The short answer
To give access to a Google Ads account, open Admin → Access and security, click the blue + on the Users tab, enter the person’s email, choose an access level (Email only, Billing, Read only, Standard or Admin) and send the invitation. Agencies with a manager account instead send a link request using your 10-digit Customer ID, which you accept on the Managers tab.
Before you start
By the end of this SOP
The right people have the right access level, and you know how to remove it.
- Time
- 5 minutes per person
- You’ll need
- A Google Ads account where you have Admin access (SOP 014).
- Who does this
- The account owner or whoever manages access for the business.
About this SOP: why it matters, where and when
Why it matters: Too much access is a security risk. Too little blocks your team. Shared passwords are never the answer.
Where: In Google Ads → Admin → Access and security.
When: Whenever someone joins, leaves, or an agency starts or stops working on the account.
Stage 1
Pick the right access level
Give the lowest level that lets the person do their job.
- 1
The five levels:
- Email only: gets reports and alerts, can’t sign in.
- Billing: manages payments and invoices only.
- Read only: sees everything, changes nothing. Good for clients, SEO or content teams.
- Standard: runs campaigns but can’t manage users. Right for employees and freelancers.
- Admin: full control, including adding and removing people. Owners and trusted partners only.
Watch out
An Admin can remove you. Keep at least two trusted Admins on the business side, and never give Admin to a freelancer by default.
Stage 2
Invite a person by email
Use this for employees and freelancers who work with their own Google account.
- 1
In Google Ads, click Admin (gear icon) → Access and security.
- 2
On the Users tab, click the blue + button.
- 3
Enter their email address, choose the access level, and click Send invitation.
- 4
They accept from the email (or from the notification in Google Ads). Until then the invite shows as Pending.
Tip
Ask people to use a work Google account, not a personal Gmail, so access stays with the business when they leave.
Stage 3
Connect an agency’s manager account
Agencies manage many clients from one manager account (formerly MCC). They link to your account instead of being added as a user.
- 1
Find your 10-digit Customer ID at the top right of Google Ads (e.g. 123-456-7890) and send it to the agency.
- 2
The agency goes to Accounts in their manager account, clicks + → “Link existing accounts”, enters your Customer ID and sends the request.
- 3
You go to Admin → Access and security → Managers tab, check the manager account’s name and ID match the agency you hired, and click Accept.
Watch out
A linked manager account gets admin-level control of your account. Never accept a link request from a stranger offering “free optimisation”; it is a common account-takeover scam in India.
- 4
Agency or freelancer setting up a manager account for the first time? Go to ads.google.com/home/tools/manager-accounts and click “Create a manager account”.
- Use your agency name. Clients see it in link requests.
- Country, time zone and currency are permanent.
- Big team? Use one main manager account with sub-manager accounts per team or client group, so each person only sees the accounts they work on.
Stage 4
Remove access when work ends
- 1
Admin → Access and security. Check both the Users tab and the Managers tab.
- 2
Users: click the person’s row → Remove access, and confirm.
- 3
Managers: find the agency’s manager account and click Unlink (or ask the agency to unlink from their side).
Tip
Review the Users and Managers tabs every quarter. Old freelancers with Standard access are a common audit finding.
Practice & check
Now do it for real
Reading is not doing. Open your own account and complete this task before you move on.
Practice task (5 min)
In your practice account, open Admin → Access and security and list everyone on the Users and Managers tabs with their access level. Is anyone over-privileged?
Prove it
Two questions. Get both right and this SOP is done.
Common questions
What is a Google Ads manager account (MCC)?
A Google Ads account that lets agencies and big advertisers view and manage many Google Ads accounts from one login. It used to be called MCC (My Client Center).
Where do I find my Google Ads Customer ID?
At the top right of Google Ads, next to your account name. It is a 10-digit number like 123-456-7890.
Can I remove an agency from my Google Ads account?
Yes. Go to Admin → Access and security → Managers tab and unlink their manager account. Also check the Users tab for individual agency staff.
Done. That’s a real skill, not a certificate.
Next: SOP 088 — Use the Google Ads Transparency Center to See Your Competitors’ Ads →
Want to do this on real client budgets, with a mentor checking your work? That’s Level 2 at Unlearn. See the Digital Marketing track