How to Request Access to Facebook Ad Account
Gaining access to a client's Facebook Ad Account involves a few critical steps that can feel confusing if you don't know where to look. To do it correctly, you need to use Meta's Business Suite (or Business Manager). This article will walk you through the professional, secure way to request access using the "Partner" system, as well as the simpler method of having someone add you directly.
First, What Do You Need to Get Started?
Before you dive into Meta's settings, you need one crucial piece of information from the account owner: their Ad Account ID. This unique number is what allows you to pinpoint the exact account you need access to, rather than getting lost trying to find it by name.
How to find the Ad Account ID:
The account owner can find this ID in their Ads Manager. It's usually visible in the top left corner of the Ads Manager dashboard, right below the account name, or in the URL of their browser when they are in the ad account.
Once you have that ID, you’re ready to choose the best method for getting access.
Method 1: Requesting "Partner" Access via Meta Business Suite (The Professional Standard)
When you're working with clients as an agency, freelancer, or contractor, this is the best and most secure method. Treating your business as a "Partner" keeps your agency’s assets (your ad accounts, pages, etc.) completely separate from your client’s. It’s cleaner, safer, and shows your clients you follow professional best practices.
In this scenario, you initiate the request from your own Meta Business account.
Step-by-Step Guide to Requesting Partner Access:
1. Navigate to Your Business Settings
Log in to your own Meta Business Suite. In the bottom-left corner, click the Settings cogwheel. From there, select Business Settings. This will take you to the more detailed backend of your business account.
2. Find the "Ad Accounts" Section
Once you're in Business Settings, look at the navigation menu on the left. Under the "Accounts" dropdown, click on Ad Accounts.
3. Initiate the Access Request
You'll see a list of ad accounts you already own or have access to. Above this list, look for the blue "Add" button. Click it, and you'll see a dropdown menu with three options:
Add an Ad Account
Request Access to an Ad Account
Create a New Ad Account
Select the middle option: Request Access to an Ad Account. This is the key step for connecting to a client's existing account without claiming ownership of it.
4. Enter the Ad Account ID
A new window will pop up asking for the Ad Account ID. This is where you paste the number your client gave you. Triple-check that the ID is correct before moving on.
5. Choose the Right Role
Next, you’ll be asked to assign the level of access (the "role") you need. This is a critical step. Don’t just ask for full control unless you absolutely need it. This builds trust and ensures security.
View performance (Analyst): This role lets you see campaign results, access reports, and look at ad performance. You cannot make any changes. This is perfect for initial audits or reporting-only tasks.
Manage campaigns (Advertiser): This gives you everything an analyst has, plus the ability to create, edit, and manage ads and campaigns. This is the most common role for those actively running campaigns.
Manage ad account (Admin): This provides full control. You can manage campaigns, edit payment details, and add or remove other users. Only request this level of access if you are responsible for managing the entire ad account, including billing and user permissions.
Select the appropriate role using the toggle switches and click Confirm.
What Happens Next? (What to Tell Your Client)
After you submit the request, the ad account's admin will receive a notification. The request won't be active until they approve it.
You can guide your client by telling them to:
Log in to their Meta Business Suite.
Go to Business Settings.
Look in the Requests section in the left-hand menu. They should see a pending request from your business there.
All they have to do is click Approve.
Once they approve it, their ad account will appear in your Business Manager under the "Ad Accounts" section, and you'll be ready to get to work.
Method 2: Being Added Manually to an Ad Account
This method is more direct and is often used for adding an in-house employee to the team. Instead of you requesting access, the existing admin of the ad account adds you directly.
While simpler, this method is less ideal for external partners because it links a specific individual’s personal Facebook profile to the ad account, rather than a business entity. However, for a quick and easy way to add a teammate, it's very effective.
Step-by-Step Guide for the Ad Account Admin (The instructions you'll send them):
1. Go to Ad Account Settings
From your Facebook profile, click your profile picture in the top-right and go to Ads Manager. From there, click the hamburger menu (All tools) and select Ad Account Settings. (Alternatively, you can go into Business Settings > Ad Accounts > select the ad account > click "Add People").
2. Add the New Person
On the right side of the page, under "Ad Account Roles," you’ll see a blue button that says Add People. Click it.
3. Enter Their Name or Email
A pop-up will appear. Start typing the name of the person you want to add. If you are friends with them on Facebook, their profile should appear. If not, you can use the email address associated with their personal Facebook account. This is important - using a work email won't work if it's not the email they use to log into Facebook.
4. Assign Their Role
As with the partner method, you need to choose their access level from the dropdown menu: Ad Account Admin, Ad Account Advertiser, or Ad Account Analyst. Choose the role that fits their responsibilities, keeping the principle of least privilege in mind.
5. Confirm the Invitation
Click Confirm. The person you invited will receive a notification that they've been added to the ad account. Once they accept, they will have access.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as planned. Here are a few common hiccups and how to fix them.
"I'm Not Sure Which Business Manager is the Right One."
Many businesses, especially older ones, end up with multiple Business Managers accidentally. The client needs to ensure they are the admin of the specific Business Manager that owns the ad account in question. They can see which ad accounts are owned by an organization in their Business Settings > Ad Accounts tab.
"The Request Isn't Showing Up for My Client."
If the client can't find your partner request notification in their Business Suite, ask them to check their email. Facebook often sends a direct link to approve the request to the email address associated with their admin account.
"I Entered the Person's Email, but They Don't Show Up."
This is the most common issue with the manual "add people" method. You must use the email address tied to their personal Facebook login. If they logged in to Facebook using john.doe@gmail.com, that's the email you need to use, even if their work email is john@company.com.
"Access is Denied or 'Assets are Missing'."
Sometimes, even after getting access to the ad account, you might find you can't run ads because you don't have access to the associated Facebook Page or Instagram profile. Along with ad account access, you often need at least "Advertiser" permissions on the Facebook Page that the ads will run from. The admin can assign page roles in their Business Settings under Accounts > Pages.
Final Thoughts
There are two primary ways to gain access to a Facebook ad account: the professional "Partner" request through Business Settings, ideal for agencies, and the direct "Add People" method, best for in-house teams. The key is communicating with the account owner to get the correct ad account ID and having them approve the request on their end.
Of course, once you get access, the real work begins - analyzing data, finding insights, and reporting on performance. Instead of spending hours exporting CSVs from Ads Manager and stitching them together with your sales data, we built Graphed to do the heavy lifting for you. We connect to an account in seconds, allowing you to ask questions in plain English, like "Show me a comparison of my Facebook Ads ROAS vs. Google Ads ROAS for the last 30 days," and get instant, real-time dashboards that update automatically.