How to Add Money to a Facebook Ad Account

Running Facebook ads is a pay-to-play game, and keeping your account funded is the number one rule for keeping a campaign live. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add money to your Facebook ad account, whether you're adding a new credit card or topping up a prepaid balance. We'll cover the step-by-step process, explain the difference between payment types, and troubleshoot common issues you might run into along the way.

Understanding How Facebook Bills You: Automatic vs. Manual Payments

Before you add any money, it's important to grasp the two fundamental ways Facebook handles billing for ads. Your ad account will be set to either Automatic Payments or Manual Payments, and which one you have determines how you fund your campaigns. You generally pick this setting when you first create your ad account and it can't always be changed, so it's good to know where you stand.

Automatic Payments (Post-Paid)

This is the most common setup. With automatic payments, Facebook charges you *after* your ads have run. It works on a threshold system. When you first start, your billing threshold might be low, say $25. Once you spend $25 on ads, Facebook will automatically charge your connected payment method.

As you consistently spend and make successful payments, Facebook increases this threshold. Later, you might only get charged once you hit $100, $250, or even $750 in ad spend. You'll also be charged on a set billing date each month for any remaining balance, regardless of whether you've hit your threshold.

• Who it's for: Most businesses find this method the most convenient. It's a "set it and forget it" approach that prevents your ads from stopping as long as your primary payment method is valid.
• Accepted Payment Methods: Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), PayPal, and some local bank transfers depending on your region.

Manual Payments (Pre-Paid)

If your account is set up for manual payments, you act like you have a prepaid debit card for your ads. You must add funds to your account *before* your campaigns can start spending. Once you add money, Facebook deducts the ad costs daily from this prepaid balance.

The biggest thing to remember here is that once your balance hits zero, all your ads stop running immediately. There's no grace period. This requires you to be more vigilant in monitoring your account balance to avoid campaign interruptions.

• Who it's for: This method is great for anyone who wants strict control over their budget. Since you can only spend what you've added, there's zero risk of an accidental overspend. It's also common in certain countries where credit cards are less prevalent.
• Accepted Payment Methods: Typically includes debit cards, PayPal, and online banking methods (like Boleto Bancario in Brazil or PayTM in India). Options vary significantly by country.

To check which kind of account you have, navigate to your Ads Manager, click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines), and select Billing. Your "Current Balance" and "Payment Settings" will make it clear whether you have a threshold limit (Automatic) or an option to "Add Funds" (Manual).

How to Add a Payment Method to Your Facebook Ad Account (for Automatic Payments)

If you're using automatic payments, your main task is adding and managing the credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal accounts that Facebook will charge. We recommend having a primary and a backup payment method in place. If your primary card fails for any reason (maybe it expires or the bank flags a transaction), Facebook will automatically try the backup, saving your campaigns from being paused.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Navigate to the Billing Section: Go to Meta Ads Manager. Click the hamburger icon (☰) on the top left to open the full menu, and then select "Billing."
2. Open Payment Settings: On the Billing page, you'll see a quick overview of your transactions. Look for and click the "Payment Settings" button, usually located in the top right corner.
3. Add Your Payment Method: In the Payment Settings section, you will see a list of your current payment methods. Click the "Add Payment Method" button. A new window will pop up.
4. Enter Your Payment Details: You'll be presented with a form. Select your location and currency if prompted. Then, choose whether you want to add a Credit or Debit Card, PayPal, or another available option.
   • For cards: Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVC code exactly as they appear on the card.
   • For PayPal: You'll be prompted to log in to your PayPal account to authorize the connection.
   Once you've entered the information, click "Save" or "Continue."
5. Set a Primary Method: After adding a new card or account, you can make it your default billing method. In the "Payment Methods" list, find the one you just added, click the three dots (...) next to it, and select "Make Primary." This tells Facebook to always try this method first.

How to Add Funds to Your Ad Account (for Manual Payments)

If your account operates on a prepaid basis, funding it is a direct and simple process. The key is to add enough money to cover your planned budget and to check your balance regularly, especially if you have high-spending campaigns.

Follow these steps to top up your account:

1. Go to the Billing Section: Just like before, head to the Meta Ads Manager, open the All Tools menu (☰), and click on "Billing."
2. Click to "Add Funds": On the main Billing page, you will see your current prepaid balance displayed prominently. Right next to it, there will be a clear "Add Funds" button. Click it.
3. Enter the Amount and Payment Method: A pop-up window will appear. Here, you'll select the payment method you want to use (which you can add on the fly if needed). Then, type in the amount you wish to add to your balance.
4. Confirm the Payment: Double-check the amount and the selected method. Click "Add Funds" or "Confirm" to proceed. You may be redirected to your bank's or PayPal's website to authorize the transaction.
5. Check Your Updated Balance: Most credit card and PayPal transactions are almost instant. Your new balance should reflect in the Billing section within a few minutes. However, online bank transfers can sometimes take a few business days to process. Your ads will only begin spending the new funds once they've officially landed in your account.

Troubleshooting Common Payment Issues

Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Payment failures can be stressful because they immediately risk your ad performance. Here are solutions to the most frequent problems.

1. Your payment was declined.

This is the most common issue. When Facebook says a payment failed, it's typically for one of these reasons:

• Insufficient Funds: The linked debit card or bank account doesn't have enough money to cover the charge.
• Bank Flagged the Transaction: Your bank's fraud detection system may block the payment, especially if it's the first time Facebook has tried to charge you or if the amount is larger than usual. Simple solution: Call your bank and authorize charges from "Facebook-Ads."
• Incorrect Information: The card number, expiration date, or CVC you entered might have a typo. Remove the payment method and add it again carefully.
• The Card has Expired: Your credit or debit card has passed its expiration date. You'll need to add a new, valid card.

You can usually retry a failed payment by going to Billing > Payment Activity and finding the failed transaction. There should be an option to "Pay Now" with a different card.

2. Your prepaid funds haven't appeared.

You added money, but your balance hasn't updated. Don't panic. Check your email for a receipt from Facebook. If you have a receipt, the payment was successful. Some methods, particularly direct bank transfers, are not instant. They can take 3-5 business days to process. If it's been longer than that, find the transaction details in your Billing section and contact Meta Ads Support with your transaction ID.

3. Facebook isn't letting you add a new payment method.

If the system rejects a new card that you know is valid, it could be a security flag. This sometimes happens if you're logging in from a new device or location. Try again in an hour or two. Also, double-check that the billing address you're entering matches the one your bank has on file for that card exactly.

4. Your ad account has been disabled after a payment issue.

This is a serious one. Meta can temporarily disable an ad account because of repeated payment failures. This is a measure to prevent fraudulent activity. If your account is disabled for this reason, your priority is to settle the outstanding balance using a valid payment method. Once the balance is paid, you can typically find an option within Account Quality or the warning message itself to request a review to get the account reinstated.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your Facebook ad account funded is straightforward once you know your way around the Ads Manager Billing section. Whether you prefer the convenience of automatic payments or the tight control of a prepaid balance, the goal is running your campaigns without unexpected interruptions. Adding a backup payment source is always a smart move to keep things running smoothly.

Of course, successful campaigns are about more than just funding, they're fueled by great content. Once your ads are bringing new eyes to your profiles, the next step is building an organic presence that turns those clicks into a loyal community. That's where we come in. At Postbase, we built a social media tool that makes it easy to plan your content with a visual calendar, schedule posts across all platforms (especially short-form video), and manage all your comments and DMs from one inbox. We give you what you need to keep your audience engaged, all in one clean and reliable dashboard.