🧩 What Is the 'Why This Ad Works' Feature?
The Why This Ad Works feature appears inside the Discover section of Ad Studio. When you browse competitor or inspiration ads, you can click this option to get an AI-generated breakdown explaining what makes that specific ad effective — covering elements like copy, creative strategy, audience targeting signals, and more.
⚠️ Understanding the 'Couldn't Run That — Try Again' Error
Some customers see a Couldn't run that — try again error message when clicking Why This Ad Works on ads in the Discover section. This error appears consistently across multiple ads rather than on just one, which indicates it is not caused by a single problematic ad.
This issue has been identified as a bug affecting the AI analysis function within the Discover ad preview experience. Our engineering team has investigated and resolved the underlying cause. If you are still seeing this error, the steps below will help you get back on track.
🛠️ Steps to Resolve the Error
- Refresh your browser. Close and reopen your browser tab, then navigate back to the Discover section inside Ad Studio.
- Clear your browser cache. Cached data can sometimes cause features to behave unexpectedly. Clear your cache and cookies, then reload the platform.
- Try a different browser. If the error persists, open Search Atlas in an alternative browser (for example, switch from Chrome to Firefox or Edge) to rule out a browser-specific conflict.
- Try a different ad. Click Why This Ad Works on several different ads in Discover. If the feature works on some ads but not others, note which ads trigger the error.
- Check for a platform update. The fix for this issue has been deployed. If you have had the platform open for a long time without refreshing, you may be running an older version. A full page refresh (Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or Cmd + Shift + R on Mac) forces the latest version to load.
📍 How to Access the Discover Section
If you are unsure where to find this feature, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Navigate to Ad Studio from the left sidebar.
- Select Discover from the Ad Studio sub-navigation.
- Browse the available ads and click on any ad card.
- In the ad preview panel, click Why does this ad work? to trigger the AI analysis.
💡 What to Expect When It Works Correctly
When the feature is functioning as expected, clicking Why does this ad work? will display an AI-generated explanation directly within the ad preview panel. The analysis typically covers:
- The messaging strategy and tone used in the ad copy
- Visual and creative elements that drive engagement
- Audience relevance signals and emotional hooks
- Structural or formatting choices that support performance
This insight is designed to help you understand proven ad strategies so you can apply similar techniques to your own campaigns.
🔄 If the Error Continues
If you have followed all the steps above and the Couldn't run that — try again error is still appearing, the issue may need to be reviewed by our team directly. Please note the browser you are using, any specific ads that trigger the error, and roughly when the problem started — this information will help us investigate faster.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.