Google Ads Account Management:
How to Pause, Cancel, Delete, and Manage Access

Google Ads account management covers much more than writing ad copy or adjusting bids. At some point, almost every advertiser needs to pause spending, hand over access to a team member, or shut down an account entirely. Knowing the right steps for each of these tasks prevents costly mistakes and protects your data. This page is part of our broader Google Ads resource hub, where you can explore every aspect of running successful paid search campaigns.

Whether you are an in-house marketer, a business owner managing your own ads, or an agency handling multiple client accounts, this guide walks you through every key account management task step by step. Each section gives you clear instructions so you always know exactly what to do and what to expect.

How to Pause Google Ads Without Losing Your Data

Pausing your Google Ads is the safest way to stop your ads from showing without deleting anything. Your campaigns, ad groups, keywords, bids, and performance history all stay exactly as they are. You can resume at any time with a single click.

Here is how to pause a campaign in Google Ads. Log in to your account at ads.google.com. On the left navigation panel, click Campaigns. Find the campaign you want to stop. Next to the campaign name, you will see a small colored circle showing the current status. Click that circle and select Pause from the dropdown menu. The status will turn grey, and your ads will stop showing immediately. You can also pause individual ad groups or specific ads the same way by navigating into the campaign first.

When Should You Pause Google Ads?

Pausing makes sense in several common situations. You might pause during a holiday period when your business is closed. You might also pause if you have hit your monthly budget and want to control spending until the next cycle begins. Some businesses pause campaigns while they redesign their website or rebuild their landing pages so traffic does not go to a broken experience. Pausing is a normal, healthy part of Google Ads account management and does not hurt your Quality Score or long-term account standing.

How to Pause All Google Ads at Once

If you need to stop everything at once, you do not have to pause each campaign individually. On the Campaigns page, select all campaigns by clicking the checkbox at the top of the list. Then click the Edit button that appears above the table and choose Pause. All selected campaigns will stop immediately. This is the fastest way to halt all spending in an emergency or at the end of a budget period.

How to Cancel Google Ads and Close Your Account

Canceling Google Ads means closing your account so it no longer runs ads or incurs charges. This is a bigger step than pausing. Once you cancel, Google will process any outstanding charges and then close your billing relationship with the account.

To cancel your Google Ads account, click the Tools and Settings icon (the wrench icon) in the top right corner of your dashboard. Under the Setup column, click Preferences. Scroll to the bottom of the Preferences page and look for the Account Status section. Click Cancel My Account and follow the confirmation steps. Google will ask you to confirm the cancellation. Your ads will stop running immediately, but your final invoice will still be processed on your next scheduled billing date.

What Happens to Your Data After You Cancel Google Ads?

When you cancel a Google Ads account, your campaigns, ads, and settings are preserved in a cancelled state. You can still log in and view historical reports and data. Your account is not deleted automatically just because you cancelled it. If you want the account and all its data permanently removed, you need to take the extra step of deleting the account, which is covered in the next section.

Can You Reactivate a Cancelled Google Ads Account?

Yes. A cancelled account can be reactivated if you change your mind. Log back in, go to Preferences, and look for the option to reactivate your account. You will need to verify your billing details before any campaigns can go live again. All your previous campaign settings and data will still be there, which makes reactivation straightforward.

How to Delete a Google Ads Account Permanently

Deleting a Google Ads account is a permanent action. Unlike canceling, which preserves your data in a closed state, deleting removes the account and all associated data entirely. This cannot be undone, so you should only do this if you are completely certain you will never need the account or its historical data again.

Before you delete, download all the reports and conversion data you want to keep. Go to Reports in your dashboard and export any campaign performance data, conversion history, or audience lists that may be useful in the future. Once the account is deleted, that data is gone permanently.

Steps to Delete a Google Ads Account

The process to permanently delete a Google Ads account starts in the same place as cancellation. Go to Tools and Settings, then click Preferences. In the Account Status section, you will see the option to cancel your account. Google uses the term cancel for both closure and deletion. If you want the account fully removed rather than just closed, you will need to contact Google Ads support directly after cancellation and request permanent deletion. Support can be reached through the Help icon inside your dashboard.

How to Add Someone to Google Ads Manager

Adding a team member or agency to your Google Ads account gives them the ability to manage campaigns on your behalf. Google Ads uses a role-based access system, so you can control exactly what each person can see and do inside the account.

To add someone to your Google Ads account, click the Tools and Settings icon and navigate to Access and Security under the Setup section. Click the blue plus button to invite a new user. Enter their Google email address and select the access level that is appropriate for their role. Once you click Send Invitation, they will receive an email with a link to accept. They must have a Google account to accept the invitation.

Google Ads Access Levels Explained

Google Ads offers four main access levels. Admin access gives full control over the account including billing and user management. Standard access lets users manage campaigns, ads, and settings but blocks billing changes. Read Only access lets someone view reports and performance data without making any changes. Email Only access sends the user automated performance reports by email without giving them login access. Choose the lowest access level that still lets the person do their job to keep your account secure.

How to Create a Manager Account in Google Ads

A Google Ads manager account, also called a Google Ads MCC (My Client Center), lets you link and control multiple Google Ads accounts from one place. This is essential for agencies, large businesses with multiple brands, or anyone running campaigns across several accounts at the same time.

To create a manager account, go to ads.google.com and click the Start Now button. On the account creation screen, look for the option that says Manage multiple accounts and select it instead of creating a standard advertiser account. Enter your manager account name, choose your primary time zone and currency, and complete the setup. Once your manager account is live, you can send link requests to existing Google Ads accounts or create new accounts directly under your manager account structure.

Linking Existing Accounts to Your Manager Account

If you already have a Google Ads account and want to bring it under a manager account, you can send a link request from inside the manager account dashboard. Go to the Accounts section and click the plus button to add an account. Enter the account ID of the account you want to link and send the request. The owner of the account will receive a notification and must approve the link request before the accounts are connected.

Benefits of Using a Google Ads Manager Account

A manager account saves a significant amount of time when you are handling multiple accounts. You can switch between accounts with one click rather than logging in and out repeatedly. You can also run cross-account reports that show combined performance across all linked accounts. Billing can be consolidated under one invoice, which simplifies accounting. For agencies managing client accounts, the manager account structure also allows you to set up appropriate access levels for each team member across all accounts at once.

Google Ads Account Management Best Practices

Good account management keeps your campaigns running smoothly and your data protected. These practices apply whether you are managing a single account or dozens of accounts through a manager structure.

Managing Accounts Through the Google Ads Mobile App

Google offers a mobile app for Google Ads that lets you monitor campaigns, review performance, and make basic adjustments from your phone. You can pause campaigns, adjust budgets, and respond to account alerts directly in the app. While the app is not suited for complex account builds or detailed optimization work, it is useful for staying on top of spending and catching issues quickly when you are away from your desk.

Understanding the Google Ads Change History Tool

The Change History tool inside Google Ads logs every action taken in your account along with the date, the user who made the change, and what was changed. This is extremely useful when managing accounts with multiple users. If a campaign starts underperforming after an edit, you can use Change History to identify exactly what changed and when. Access it from the Tools and Settings menu under the Measurement section.

Google Ads Account Management FAQ

Written by the Koading Team

Koading is a full-service digital marketing agency based in San Jose. We manage Google Ads accounts for businesses of all sizes, from local service companies to national e-commerce brands. Our team focuses on transparent reporting, clean account structure, and results that are tied directly to revenue.

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