral notes, then a note on creative_id, then structured args list. Every sentence adds value with no redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Covers input parameters and behavioral process thoroughly. Lacks description of return value or output, but no output schema exists. Minor gap: does not mention prerequisites like ad existence or error handling.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters5/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

All four parameters are described with context beyond the schema: ad_id purpose, name with naming enforcement, status with allowed values and activation validation, creative_id with format and explanation that it re-points to existing creative. Schema coverage is 0%, so description compensates fully.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Clearly states 'Update an existing ad' which is specific and distinguishes from sibling creation tools like create_ad_from_manifest or creative-specific tools like update_ad_creative. The description of supervised write and validation adds clarity.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Provides guidance on when to use the tool (updating existing ad) and explicit notes on creative_id behavior ('does NOT create a new creative'). However, it does not explicitly compare to other update tools like update_adset or mention when not to use it.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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