How to Give Agency Access to Your Google Ads Account

Meta Description: Complete guide to granting agency access to your Google Ads account. Learn how to add managers, link to manager accounts, and set the right access levels for your agency.

Introduction

Google Ads is one of the most powerful advertising platforms available, enabling businesses to reach potential customers at the exact moment they are searching for products or services. However, managing Google Ads effectively requires expertise in campaign strategy, keyword research, bid management, and ongoing optimisation.

Many businesses choose to partner with marketing agencies to handle their Google Ads management. To enable this partnership, you need to grant your agency appropriate access to your Google Ads account—a process that is secure and does not require sharing your login credentials.

This comprehensive guide walks you through the different methods for granting agency access to Google Ads, explains the various access levels available, and helps you troubleshoot common issues.

Prerequisites

Before granting agency access to your Google Ads account, ensure the following:

1. Admin Access to Your Google Ads Account
You must have Admin-level access to the Google Ads account you wish to share. Only Admins can add new users or link the account to an agency's Manager Account.

2. Your Agency's Details
Depending on the access method, you will need either:

Your agency's Google Ads Manager Account ID (also called MCC ID)
The email addresses of individual agency team members

3. Active Google Ads Account
Your Google Ads account should be active and in good standing. Suspended accounts may have limitations on access management.

4. Two-Factor Authentication
For security, ensure your Google account has two-factor authentication enabled before modifying access permissions.

5. Agreement on Access Level
Discuss with your agency what level of access they need. Different access levels provide different capabilities, from read-only reporting to full administrative control.

Understanding Google Ads Access Levels

Google Ads provides granular access control through several predefined roles:

Admin
Full control over the account. Can manage campaigns, billing, and access settings. Can add and remove other users, link accounts, and change account settings. Only grant this to highly trusted partners.

Standard
Can view, edit, and manage campaigns. Can create, pause, and modify ads, keywords, and targeting. Can access most features except billing and user management. This is appropriate for most agency work.

Read Only
Can view campaigns, reports, and performance data but cannot make any changes. Suitable for agencies providing reporting or consultation services.

Email Only
Receives account alert emails but cannot access the account interface. Used for notifications without granting actual access.

Billing
Can manage billing settings, payment methods, and invoices. Cannot access campaigns. Use this separately if the agency handles your billing.

Method 1: Linking to an Agency's Manager Account (Recommended)

The most common and professional way to grant agency access is by linking your account to their Manager Account (MCC). This method is preferred because:

The agency manages access through their own system
You can easily unlink when the relationship ends
The agency does not need individual logins to your account

Step 1: Get the Agency's Manager Account ID

Ask your agency for their Google Ads Manager Account ID. This is a 10-digit number in the format XXX-XXX-XXXX. The agency can find this in the top right corner of their Manager Account interface.

Step 2: Sign into Google Ads

Navigate to ads.google.com and sign in with the Google account that has Admin access to your Google Ads account.

Step 3: Navigate to Account Access

Click on the Tools icon (wrench/spanner) in the top navigation bar. Under the Setup section, click on Access and security.

Step 4: Switch to the Managers Tab

On the Access and security page, look for tabs at the top. Click on the Managers tab to view and manage linked Manager Accounts.

Step 5: Link a Manager Account

Click the blue Link existing manager button (or similar wording like "Add manager").

A dialog will appear asking for the Manager Account ID.

Step 6: Enter the Manager Account ID

Enter the 10-digit Manager Account ID provided by your agency. Ensure you include the hyphens or enter the numbers correctly.

Step 7: Send the Link Request

Click Send Request or Confirm. This sends a notification to the agency's Manager Account.

Step 8: Agency Accepts the Request

Your agency must accept the link request from their Manager Account. Contact them to let them know the request has been sent.

Once accepted, the link is active, and the agency can access your account through their Manager Account interface.

Method 2: Inviting Individual Users

If your agency does not use a Manager Account, or if you want to add specific individuals, you can invite users directly:

Step 1: Access Account Settings

Sign into Google Ads and click on the Tools icon. Under Setup, click on Access and security.

Step 2: Ensure You Are on the Users Tab

The default view shows the Users tab, listing all individuals with access to the account.

Step 3: Add a New User

Click the blue plus button or Add user option.

Step 4: Enter Email Address

In the dialog that appears, enter the Gmail or Google Workspace email address of the person you want to add.

Step 5: Select Access Level

Choose the appropriate access level from the dropdown menu:

Admin – Full control
Standard – Campaign management
Read only – View only
Email only – Alerts only
Billing – Billing management only

For most agency team members, Standard access is appropriate.

Step 6: Send Invitation

Click Send Invitation. The person will receive an email with a link to accept the invitation.

Step 7: Confirm Acceptance

Contact the agency to ensure they accept the invitation. Once accepted, they appear in your Users list with their designated role.

Method 3: Granting Billing Access Separately

If your agency will handle billing but you want to keep campaign access separate:

Step 1: Navigate to Billing Settings

In Google Ads, click on the Tools icon and select Billing under the Billing section.

Step 2: Access Payments Profile

Click on Settings or Payments profile to access billing configuration.

Step 3: Manage Billing Users

Look for options to add users with billing access. This may be within the payments profile or under billing settings.

Step 4: Add Billing User

Enter the email address and confirm. This grants billing-only access without campaign access.

Managing Multiple Accounts

If you have multiple Google Ads accounts and want to grant agency access to all of them:

Option A: Link Each Account Individually
Repeat the Manager Account linking process for each Google Ads account.

Option B: Create Your Own Manager Account
If you do not already have one, create a Manager Account, link your individual accounts to it, then link your Manager Account to the agency's Manager Account.

Option C: Grant User Access Across Accounts
Add the same email addresses to each account individually with appropriate permissions.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Issue: Cannot Find Access and Security Option
You may not have Admin access to the account. Check your access level by looking at the Users tab—your own entry will show your permission level.

Issue: Manager Account Link Request Not Received
Verify the Manager Account ID is correct. Check with your agency that they are looking in the right Manager Account for pending requests.

Issue: Link Request Expired
Link requests expire after a period of time. If the agency did not accept, you will need to send a new request.

Issue: Invitation Email Not Received
Ask the user to check spam folders. The email comes from Google, but spam filters may catch it. You can resend the invitation from the Access and security page.

Issue: Account Suspended
Suspended accounts have limited functionality. You may not be able to add users or link managers until the suspension is resolved.

Issue: Cannot Remove Previous Agency
Only Admins can remove users or unlink Manager Accounts. If you are not an Admin, request help from someone who is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my agency access my billing information?
Only if you grant Billing access. Standard access does not include billing details. Your payment methods and invoices are separate from campaign access.

Can the agency spend my money?
With Standard or Admin access, the agency can create and run campaigns that incur costs. However, they cannot change your budget beyond what you have set without Admin access.

Can I set spending limits?
Yes. You can configure daily budgets at the campaign level and account-level budget limits to prevent overspending.

Can the agency access my Google account?
No. Google Ads access is separate from your Google account. They cannot access Gmail, Drive, or other services.

Can multiple agencies access my account?
Yes. You can link multiple Manager Accounts and add multiple users. Each can have different access levels.

What happens when I unlink an agency?
Their access ends immediately. They can no longer view or manage your campaigns. Your account data and campaigns remain intact.

Can the agency see my other linked accounts?
No. When linked via Manager Account, the agency can only see the specific accounts you linked to them, not any other accounts you own.

Do I need to pay for additional users?
No. Adding users or linking Manager Accounts does not cost anything. Google Ads charges for advertising, not for account access.

Conclusion

Granting agency access to your Google Ads account enables professional management of your advertising while maintaining ownership and control. The Manager Account linking method is recommended for most agency relationships, providing clean separation and easy disconnection when needed.

Remember to grant only the access level required for the agency's work—Standard for campaign management, Read Only for reporting, and Admin only when necessary. Review your access settings periodically to ensure they remain current.

If you are looking for expert Google Ads management, Core Operative AI offers comprehensive paid advertising services. From strategy development to campaign optimisation, we help businesses achieve better results from their advertising investment.

Ready to maximise your Google Ads ROI? Contact Core Operative AI today to discuss how we can help you generate more leads and sales through paid search.

Last updated: February 2026