diff --git a/libraries/appnexusKeywords/anKeywords.js b/libraries/appnexusKeywords/anKeywords.js
index e4c770a0b18..271a09edba6 100644
--- a/libraries/appnexusKeywords/anKeywords.js
+++ b/libraries/appnexusKeywords/anKeywords.js
@@ -60,24 +60,10 @@ export function convertKeywordStringToANMap(keyStr) {
 function convertKeywordsToANMap(kwarray) {
   const result = {};
   kwarray.forEach(kw => {
-    // if = exists, then split
-    if (kw.indexOf('=') !== -1) {
-      let kwPair = kw.split('=');
-      let key = kwPair[0];
-      let val = kwPair[1];
-
-      // then check for existing key in result > if so add value to the array > if not, add new key and create value array
-      if (result.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
-        result[key].push(val);
-      } else {
-        result[key] = [val];
-      }
-    } else {
-      if (!result.hasOwnProperty(kw)) {
-        result[kw] = [];
-      }
+    if (!result.hasOwnProperty(kw)) {
+      result[kw] = [];
     }
-  })
+  });
   return result;
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/appnexusBidAdapter.js b/modules/appnexusBidAdapter.js
index 0660f4f4b10..047fa7115e4 100644
--- a/modules/appnexusBidAdapter.js
+++ b/modules/appnexusBidAdapter.js
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ import {hasPurpose1Consent} from '../src/utils/gpdr.js';
 import {convertOrtbRequestToProprietaryNative} from '../src/native.js';
 import {APPNEXUS_CATEGORY_MAPPING} from '../libraries/categoryTranslationMapping/index.js';
 import {
-  convertKeywordStringToANMap,
   getANKewyordParamFromMaps,
   getANKeywordParam,
   transformBidderParamKeywords
@@ -783,7 +782,7 @@ function bidToTag(bid) {
     tag.external_imp_id = bid.params.external_imp_id;
   }
 
-  const auKeywords = getANKewyordParamFromMaps(convertKeywordStringToANMap(deepAccess(bid, 'ortb2Imp.ext.data.keywords')), bid.params?.keywords);
+  const auKeywords = getANKewyordParamFromMaps(bid.params?.keywords);
   if (auKeywords.length > 0) {
     tag.keywords = auKeywords;
   }
diff --git a/test/spec/modules/appnexusBidAdapter_spec.js b/test/spec/modules/appnexusBidAdapter_spec.js
index 7d351e03453..6b38dec0779 100644
--- a/test/spec/modules/appnexusBidAdapter_spec.js
+++ b/test/spec/modules/appnexusBidAdapter_spec.js
@@ -757,9 +757,13 @@ describe('AppNexusAdapter', function () {
         'value': ['rock', 'pop']
       }, {
         'key': 'test'
+      }, {
+        key: 'tools=industrial',
+      }, {
+        key: 'tools=home',
       }, {
         'key': 'tools',
-        'value': ['power', 'industrial', 'home']
+        'value': ['power']
       }, {
         'key': 'power tools'
       }, {
@@ -767,16 +771,13 @@ describe('AppNexusAdapter', function () {
       }, {
         'key': 'video'
       }, {
-        'key': 'source',
-        'value': ['streaming']
+        'key': 'source=streaming',
       }, {
         'key': 'renting'
       }, {
-        'key': 'app',
-        'value': ['iphone 11']
+        'key': 'app=iphone 11',
       }, {
-        'key': 'appcontent',
-        'value': ['home repair']
+        'key': 'appcontent=home repair',
       }, {
         'key': 'dyi'
       }]);
@@ -908,94 +909,6 @@ describe('AppNexusAdapter', function () {
       ])
     });
 
-    it('should convert adUnit ortb2 keywords (when there are no bid param keywords) to proper form and attaches to request', function () {
-      let bidRequest = Object.assign({},
-        bidRequests[0],
-        {
-          ortb2Imp: {
-            ext: {
-              data: {
-                keywords: 'ortb2=yes,ortb2test, multiValMixed=4, singleValNum=456'
-              }
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      );
-
-      const request = spec.buildRequests([bidRequest]);
-      const payload = JSON.parse(request.data);
-
-      expectKeywords(payload.tags[0].keywords, [{
-        'key': 'ortb2',
-        'value': ['yes']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'ortb2test'
-      }, {
-        'key': 'multiValMixed',
-        'value': ['4']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'singleValNum',
-        'value': ['456']
-      }]);
-    });
-
-    it('should convert keyword params and adUnit ortb2 keywords to proper form and attaches to request', function () {
-      let bidRequest = Object.assign({},
-        bidRequests[0],
-        {
-          params: {
-            placementId: '10433394',
-            keywords: {
-              single: 'val',
-              singleArr: ['val'],
-              singleArrNum: [5],
-              multiValMixed: ['value1', 2, 'value3'],
-              singleValNum: 123,
-              emptyStr: '',
-              emptyArr: [''],
-              badValue: { 'foo': 'bar' } // should be dropped
-            }
-          },
-          ortb2Imp: {
-            ext: {
-              data: {
-                keywords: 'ortb2=yes,ortb2test, multiValMixed=4, singleValNum=456'
-              }
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      );
-
-      const request = spec.buildRequests([bidRequest]);
-      const payload = JSON.parse(request.data);
-
-      expectKeywords(payload.tags[0].keywords, [{
-        'key': 'single',
-        'value': ['val']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'singleArr',
-        'value': ['val']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'singleArrNum',
-        'value': ['5']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'multiValMixed',
-        'value': ['value1', '2', 'value3', '4']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'singleValNum',
-        'value': ['123', '456']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'emptyStr'
-      }, {
-        'key': 'emptyArr'
-      }, {
-        'key': 'ortb2',
-        'value': ['yes']
-      }, {
-        'key': 'ortb2test'
-      }]);
-    });
-
     it('should add payment rules to the request', function () {
       let bidRequest = Object.assign({},
         bidRequests[0],