This is a limitation of the Google Ads API itself, not of Ads Editor, and it goes beyond duplication: Video campaigns are read-only in the API. Google doesn't allow creating, editing, or cloning these campaigns through the API, and this applies to every external tool, not just Ads Editor.

In practice, with a Video campaign, Ads Editor lets you:

  • Track performance: metrics, reports, and columns work normally (read access is allowed).

What can only be done inside Google Ads:

  • Create the Video campaign.
  • Pause, activate, or change budget, bids, targeting, or anything else.
  • Duplicate it to the same account or another one.

The alternative Google itself recommends, when the goal is to run video ads on YouTube with API management, is to use Demand Gen campaigns. They accept video ads and are fully supported, including duplication between accounts. Search, Display, Performance Max, and Demand Gen campaigns remain 100% supported.

Are Video campaigns going away? In part, and that's good news: Video Action Campaigns (the conversion-focused video subtype) have been discontinued by Google, and the existing ones were automatically upgraded to Demand Gen, which is fully supported in Ads Editor (create, edit, pause, and duplicate between accounts).

The other types of video campaigns (reach, views, and brand awareness) still exist and remain read-only in the API. In practice: what used to be a performance video campaign is now Demand Gen, and you can manage it normally here. What remains in Video is top of funnel, which is still edited inside Google Ads.