> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ugcfirst.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How long does an ad take?

> What the Making status means, how you are told when an ad is ready, and what to do if one seems stuck.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Short answer:** The research takes a couple of minutes and is free. The ad then waits for you to approve it. Once you do, it shows as **Making** until it is ready.
>
> * You can close the tab. You get an email when it is ready.
> * Seems stuck? Check **Needs review** first. It may be waiting on you.

Making an ad has two parts, and only the second one is a wait.

## The research

When you paste a product link, the page is read and your market is looked at. This takes a couple of minutes and does not cost credits.

You then get the script and the plan to approve. **Nothing is rendering yet, and nothing has been charged.** An ad sitting at this point is waiting for you, not for us — it shows as **Needs review** in My ads.

## The rendering

Once you approve, the ad is made. While that is happening it shows as **Making** in My ads.

How long depends on what you asked for — a 30-second video with captions is more work than a few stills. You do not have to sit and watch. You can close the tab and come back.

## How you are told

If **Ad is ready** is switched on under **Settings → Notifications**, you get an email when a generation finishes. It is on by default. If you make ads in batches, leave it on and stop refreshing.

## If one seems stuck

**1. Check which status it is on**

Open **My ads** and look at the filters. An ad under **Needs review** is waiting for you to approve the script. That is the most common reason an ad seems to have stalled.

**2. Reload the page**

The list does not always update itself while you watch it.

**3. Treat a long wait as a failure**

If an ad has sat on **Making** far longer than the others you have made, make it again. You are not charged twice — a generation that does not complete does not take your credits. See [why an ad fails](https://ugcfirst.com/help/troubleshooting/why-did-my-ad-fail.md).

If it happens repeatedly, contact support and say which product and roughly when.


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