How to Give or Request Access to Google Ads Accounts in 2026

Google Ads is a powerful advertising platform that most businesses can’t live without, whether you're a small business or large enterprise.

Even though more people are searching than ever, they aren't clicking through like they used to 😢. Between AI summaries and "zero-click" answers, organic results are being pushed so far down the page they’re practically invisible. If you want to jump the line and actually get seen, Google Ads is no longer just an option, it’s an essential tool for companies hoping to reach their target audience and make sales.

This guide teaches you how to give access to your Google Ads account, and how agencies and freelancers can request for access from their clients.

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Key Takeaways

• Giving Access: Navigate to "Tools and Settings" > "Access and Security" to invite users via email.
• Requesting Access: Requires a Google Ads Manager Account (MCC) and the client’s 10-digit Customer ID.
• Fastest way to get access: Client onboarding tools like Leadsie can simplify the process by requesting access to Ads, Analytics, and Tag Manager (and more) via a single link.
• Security: Never share login credentials; use specific permission levels to maintain control of your account.‍
• Ads Manager Accounts: Essential for agencies managing multiple clients to centralize access and reporting.

🎥 Prefer a video? Watch it here:

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What user roles should I give agencies and freelancers? 

Choosing the right access level depends on how much control you want to share.

• Admin
  Full access to everything, including managing other users.
  Best for account owners and internal team members only.
• Standard
  Can create and manage campaigns, view reports, and receive notifications.
  👉 This is usually the best option for marketing agencies.
• Read-only
  Can view campaigns, reports, and settings, but cannot make changes.
  Good for stakeholders who only need visibility.
• Billing
  Can manage and edit billing details.
  Only grant this if the agency handles payments.
• Email-only
  Can receive emails and reports, but has no account access.
  Useful for light reporting purposes.

Why “Standard” access is ideal for agencies

With Standard access, an agency can fully manage your advertising efforts across multiple campaign types, such as:

• Search Ads
• Display Ads
• Google Shopping Ads
• Performance Max
• And more

All of these can run within a single Google Ads account, allowing agencies to build and optimize complete advertising funnels while you maintain ownership and control.

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⭐️ How to give access to a Google Ads Account

There are a few different ways to grant and share access to your Google Ad accounts. The first is by you inviting them within your dashboard, which works best for individuals. You can also accept an invitation from a Google Ads Manager account (such as those sent by an agency or freelancer).

Giving access to individuals 

Log in to your Google Ads account at https://ads.google.com/ and follow these steps:

Step 1: Click 'Admin' at the bottom of the left-hand menu of your dashboard
Step 2: Select 'Access and security'

‍Step 3: Click on the '+' icon above the list of existing users

Step 4: Enter the email of the person you want to invite. Decide if you want their access to expire as well as assign them a role.

💡 Pro tip: We recommend assigning your marketing/PPC agency Standard access.

Step 5: Click 'Send invitation'

They’ll receive an email inviting them to your account, and can set up access in a few steps as guided by Google.

💡 Keep in mind: It’s not possible to grant user access to a single campaign, only an overall account.

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How to edit or remove access from Google Ads

Editing or removing someone's access is done in the same page (Admin > Access & security > Users).

1. To edit account access, simply click on the access level of the user in question. This will open a drop-down menu that allows you to adjust their role. 

2. To fully remove someone's access, click on 'Revoke access' from the row with their email. Google will ask you to confirm that you want to revoke access, so confirm the decision.

Both changes will be instantaneous.

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How to Request Access Manually Through Google Ads Manager

If you are managing Google ads for a client, you’ll need to gain access to their account before you can conduct an audit or get started with managing their advertising campaigns. 

You can ask your client to give you access straight away by sending a request. Keep in mind that you will need to know their Google Ad account ID in order to use this method.

💡 Important: If you don’t see the options shown in the screenshots below, it means you don’t have a Google Ads Manager account and need to set one up. 

Here’s how to request access to someone else’s Google Ads account: 

1. Log in to your Google Ads manager account at https://ads.google.com/.

2. Navigate to 'Accounts' and then 'Sub-account settings.' Click on the blue '+' button.

3. Click 'Link existing account.'

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4. Enter the account ID number that you want to access, and then assign the Manager account that you want to have acess to the linked account.

At this point, the invitee will receive an email and can follow the steps there to grant you access. 

5. Once linked, you’ll see the account in your 'Sub-account settings.'

Fastest way to Request Access with Leadsie (Recommended)

Instead of manually requesting access through a Google Ads Manager account, you can use Leadsie's client onboarding software to automate the process.

With Leadsie, all you need to do is send your client a secure access request link. They log in to their Google account, choose the Google Ads account they want to connect, and confirm access.

Here’s how Leadsie works:

1. Log in to your Leadsie dashboard and create a new access request link.
2. Select Google Ads (you can also include Google Analytics, Tag Manager, or Business Profile in the same link).
3. Send the secure link to your client.
4. Your client logs into their account and confirms the access request.
5. Once approved, you’ll automatically gain access to their Google Ads (and other requested) accounts at one go.

That’s it. No more waiting around and chasing clients for their account IDs! 🥳

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How is a Google Ads account different from an Ad Manager account?

The Google Ads Manager account is designed for agencies and marketing professionals who manage multiple accounts. And you can only request access to a Google Ads Account if you have a Google Ads Manager Account.

A Google Ads account is an individual account limited to managing your own advertising campaigns. 

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