How to Approve Facebook Ad Account Request

Receiving an email that someone has requested access to your Facebook Ad Account can feel a bit alarming if you're not expecting it. But don't worry, this is actually the standard, secure way for marketing agencies, freelancers, and new team members to get the access they need to run your campaigns. This guide breaks down exactly how to approve that request in Facebook Business Manager and manage your permissions like a pro.

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Why You're Getting Ad Account Access Requests

If you've just hired a marketing agency or a freelance ads manager, they need to be able to work inside your ad account. Instead of the old, insecure method of sharing your personal Facebook password (please, never do this!), the professional process is for them to request partner access through Facebook's own system, Business Manager.

This process is better for everyone for a few key reasons:

• It's Secure: You never have to share your personal login details. Your personal profile, messages, and photos remain separate and private.
• You Retain Ownership: You are always the owner of the ad account. You are simply granting permission for someone else to work in it. You can revoke this access at any time.
• Clear Separation: The agency or freelancer works from their own Business Manager account. This keeps billing, team members, and other client work completely separate from yours.
• Proper Administration: It’s the official method designed by Facebook to make collaboration between businesses seamless and safe. If any issues arise, this is the arrangement Facebook's support team expects to see.

Essentially, receiving an access request is a good sign. It shows that the partner you're working with follows best practices for security and account management.

Before You Approve: Understanding Ad Account Roles

Before you click "Approve," it’s important to understand what level of permission you’re giving. Facebook Business Manager offers different roles, each with its own set of capabilities. Approving a request links your ad account to your partner's Business Manager, but they will still need to assign specific roles to their team members who will work on your account. Knowing these roles helps you confirm they are using the correct permission levels.

Admin Access

This is the master key. An Admin can do everything, including:

• Create, edit, and run campaigns.
• Access billing information and add payment methods.
• Manage permissions by adding or removing people from the account.
• Change any setting on the ad account.

Who needs it? This role should be reserved for business owners and trusted senior partners within your own company. You should almost never grant external agencies or freelancers Admin access. They don't need it to do their job, and it creates a security risk.

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Advertiser Access

This is the standard role for day-to-day campaign management. An Advertiser can:

• Create, edit, and view ads.
• See performance reports and analytics.
• Access an ad preview link.

They cannot manage permissions or change billing details. This is the perfect level of access for most marketing agencies, contractors, and internal team members who are responsible for running your campaigns.

Analyst Access

This role is "read-only." An Analyst can:

• View ad performance and access reports.

They cannot make any changes to campaigns, creative, or budgets. This is ideal for stakeholders, team members, or clients who need to monitor results without having the ability to alter anything.

When in doubt, always follow the principle of least privilege. Only grant the minimum level of access someone needs to perform their duties. For 99% of external partners, "Advertiser" access is exactly what they need.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Approve a Facebook Ad Account Request

You’ve received the notification, you understand the roles, and you're ready to grant access. Here’s a simple, step-by-step walkthrough of what to do inside your Facebook Business Manager.

Step 1: Log in to the Correct Facebook Business Manager Account

Many businesses, especially those with multiple brands or locations, may have access to more than one Business Manager. It's essential that you log in to the one that owns the ad account in question. Go to https://business.facebook.com/ and select the correct Business Manager from the dropdown menu if you have more than one.

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Step 2: Navigate to Business Settings

Once you are in your Business Manager dashboard, find the "Settings" gear icon on the bottom of the left-hand navigation panel. If your layout looks different, you can also click the "All tools" (hamburger) menu and find "Business Settings" there. This is your central hub for managing all your assets and permissions.

Step 3: Find the "Requests" Section

In the Business Settings menu on the left side of your screen, you'll see a list of navigation items. Near the top, there is a section labeled "Requests." If you have a pending request, you should see a small blue number next to it. Click on it.

Step 4: Review and Approve the Pending Request

Inside the Requests section, make sure you are in the "Received" tab. Here you will see a list of all incoming requests. You should see:

• The name and ID of the business that sent the request.
• The name and ID of the person from their team who sent it.
• The date it was received.

Confirm this is the agency or partner you are expecting. If everything looks correct, click the blue "Approve" button. Facebook will pop up a confirmation window to make sure you want to grant this access. Click "Approve" again to finalize it.

That's it! You've successfully connected their Business Manager to your ad account as a partner.

Step 5: How Your Partner Assigns Their Team

This is a small but important detail. Approving the request links the two Business Managers together, but it doesn't automatically give any specific people on their team access. The admin of their Business Manager is now responsible for assigning roles (like Advertiser or Analyst) to the specific team members who will work on your account. Once they've done that, those individuals will be able to see and manage your campaigns from their own Facebook account.

Troubleshooting: "I Can't Find the Request!"

Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as planned. If your partner insists they've sent a request but you can't find it, here are a few common causes.

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Are you in the right Business Manager?

This is the most frequent issue. If you are an admin on multiple Business Managers, double-check that you are operating within the one that actually owns the ad account. You can verify ownership by going to Business Settings > Accounts > Ad Accounts. You should see the account listed there with "Owned by: [Your Business Name]".

Did the request expire?

Facebook partnership requests expire after 30 days. If too much time has passed, the request will disappear. In this case, your partner will simply need to send a new one.

Was the correct Ad Account ID provided?

Mistakes happen. It's possible your partner accidentally typed in the wrong Ad Account ID when sending the request. Ask them to confirm the ID number they used. You can find your Ad Account ID in the top left corner of Ads Manager (it usually looks something like 123-456-7890).

Best Practices for Securely Managing Ad Account Access

Approving is just the first step. Proper management is key to keeping your business assets protected over the long run.

• Always Use Business Manager: Never give out your personal Facebook login credentials. It’s incredibly risky and completely unnecessary when Business Manager exists to solve this exact problem.
• Grant the Right Level of Access: Resist the urge to give everyone Admin permissions. Default to "Advertiser" access for anyone running ads, and "Analyst" access for anyone who just needs to see the numbers.
• Perform Regular Audits: Every three months, make it a habit to review who has access to your assets. Go to Business Settings and check your Pages, Ad Accounts, and Pixels. If you see old agencies, former employees, or anyone who no longer needs access, remove them immediately.
• Require Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): In your Business Info settings, you can require all admins and team members to have 2FA enabled. This adds a critical layer of security to your entire setup and helps prevent unauthorized access.

Final Thoughts

Approving a Facebook Ad Account request is a simple and secure process once you know where to look. By using Business Manager correctly and understanding the different permission levels, you can confidently collaborate with agencies and team members while keeping full control over your valuable business assets.

Once you’ve granted access, the next big task is making sense of all the performance data. Instead of trying to wrangle convoluted reports from Ads Manager, we built Graphed to simplify your analytics. You can connect your Facebook Ads account in seconds and use natural language to ask questions like, "Compare spend vs. conversions for all active campaigns this month," and get a live dashboard instantly. It’s the easiest way to see exactly what’s working without getting lost in spreadsheets.