When you’re working with a marketing agency, freelancer, or teammate, one of the first steps is giving them access to your Google Ads account. But here’s the problem most people get confused about which role to give, how to share safely, and what’s the difference between account access and MCC access.
In this guide, I’ll break down all the ways you can give access to Google Ads, step by step, with screenshots in mind (easy to follow). Whether you’re an advertiser, business owner, or agency manager — this blog will clear it all up.
Why Do You Need to Give Access?
- To let agencies manage your campaigns
- To allow team members to monitor performance
- To share billing and reports with your accountant
- To safely collaborate without sharing your login details
Ways to Give Access to Google Ads:
There are two main ways to give access:
- Direct Access (via email invitation in your Google Ads account)
- MCC Access (linking your account to an agency’s manager account)
Let’s go through both.
1. Direct Access (Email Invitation)
This is the most common way for small businesses and teams.
Steps:
- Log in to your Google Ads account.
- Click on the Tools & Settings (🔧 icon in the top menu).
- Under Setup, select Access and security.
- Click the blue + button to invite a new user.
- Enter their email address.
- Choose a user role:
- Admin → Full control (add/remove users, edit campaigns, billing).
- Standard → Can create/edit campaigns but no user management.
- Read-only → Can view everything but cannot edit.
- Email-only → Only gets reports and alerts by email.
- Click Send Invitation.
The person will get an email and must accept the invitation.
If you’re working with a Google Ads agency or freelancer who manages multiple accounts, the best option is MCC access (Manager Account). This allows them to link your account to their dashboard without ever needing your login.
There are two sides to this process:
(A) How the Agency/Freelancer Sends the Request?
- The agency logs into their Google Ads Manager Account (MCC).
- In the left-hand menu, they click Accounts → Management.
- Click the blue + button → Link existing account.
- Enter the Customer ID (10-digit number) of your Google Ads account.
- Click Send Request.
At this point, the request is pending in your account.
(B) How You Approve the MCC Request?
- Log in to your Google Ads account.
- Click on Tools & Settings (🔧) → Access and security.
- Go to the Managers tab.
- You’ll see the request from the agency’s MCC account.
- Click Approve (or Reject if you don’t trust it).
Once approved, the agency will have access to manage your campaigns. They still cannot change billing settings unless you also give them direct user access.
Which Method Should You Use?
- Small businesses / in-house teams → Use Direct Access (email invitation).
- Agencies / freelancers managing multiple accounts → Use MCC Access.
Best Practices for Giving Access
- Never share your Google login password.
- Give only the level of access needed (don’t give admin if not required).
- Regularly review user access and remove old users.
- Use 2-step verification for extra security.
FAQs about Google Ads access sharing;
Can I give access without sharing my login details?
Yes. That’s exactly why Google Ads has an access system. Just invite users by email or approve MCC requests.
Can I remove access later?
Yes. Go to Access and security, find the user, and click Remove.
Do I need to pay extra for adding users?
No. Giving access is completely free.
What if my agency asks for admin access?
Only give admin if you fully trust them. Otherwise, MCC access or standard access is usually enough.
So,
Giving access to Google Ads is simple but doing it the right way ensures your account stays secure. Whether it’s via direct email invitation or MCC linking, you now know all the methods, roles, and best practices.
Next time you hire an agency or add a teammate, follow this guide and stay in control of your account.
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