How to Request Access to a Client's Google Ads Account (3 ways)

To request access to a client's Google Ads account, link their account to your Google Ads Manager account (formerly known as Google MCC) using their 10-digit Customer ID. The client has to log in and approve your request after.

We also cover these two methods:

• No Manager account? Ask the client's account Admin to invite you by email instead, though they'll need to add each member of your team individually.

• Want to skip the back-and-forth? Use a client onboarding tool like Leadsie to request access through a single, secure link. No need to search for Customer IDs.

Here's a video walkthrough:

Summary: Ways to request access to a Google Ads account

Method 1: Send a link request from your Manager (MCC) account

To link a client's Google Ads account to your Manager account (MCC), enter their 10-digit Customer ID in your sub-account settings and send a link request. Once the client approves it, you can manage all their campaigns from your MCC.

Before you start

You'll need: a Google Ads Manager account, and your client's 10-digit Customer ID. It's shown at the top right of their Google Ads dashboard, formatted like 123-456-7890.

Step 1: Open Sub-account settings

Sign in to your Manager account at ads.google.com.

From the left-hand menu, click Accounts, then select Sub-account settings. This is where you can view your linked client accounts and request access to new ones.

Step 2: Select Link existing account

Click the blue + button and select Link existing account.

This lets you connect a client's existing Google Ads account to your MCC without creating a new account or affecting their existing campaigns.

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Step 3: Enter the client's Customer ID

Enter your client's 10-digit Customer ID in the field provided.

If they’re unsure how to find it, send them this guide to finding your Google Ads Customer ID: https://help.leadsie.com/article/125-find-google-ads-account-id 

If you're requesting access to multiple Google Ads accounts, you can enter several Customer IDs at once, with one ID per line.

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Step 4: Click Send request

Click Send request to submit your access request to the client's Google Ads account.

Your client will then need to approve the request under Admin > Access and security > Managers in their own Google Ads account.

Once approved, their account will appear under Accounts in your Manager account, where you can access and manage their campaigns.

Note: Only an Admin can approve a link request. If your contact has Standard access, they'll need to ask whoever owns the account.

Need access to a client’s local listing too? Here’s how to request access to a Google Business Profile.

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Method 2: Ask the account's Admin to invite you

If you don't have a Google Ads Manager account (MCC), ask an Admin on the client's account to invite you directly. Here's how:

1. Share your email address and required access level. Send them the email address linked to your Google Account, and the access level you need (usually Standard).
2. Ask the client to send an invitation. They need to add you under Admin > Access and security > Users. (send them this step-by-step guide).
3. Accept the invitation. Open the email from Google Ads and click Accept to gain access to the account.

If other team members need access, the client will have to invite each person separately.

Which access level should you request?

Ask for the minimum you need:

Only request Admin if the client explicitly wants you to manage their users. With Admin, you could remove them, and many clients (rightly) say no.

Method 3: Request access with Leadsie (no Customer ID needed)

Leadsie is a client onboarding tool that helps agencies request access to clients' Google Ads and other social and advertising accounts through a single link, without chasing login details or Customer IDs.

For Google Ads, it lets clients approve access to their accounts and link them to your MCC without manually sending or accepting link requests. Here's how it works:

1. Create an access request link in your Leadsie dashboard.
2. Select Google Ads and any other platforms you need access to, such as Google Analytics, Tag Manager, Google Business Profile or Meta.
3. Send the link to your client via email or your preferred messaging app.
4. Your client signs in with Google, selects the account(s) they want to share and approves access.

That’s it!

No Customer IDs to chase, no follow-up asking clients to check their Managers tab, and one link can handle access requests across 14+ supported social and advertising platforms.

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Troubleshooting: why hasn't my request been approved?

1. Your contact isn't an Admin. Only users with Admin access can approve Manager account link requests. Ask your contact to forward the request to an account Admin.
2. The Admin hasn't seen the request. The notification may have been missed, or sent to someone other than your main contact. Ask an Admin to check Admin > Access and security > Managers directly for pending requests.
3. You've entered the wrong Customer ID. Your client may have shared the ID of a different Google Ads account or entered it incorrectly. Ask them to double-check the ID in their Google Ads dashboard. 
4. The business has lost Admin access. If a former employee or agency still controls the account, the client may need to go through Google's account access recovery process to regain control before approving your request.
5. Your Manager account has reached its pending request limit. Google Ads allows up to 20 pending link requests per Manager account. Check Accounts > Sub-account settings > Sent link requests and withdraw any requests you no longer need.

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

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

A Google Ads Manager account (MCC) lets agencies and marketers manage multiple Google Ads accounts from one dashboard and request access to clients' existing Google Ads accounts.