If you run ads for a business, chances are you don’t work alone. Maybe you have a teammate who needs to check on campaigns, or you’re working with an agency that needs access to manage your account. Either way, you don’t need to share your password with anyone.

Google Ads Manager (also called MCC, short for “My Client Center”) lets you add people to your account safely, with the exact level of access they need. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the whole process, step by step, in plain simple language.

What is a Google Ads Manager Account?

A Google Ads Manager account is like a control room. Instead of logging into separate Google Ads accounts one by one, you can view and manage several accounts from a single login. This is especially handy for:

• Agencies that manage ads for multiple clients
• Businesses that run several Google Ads accounts (for different brands or locations)
• Freelancers who help more than one client with their campaigns

If you’re an agency or freelancer trying to get access to a client’s account, or a business owner adding a teammate, the steps below apply to you.

Before You Start: Know the Access Levels

Before adding someone, it helps to know what each access level actually allows. Google Ads gives you four options:

• Admin – Full control. They can manage campaigns, add or remove users, and change account settings. Only give this to people you fully trust.
• Standard – They can create and edit campaigns, but they can’t add or remove other users.
• Read-only – They can view reports and performance data, but they can’t make any changes.
• Email-only – They only receive email notifications and alerts about the account. No login access.

Pick the level that matches what the person actually needs to do. A common mistake is giving everyone Admin access “just in case” — try to avoid that, since it’s not great for account security.

Step-by-Step: How to Add a User to Google Ads Manager

Here’s how to invite someone to your account:

1. Sign in to your Google Ads Manager account at ads.google.com.
2. Click the Admin icon (it looks like a small gear or wrench, usually on the left-hand side or top-right of your screen).
3. Select “Access and security” from the menu.
4. Go to the “Users” tab, then click the blue plus (+) button.
5. Enter the person’s email address. Make sure it’s the email tied to their Google account — a simple typo here is one of the most common reasons invitations don’t go through.
6. Choose the access level you want to give them (Admin, Standard, Read-only, or Email-only).
7. Click “Send invitation.”

That’s it. Google will email the person an invitation link, and once they accept it, they’ll have access to your account.

A couple of things worth knowing:

• The invitation expires after about a month, so if the person doesn’t accept it in time, you’ll need to send it again.
• The person needs a Google account (like a Gmail address, or a Google account tied to their work email) to accept the invite.

Adding an Agency or Another Manager Account

Sometimes, instead of adding one person, you need to link your account to an entire agency’s manager account (their MCC). This works a little differently:

1. Get the agency’s Customer ID (a 10-digit number, they can share this with you).
2. In your own Google Ads account, click the Admin icon, then Access and security.
3. Go to the Managers tab.
4. If the agency has already sent you a link request, you’ll see it here — just click Accept.
5. If not, you can also start the process yourself: click Sub-account settings, then Link existing account, and enter their Customer ID.

Once linked, the agency can manage your account without needing a separate email invitation, and you’ll always be able to see (and remove) their access whenever you want.

Troubleshooting: Common Problems When Adding Users

If something’s not working, here are the usual culprits:

• Double-check the email address. A single typo means the invite goes nowhere.
• Check “Allowed Domains.” Some accounts restrict access to specific email domains for security. If you’re adding someone outside your company (like a freelancer), you may need to add their domain to the allowed list first.
• Ask them to check spam/junk folders. Invitation emails sometimes land there.
• Resend if it’s been a while. Invitations expire after about 30 days.

Removing or Changing a User’s Access

Access isn’t permanent, you can change it anytime. Just go back to Admin > Access and security > Users, click on the person’s name, and you’ll be able to update their permission level or remove them from the account completely. It’s a good habit to review your user list every few months and remove anyone who no longer needs access.

Final Thoughts

Adding someone to your Google Ads Manager account only takes a couple of minutes, but it’s worth doing carefully. Choose the right access level, double-check the email, and review your user list regularly. This keeps your campaigns running smoothly while keeping your account secure.

If you ever get stuck, Google’s Help Center is a reliable place to double check the latest steps, since the interface can shift slightly over time.