Transferring a Google Ads account — ownership and access, done properly
"Transferring an account" means three different things in practice: handing ownership to another person, linking an account to a manager account (MCC), or changing who pays the bill. This guide covers the first — handing it to another person — and draws a clear line between it and the other two.
The official route
Google runs this through user management rather than a dedicated transfer wizard: Admin icon → Access and security → Users tab → the plus button. Then, in Google's words: "Enter the email address of the person taking over your Google Ads account." (Google Ads Help)
The access level you grant is what makes it a handover: Admin. Anything below that is not enough (Google Ads Help).
Then you send the invitation, and the rest happens on the other side: "The person taking over your Google Ads account will receive an email with instructions for completing the transfer process." (Google Ads Help)
Only after that — genuinely only after that — do you give up your own access, in the same place: "To remove your account, go to the "Users" page in "Access and security", then click Remove access next to your email address." (Google Ads Help)
Why the order matters
An account with no active admin is a problem that is slow to unwind. Google's own warning: "If your account has only one administrator, you may lose access to your tags if that user becomes unavailable." (Google Ads Help)
Practical rule: get the new person confirmed as Admin first, then remove yourself. Never the other way round, and never remove the last admin while nobody else has accepted.
Which access level does what?
Google defines five levels. Only the top one enables a real handover:
| Access level | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Email-only | Receives reports, no account access |
| Billing | Finance, invoices, payment details |
| Read-only | Outsiders who should only look |
| Standard | Day-to-day campaign work |
| Admin | Handover, granting access, account administration |
Source: Google Ads Help on access levels. Admin is the only level that can grant access and change other people's access levels — which is precisely why it is the one that transfers control.
What this is not: switching agencies
The most common mix-up. Two separate processes:
| Process | What changes | Who starts it |
|---|---|---|
| Transferring ownership | Who administers the account | The current administrator |
| Changing who pays | Which billing manager account is charged | The previous agency |
If you are moving from one agency to another, it is usually the second one you need — including two separate seven-day deadlines and a back-dating trap with open invoices. That is covered in full in the guide to switching agencies.
Before you hand over: short checklist
- Add a second admin before removing your own access.
- Check who owns the payment profile — access and billing are separate things.
- Remember conversion tracking and Google tag access sit at the admin level.
- If the account then goes quiet, mind the inactivity deadline — see deleting an account.
- If you are creating the account rather than inheriting it: create an account without a campaign.