XLSX Configuration

Legacy configuration method. The XLSX route runs through Meta's bulk import tool, which does not support many of the options in the standard flow: flexible text, multiple headlines and texts, creative enhancements, profile selection and scheduling are not available. For most people, copying settings from an existing Meta ad is faster and has more features. The XLSX route is still supported if you prefer it.

With the XLSX method, you export an existing ad from Meta Ads Manager as a spreadsheet and use it as a template. Ads Uploader adds your new media to it and gives you a new spreadsheet, which you import back into Ads Manager. This suits people who like to review drafts in Ads Manager before publishing.

How It Works

Export an ad from Meta Ads Manager as an XLSX file.
Upload that file to Ads Uploader as your configuration.
Export a new XLSX file with your uploaded media.
Import that file into Meta Ads Manager.

Step 1: Export an Ad from Meta

Choose the Right Ad

Pick an ad that:

has the targeting and settings you want to copy,
is in the right type of campaign (sales, traffic and so on),
does not use multiple headlines or texts, and
has the creative enhancements you want.

Export It

Open Meta Ads Manager and go to the Ads tab.
Tick the checkbox next to the ad you want to use as a template.
Click More > Export > Export Selected.
In the Export ad dialog, choose Export as .xlsx.
Save the downloaded file.

Step 2: Upload the File to Ads Uploader

In the Ad Configuration panel, tick Upload Ad Configuration XLSX under Configuration Method.
Choose your exported file. The configuration loads automatically.
Optional: click Save as Preset to reuse this file later without uploading it again. See Presets.

The file needs Campaign ID or Name, Ad Set ID or Name, and Ad Name columns. Meta's export includes them.

If you do not see Upload Ad Configuration XLSX, check that Hide XLSX Configuration is off in User Defaults.

The file carries the campaign objective and settings, ad set targeting and budget, placements, and optimisation goal from the ad you exported.

Step 3: Set Up Campaigns and Ad Sets

Campaign Options, Ad Set Options and Ad Name Options work the same way as when you copy an existing ad: leave them unticked to use the template's campaign and ad set, or create new ones, several campaigns, auto-divided ad sets or a custom ad set layout. See Configure Your Ads and Ad Grouping.

In ad set name patterns, use {filename} for the file name. The older {FileName} still works. For example, {filename} Testing gives video1 Testing.

Group Variations

To put variations of the same creative into one ad set:

Tick Create new ad set per upload or group.
Tick Group variations.
Enter a Variation Identifier, such as -hook or _v.

Files are grouped by the text before the identifier:

Files:
video1-hook1.mp4
video1-hook2.mp4
video2-hook1.mp4

With identifier "-hook":
Ad set 1: video1 (hook1, hook2)
Ad set 2: video2 (hook1)

Step 4: Write Your Ad Text

Common Text for All Ads

Tick Apply common text to all ads and fill in the fields. Meta's usual guidance for readable ads is roughly:

Headline: about 40 characters
Primary text: about 125 characters
Link description: about 30 characters (optional)

These are Meta best-practice lengths, not limits in Ads Uploader. Longer text is allowed but may be cut off on some placements.

In XLSX mode, each ad has one headline, one primary text and one description, and only Separate Ads is available.

Unique Text for Each Ad

Tick Write unique ad text for each ad.
Click Edit for N Ads to open the Edit Text for Each Ad window.
Enter the text for each ad. Use the Columns menu to show more fields, such as Link Description, Call to Action, Website URL and Display URL.

Step 5: Export the New File

Check the preview table.
Click Export Configuration.
The file downloads with a name like 2026-01-13_Summer_Sale.xlsx (the date, then the campaign name). If there is no campaign name, it is 2026-01-13_facebook_ad_config.xlsx.

The file includes your uploaded media, the campaign and ad set structure, ad names and text, and the settings from your template.

Flexible Ads and Multi Media ads cannot be exported this way. Remove them from your upload, or use the standard flow instead.

Step 6: Import into Meta Ads Manager

In Meta Ads Manager, click More > Import Ads in Bulk.
Select the file you exported and import it.
Your ads appear as drafts. Review the settings and previews, then publish them from Ads Manager. They then go through Meta's normal ad review.

Limitations

One text per field. XLSX does not support flexible text or multiple headlines and texts. Copy an existing ad instead if you need them.
Limited creative enhancement control. You cannot choose creative enhancements in Ads Uploader, and Meta may turn some on automatically.
No profile or schedule options. Profile Options and Publication Options are only available when you copy an existing ad.

For import errors, see Troubleshooting XLSX.

Documentation