Create your first agent ad

When you finish, a paused ad that your agent made is in your ad account, and you have seen its preview before saying yes.

Before you start

Requirement	Detail
Role	You are a workspace owner or admin.
Ad account	Meta, TikTok or Google Ads is connected in Sources, with the ad account selected. Agents use that one account per platform.
Connection age	If you connected the platform before agent ads existed, select Reconnect for it in Sources. The new connection includes the permission to create ads.
An ad set or ad group	For a first ad, use one that already exists. The agent can also build a campaign from scratch.

Set it up

Turn the platform on for agents

Open Settings → Ad publishing. Under Platforms, turn on the switch next to the platform.If you skip this, the first create from an owner or admin in chat turns it on. Any other request waits for an approval.

Connect your agent

Use the steps for your client in the table below.

Pick the access level

On the DATALYR consent page, keep the ads permission that matches the level you want. Untick the others. See the level table below.

Ask for an ad

Start a new conversation and ask for a paused ad. See the example below.

Read the preview and say yes

The agent shows a summary, and for Meta a link to every placement. Reply yes only when it is right.

Connect your agent

Client	Steps
Claude	Open Customize → Connectors. Select + → Add custom connector. Enter `https://api.datalyr.com/mcp`. Select Connect and sign in. Full steps: Connect Claude or Codex.
ChatGPT	Open Settings → Apps. Add `https://api.datalyr.com/mcp` as a connector and sign in to DATALYR.
Claude Code	Run `/plugin marketplace add datalyr/agent-skills`, then `/plugin install datalyr@datalyr`. Sign in when Claude Code asks. This adds the server and the `datalyr-ads` skill.
Codex	Run `codex mcp add datalyr --url https://api.datalyr.com/mcp`. Then run the login command below with the scopes for your level.

# Codex: Create paused. Add datalyr:publish:ads to also turn ads on.
codex mcp login datalyr --scopes datalyr:read,datalyr:write:ads

In Claude, if a file upload is refused, allow api.datalyr.com under Settings → Capabilities. See Add ad files.

Pick the access level

Keep this consent row	Level	The agent can
None of the ads rows	Read-only	Read accounts, campaigns, files and activity
Prepare paused ads for an owner or admin to approve (cannot create them)	Propose	Preview. Every create waits for an approval.
Upload creative and create paused ads, ad sets and campaigns in connected ad accounts	Create paused	Create paused campaigns, ad sets and ads
Turn ads on and change budgets in connected ad accounts, within the workspace’s spend limits	Publish live	Also turn ads on and raise budgets

Pick Create paused for a first ad. To change the level later, remove the connector and add it again. Access levels and approvals has the full rules.

Example conversation

You:   Make a paused Meta ad in my "Spring sale" ad set. Use the image I attached.
       Link to https://shop.example.com/spring and say "20% off this week".

Agent: I checked the ad set. It takes single image ads, and your image fits the
       4:5 feed shape. Which call to action do you want: Shop now or Learn more?

You:   Shop now.

Agent: Here is the preview:
       Platform: Meta · Ad account: Example Store (act_123)
       Into: ad set "Spring sale" (campaign "Spring", sales). Budget and targeting unchanged.
       Creates 1 ad, all PAUSED: "20% off this week · Image · Oct 12"
       Runs as: Example Store + @examplestore (the only Page available)
       Link: https://shop.example.com/spring?utm_source=…
       Enhancements: all OFF
       Meta validation: passed
       Every placement: <link to DATALYR's preview page>
       Create it?

You:   Yes.

Agent: Created 1 paused ad: <Ads Manager link>. Turn it on there when you're ready, or ask me.

The agent writes the copy only within the platform’s limits, and never invents prices or offers. Claims and prices are yours to check in the preview.

Turn the ad on

The ad stays paused. Turn it on yourself in Ads Manager, or ask the agent. An agent turns it on directly only when you are the workspace owner, you connected with Publish live, and live ads are on for the ad account. See Turn ads on within spend limits.

Verify

Open Ads Manager for the ad account.
Find the new ad in the ad set. On Meta, filter by the label datalyr-agent.
Confirm the ad shows as paused.
Open Settings → Ad publishing → Activity in DATALYR.
Confirm the entry Created 1 paused ad names you and your agent.

When it does not work

Symptom	Cause	Fix
The agent says the account needs `reconnect`	The connection was made before agent ads.	Select Reconnect for the platform in Sources.
A create fails with `insufficient_scope`	You connected with read-only access.	Remove the connector, add it again, and keep an ads consent row.
The agent sends an approval link	Your level is Propose, or the platform is off and you aren’t an owner or admin.	Open the link as an owner or admin and select Approve.
`This connection can only read ads`	You are a member. Members can’t create ads.	Ask an owner or admin to connect their agent.

More fixes: Troubleshoot agent ads.

How agents publish: the preview, the yes, and what comes back.
Add ad files: attach, link, or upload images and videos.
Meta: objectives, targeting and formats an agent can use.

Agents and MCP

Agent ads

API Reference

Analytics

Events and users

Attribution and revenue

Cohorts and funnels

Metrics

Query

Workspace

Keys and approvals

Conversion rules

Trackable links

Saved reports

Dashboards, analyses and share links

Session replay

Exports

Create your first agent ad

Before you start

Set it up

Connect your agent

Pick the access level

Example conversation

Turn the ad on

Verify

When it does not work

Next

​Before you start

​Set it up

​Connect your agent

​Pick the access level

​Example conversation

​Turn the ad on

​Verify

​When it does not work

​Next

Before you start

Set it up

Connect your agent

Pick the access level

Example conversation

Turn the ad on

Verify

When it does not work

Next