Ad Grouping

Ad grouping decides how your new ads are spread across ad sets. You can put every ad in one ad set, give each file its own ad set, split ads into ad sets of a fixed size, or group variations of the same creative together.

A variation is a version of the same creative with one change, such as a different hook or intro. When you name your files consistently (summer_sale-hook1.mp4, summer_sale-hook2.mp4), Ads Uploader can put all the variations of one creative into one ad set. That keeps each test clean and your account easy to read.

All options live in Ad Set Options in the Ad Configuration panel. If you leave them all unticked, your ads go into the source ad's existing ad set.

Group Variations into Ad Sets

In Ad Set Options, tick Create new ad set per upload or group.
Tick Group variations.
In Variation Identifier, type the text that comes before your variation number, for example -hook or _v.
Check the preview table: the Ad Set Name column now shows one ad set per creative.

Ticking Create new ad set per upload or group and Group variations, typing -hook as the Variation Identifier, and the preview table collapsing to one ad set per base name

How Files Are Matched

Ads Uploader takes each file name (without the extension) and keeps everything before the first place the identifier appears. That part is the base name. Files with the same base name go into the same ad set.

With the identifier -hook:

File	Base name	Ad set
`summer_sale-hook1.mp4`	`summer_sale`	summer_sale
`summer_sale-hook2.mp4`	`summer_sale`	summer_sale
`summer_sale-hook3.mp4`	`summer_sale`	summer_sale
`winter_promo-hook1.mp4`	`winter_promo`	winter_promo

Grouping uses the real file names, not your custom ad names. The match is exact, including upper and lower case.

Files That Group Correctly

Files	Identifier	Grouped as
`product-v1.mp4`, `product-v2.mp4`, `product-v3.mp4`	`-v`	One ad set, "product", with 3 ads
`brand-test.mp4`, `brand-control.mp4`	`-`	One ad set, "brand", with 2 ads

Files That Will Not Group

Files	Identifier	Why
`video1.mp4`, `video2.mp4`	`-v`	The identifier is not in the names, so each file is its own ad set.
`ad-v1.mp4`, `ad_v2.mp4`	`-v`	The second file uses `_v`, so its base name is `ad_v2`.
`promo-A.mp4`, `campaign-A.mp4`	`-`	Different base names (`promo` and `campaign`).

Choose an Ad Set Mode

Mode	Best for
Create new ad set	Putting all ads into one new ad set.
Create new ad set per upload or group	One ad set per file, or per creative when Group variations is on.
Auto-divide ads into ad sets	Splitting a large batch into ad sets of the same size.
Build custom ad set configuration	Choosing exactly which media goes where.

Create New Ad Set

Every ad goes into one new ad set. Type a name, or leave it empty to use the suggested name.

Create New Ad Set per Upload or Group

Each file gets its own ad set. With Group variations on, each group of variations gets one ad set instead.

Name the ad sets with the Ad Set Name Pattern field. Click a placeholder chip to add it:

Placeholder	Result
`{filename}`	The file name without the extension. With grouping on, this is the base name.
`{variation}`	The base name of the group. Only offered when Group variations is on.
`{index}`	1, 2, 3
`{index:01}`	01, 02, 03 (the digits set the start number and the padding)
`{date}`	Today's date, such as `2026-01-13`
`{date:short}`	Today's month and day, such as `0113`

You can also use the text tools such as {split:_:1} and {uppercase:}. See Ad Naming Patterns for the full list.

Auto-Divide Ads into Ad Sets

Ads Uploader fills ad sets in order, up to the number you set in Ads per ad set. The line under the field tells you the result, for example "Will create 4 ad sets from 20 ads".

Use the Ad Set Name Pattern field to name them. {index} is the most useful placeholder here, for example Test Batch {index:01}.

If Group variations is already on (you set it under the per-upload option), auto-divide groups by name instead of by count. It shows a line such as "Grouped by name before "-hook": 3 ad sets", with the Group variations checkbox and Variation Identifier field so you can change or turn off grouping. When you use Separate Ads for your text, each text version becomes its own ad, so grouping by name is paused and ads are split by count.

Build Custom Ad Set Configuration

Tick Build custom ad set configuration and the Build Custom Ad Set Configuration window opens. There you create ad sets and choose which media goes into each one (1 to 50 ads per ad set). To change the setup later, click Configure Ad Sets (or Configure N Ad Sets once you have some) next to the option.

Combine Grouping with Other Features

Aspect Ratio Versions

Each variation can have several aspect ratio files. Files with the same name apart from the ratio token become one ad with a version for each placement:

Files	Result
`hero-v1_4x5.mp4`, `hero-v1_9x16.mp4`	Variation 1, one ad with a feed and a story version
`hero-v2_4x5.mp4`, `hero-v2_9x16.mp4`	Variation 2, one ad with a feed and a story version

With the identifier -v, both ads go into the "hero" ad set. See Aspect Ratio Variations.

Thumbnails

Each video variation can have its own thumbnail:

Files	Result
`offer-discount.mp4`, `offer-discount_thumbnail.jpg`	Discount variation with its thumbnail
`offer-bonus.mp4`, `offer-bonus_thumbnail.jpg`	Bonus variation with its thumbnail

See Thumbnail Attachment.

Documentation