Templates interaction with existing manually-created entities

The following table describes the criteria that templates use to determine if an existing manually created item matches the template output:

 

Item	Interaction
Campaigns	If the existing manual campaign name exactly matches the campaign name the template would have generated in the client account, the template doesn’t generate a duplicate campaign. Instead, the following occurs: The template generates ad groups, ads, and keywords in the existing manual campaign. The generated items might be paused or removed when the template data changes. The template won’t pause or remove the manual campaign when the template data changes unless you change the manual campaign to be managed by the Templates functionality.
Ad groups	If the existing manual ad group name and its parent campaign name exactly match the ad group name the template would have generated, the template doesn’t generate duplicate ad groups. Instead, it does the following: The template generates ads and keywords in the existing ad groups even if you leave the ad group in manual control. The generated items might be paused or removed when the template data changes. The template won’t pause or remove the manual ad group when the template data changes unless you change the manual ad group to be managed by the Templates functionality.
Ads	Templates do not generate ads that are identical to ads generated by manual ad groups. Templates generate similar ads. For example, a template generates responsive search ads (RSAs) that have the same content as an RSA that is generated by a manual ad group, but the headline order is different. Templates do not generate an RSA with the exact same content and headline order as an RSA generated by a manual ad group.
Keywords and negative keywords	If the keyword text and match type exactly match a keyword the template would have generated in an ad group, the template doesn’t generate the keyword. The template doesn’t pause or remove the manual keyword. You can change the manual keyword to be managed by the Templates functionality.
Sitelinks	If the Sitelink text, Description 1, Description 2, Final URL, and Tracking template exactly match a sitelink that the template would have generated, the template doesn’t generate the sitelink. The template doesn’t remove the manual sitelink. You can change the manual sitelink to be managed by the Templates functionality.