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meta_ads_campaigns_pause

Pauses a single Meta Ads campaign by setting its status to PAUSED, stopping spend immediately and cascading to active ad sets and ads. Reversible via rollback or re-enable.

Instructions

Pauses a single campaign by setting its status to PAUSED. Cascades to active ad sets and ads — nothing underneath the campaign will serve while it is PAUSED. Lightweight and reversible via rollback_apply or meta_ads_campaigns_enable. Returns the campaign id and new status. Use for immediate stop-spend situations; use meta_ads_campaigns_update with status='DELETED' to soft-delete instead.

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
reasonNoWhy this change is being made: one or two sentences naming the evidence and the expected effect. Stored in the journal and on the action_log entry this call produces, for the operator and the next session.
approvalNoExternal approval this change carries out (recorded and shown, never verified)
expectedNoExpected effects [{metric, direction, target?, horizon_days?, primary?}], exactly one primary:true when several; metric cpa/cpc/cpl/cpm/conversions/cvr/ctr/roas/cost/spend/clicks/impressions; direction up/down/hold.
account_idNoMeta Ads account ID in the format 'act_XXXXXXXXXX' (e.g. 'act_1234567890'). Optional — falls back to META_ADS_ACCOUNT_ID from the configured credentials. The leading 'act_' prefix is required.
campaign_idYesCampaign ID to pause.
decision_idNoA proposed decision this change carries out.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changedv0.33.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / expected / description
      Previous value: -"Expected effects [{metric, direction, target?, horizon_days?}]; metric cpa/cpc/cpl/cpm/conversions/cvr/ctr/roas/cost/spend/clicks/impressions; direction up/down/hold."New value: +"Expected effects [{metric, direction, target?, horizon_days?, primary?}], exactly one primary:true when several; metric cpa/cpc/cpl/cpm/conversions/cvr/ctr/roas/cost/spend/clicks/impressions; direction up/down/hold."
  2. Changed1 schema field changedv0.28.0
    • addedInput schema / properties / approval
      Added value: +{
      +  "additionalProperties": false,
      +  "description": "External approval this change carries out (recorded and shown, never verified)",
      +  "properties": {
      +    "approved_at": {
      +      "maxLength": 64,
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "approved_by": {
      +      "maxLength": 80,
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "reference": {
      +      "maxLength": 128,
      +      "type": "string"
      +    }
      +  },
      +  "required": [
      +    "reference",
      +    "approved_by",
      +    "approved_at"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "object"
      +}
  3. Changed2 schema fields changedv0.26.0
    • addedInput schema / properties / decision_id
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "A proposed decision this change carries out.",
      +  "maxLength": 128,
      +  "minLength": 1,
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / expected
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Expected effects [{metric, direction, target?, horizon_days?}]; metric cpa/cpc/cpl/cpm/conversions/cvr/ctr/roas/cost/spend/clicks/impressions; direction up/down/hold.",
      +  "maxItems": 12,
      +  "type": "array"
      +}
  4. Changed1 schema field changedv0.20.0
    • addedInput schema / properties / reason
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Why this change is being made: one or two sentences naming the evidence and the expected effect. Stored in the journal and on the action_log entry this call produces, for the operator and the next session.",
      +  "maxLength": 500,
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
  5. Changed1 schema field changedv0.10.37
    • addedInput schema / additionalProperties
      Added value: +false
  6. Addedv0.9.12
  7. Removedv0.9.6
  8. Addedv0.9.2
  9. Removedv0.9.1
  10. Addedv1.0.5

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden and does so well: it discloses the cascade to ad sets and ads, that nothing underneath will serve, that the change is reversible and how, and what is returned. It stops short of disclosing idempotency (behavior on an already-paused campaign) or any permission/scope requirements, which for a mutation tool is the remaining gap.

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?

Four tight sentences: what it does, blast radius, reversibility, then the usage alternative. Consequence is front-loaded and no sentence is redundant.

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

Completeness5/5

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

Although there is no output schema, the description states the return value (campaign id and new status), and the six parameters including the nested approval object are fully covered by the schema. Nothing an agent needs to call this safely is missing.

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

Parameters3/5

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

Schema coverage is 100% and the nested approval object, reason, expected effects and account_id fallback are all documented in the schema itself. The description only reinforces the single-campaign scope of campaign_id; it adds no syntax or fallback detail beyond what the schema already provides. Baseline 3 applies.

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?

Names a specific verb and resource ('Pauses a single campaign') and states the exact mechanism (status set to PAUSED), which cleanly separates it from the sibling meta_ads_ad_sets_pause, meta_ads_ads_pause and meta_ads_campaigns_enable.

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

Usage Guidelines5/5

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

Explicit routing: 'Use for immediate stop-spend situations; use meta_ads_campaigns_update with status="DELETED" to soft-delete instead', plus the reversal path via rollback_apply or meta_ads_campaigns_enable. Both the when and the when-not are spelled out with the alternative named.

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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