---
title: "Confirm Admin Access, Then Export Your Google Ads Data"
description: "Confirm a business-controlled Admin account first. Then export your search terms, conversion settings, change history and billing records before the switch."
url: "https://webleveling.com/blog/what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-10-13"
modified: "2026-10-13"
author: "Cal Hewitt"
tags: ["google-ads","ppc","small-business"]
image: "https://webleveling.com/og/blog-what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies.jpg"
alternates:
  es: "https://webleveling.com/es/blog/que-descargar-de-google-ads-antes-de-cambiar-de-agencia.md"
---

# Confirm Admin Access, Then Export Your Google Ads Data

Confirm a business-controlled Admin account first. Then export your search terms, conversion settings, change history and billing records before the switch.

![A closed laptop on a wooden desk with a fanned row of blank index cards, a pencil and a brass key beside it.](https://webleveling.com/blog/what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies/google-ads-export-checklist-featured.jpg)

You have decided to change agencies, or the decision is being made for you by an invoice you cannot defend or a lead report that does not match your phone. Now the question is what to download from Google Ads before changing agency, and the worry underneath it is bigger than a spreadsheet. You want to keep the evidence of what worked.

That evidence is the campaigns that paid for themselves, the searches that brought real buyers, the negative keywords that kept junk out, and the proof of what you spent. It can walk out the door with the old team if you do not save it.

Start with one check: confirm that an email address your business controls has Admin access. Then export and save. The order matters, and an afternoon is usually enough for the basics.

**Key Takeaways**

**Check Admin access first**

Open Admin, then Access and security, then the Users tab, and confirm a business email you control holds Admin. Do this before exporting or removing anyone.

**Manager link is not ownership**

Check the Managers tab separately. A manager can run your account without being its administrative owner.

**Reports carry performance, not settings**

Campaign exports do not include conversion definitions, account links, billing records or change history. Save those on their own.

**Search terms are not every search**

Google may omit low-volume searches for privacy, so export the Search terms report and search terms insights where available.

**Remove the old agency last**

Keep the business administrator active, give the new operator access, test it, and only then remove departing users.

## Lock In Your Own Access Before Anything Else Moves

Every other step in this checklist depends on one fact: someone at your business can still sign in as an administrator after the handoff. If that is not true yet, fix it first, because exports are far easier from an account you control. The check takes about ten minutes.

1.  **Open the Users tab**: Select the Admin icon, choose Access and security, then open Users. Each row shows an email address and an access level.
2.  **Find your business email**: Confirm at least one address you own, not the agency's, has Admin in the Access level column.
3.  **Spot the agency**: Note whether the old agency appears as a user, and what level it holds.
4.  **Check Managers**: Open the Managers tab and write down each linked manager account.
5.  **Look at ownership**: Note whether a manager is marked as the owner.
6.  **Capture the pages**: Save a screenshot of both the Users and Managers pages.

Google explains the access levels and how an administrator invites a new user in [Manage access to your Google Ads account](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6372672). A new Admin is added with the plus button, the person's Google Account email, the Admin level and an invitation, and the invitation must be accepted before that person shows as active.

![A single brass key resting on a closed laptop on a worn wooden desk, with a second key on a ring beside it.](https://webleveling.com/blog/what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies/spare-key-on-closed-laptop.jpg)

Confirm who holds the keys before you copy anything out of the room.

Campaign access is not the same as Admin access. A person with a lower level can often see reports but cannot invite users or change who is on the account. If your only login is a lower level, or the only Admin is the agency, the fastest route is covered in [what to do when an agency will not give you your Google Ads account](https://webleveling.com/blog/agency-wont-give-you-your-google-ads-account/). That is a separate job from this one, so come back here once you hold Admin.

A manager link works differently from a user. Under Google's [Manager accounts and ownership of client accounts](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7456532), a manager can manage a client account without automatically becoming its owner. Your account still owns its own data, and ownership can be moved between managers by an administrator of the owner manager. Knowing which setup you have tells you what the new agency will need from you.

## Walk Away With the Performance History That Proves What Worked

Once Admin is confirmed, export the reports. Google lets you customize a table, pick a date range, and use the download button to save it as CSV, Excel, Google Sheets and other file types. The steps are in [Account, campaign, and ad group performance](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2404036). Set the date range to the longest period that is useful for each report, so one file does not cover only last month.

Name every file with the report, the date range and the day you saved it. A folder of files called "export (3)" helps nobody a year from now.

The reports to export and where to find them

| Report | Where to find it | What it keeps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Campaigns | Campaigns icon, then Campaigns | Spend, clicks and conversions by campaign |
| Ad groups | Campaigns icon, Campaigns dropdown, then Ad groups | How each theme of searches performed |
| Ads and assets | Campaigns icon, then Ads | The ad text and assets that ran |
| Keywords | Campaigns icon, Audiences, keywords, and content, then Search keywords | Keywords and match types with results |
| Search terms | Campaigns icon, Insights and reports, then Search terms | The searches that triggered your ads |
| Location | Campaigns icon, Insights and reports, Report editor, then a geographic report | Where results came from |
| Device | The device segment in a table or Report editor | Phone, computer and tablet results |
| Conversions | Goals icon, Conversions, then Summary | Conversion actions and their performance |
| Change history | Campaigns icon, then Change history | What changed, and when |

Google changes its layout from time to time. If a menu name on your screen differs from the table, search the page for the report name instead.

For search terms, add columns such as search term, keyword, match type, impressions, clicks, cost, conversions and conversion value. Google describes what the report shows in [About the search terms report](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2472708), and it also says low-volume searches may be omitted for privacy. So, export [search terms insights](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/11386930) too, where your account offers them. If you want help reading what comes out, the post on the [Google Ads search terms report](https://webleveling.com/blog/google-ads-search-terms-report/) covers it.

![A neat stack of unmarked paper folders tied with string on a shelf, next to a closed metal filing box.](https://webleveling.com/blog/what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies/folders-tied-with-string.jpg)

Date range, report name and save date on every file keeps the pile usable.

Change history deserves its own export. It is the record of when budgets, bids, targeting and conversion settings changed, which is how a new team separates an agency decision from a seasonal swing. Google lays out what each column in these tables means in [Understand what is shown in reports](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/12929875).

## Save What No Report Carries

A campaign export looks complete and still misses the parts that make the account work. Conversion definitions, negative keyword lists, account links and billing records live in their own places. Save each one separately, using screenshots or PDFs where the screen offers no download button.

### Conversion settings

Your Conversions column is only as meaningful as the definitions behind it. Google explains these in [Manage conversion goals from the conversions summary](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10993988). For each conversion action, record the items below.

- **Source**: Website, phone call, import or another route.
- **Status and value**: Whether it is active, and what value it carries.
- **Window and counting**: The conversion window and whether it counts every conversion or one per click.
- **Attribution model**: How credit is assigned.
- **Primary or Secondary**: Primary actions feed the Conversions column and can guide bidding; Secondary actions are generally for observation.

A form fill, a phone call and a page view can all be called "conversions." Without these notes, the new team may compare numbers that mean different things.

### Targeting and budget settings

Export or capture negative keywords and negative keyword lists, along with which campaigns each list is attached to. Add audiences and their sources, locations and location options, schedules, languages, daily and shared budgets, bid strategies, target settings and campaign status. These are the lessons the account has learned. A new account without them starts by paying for the same wasted clicks again.

![A row of blank index cards fanned out on a table beside a pencil and a small brass paperweight.](https://webleveling.com/blog/what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies/blank-cards-settings-notes.jpg)

One card per setting is a simple way to make sure none is skipped.

### Linked accounts, tags and billing

Write down every linked account: Analytics, Merchant Center, Business Profile, YouTube, call tracking and any CRM import. Add the tags that record conversions, who holds Google Tag Manager access, and any offline conversion upload process. If calls matter to you, the post on [tracking phone calls from Google Ads](https://webleveling.com/blog/track-phone-calls-from-google-ads/) shows what that setup can involve.

For billing, save the transactions, invoices, billing contacts, currency and payment setting. Google describes these in [Payment method](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2393032) and [About payments profile link types](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/15758513). Do not copy full payment-card numbers into a handoff file. The new team needs the record of what was spent, not your card.

## Hand Over the Account Without Losing a Single Day of Leads

Exports protect your history. The handoff protects your ads. Do these steps in this order, and the campaigns keep running while the people change.

First, keep your own Admin account active through the whole process. Second, invite the new operator at the level they need, using the same Access and security page. Third, wait until they accept the invitation and confirm they can sign in and see the account. Fourth, send them the exports and the settings notes. Only after all of that works, remove departing users.

Removing the old agency first is the common slip. If the new access fails, you may be left with no one who can fix it, which turns a handoff into a recovery. The post on [giving someone access to your Google Ads account](https://webleveling.com/blog/give-someone-access-to-google-ads-account/) walks through the invitation itself.

If you are replacing a manager link, check the Managers tab again after the new team is in. Unlink the old manager only when you know who will run the campaigns that day. Your account keeps its own history, and a new account is not required just because the people running it changed.

When you pick the new team, the questions in [what to ask a marketing agency](https://webleveling.com/blog/questions-to-ask-a-marketing-agency/) help you confirm they will work inside the account you already own.

![Two matching sets of brass keys laid side by side on a plain linen cloth with a small closed notebook between them.](https://webleveling.com/blog/what-to-export-from-google-ads-before-switching-agencies/two-key-sets-handoff.jpg)

The new set works before the old set is handed back.

## Know Which Parts You Can Do Alone and Which Deserve a Second Pair of Eyes

You can run the access check and most of the exports yourself. Google provides every download control, and nothing in this checklist needs a vendor. Anyone who tells you that you must hire someone just to download a file is selling you a door you can open.

Some parts reward experienced help. Examples include interpreting what the exports say, matching conversions to qualified leads or booked jobs, finding tracking gaps, documenting integrations nobody remembers adding, and untangling a complex manager structure. Ask for the findings in writing, and expect no one to promise a result from the handoff.

If that describes your account, [pay-per-click management](https://webleveling.com/services/pay-per-click/) is where this kind of review usually begins. The exports above are what the person doing it will want to see first.

**Quiz: Are you ready to switch Google Ads agencies?**

1. What should you confirm before exporting anything?
   - That the old agency has sent a summary report
   - That a business-controlled email has Admin access **(correct answer)**
   - That a new Google Ads account has been created
   - That all campaigns are paused
2. A manager account is linked to your Google Ads account. What does that tell you?
   - The manager automatically owns your data
   - The manager must stay linked forever
   - A manager can run the account without being its administrative owner **(correct answer)**
   - Your reports can no longer be exported
3. When is the right moment to remove the old agency's users?
   - Right away, to avoid confusion
   - After the new access has been accepted and tested **(correct answer)**
   - Before you export anything
   - Only after you open a new account

## Frequently Asked Questions About Exporting Google Ads Data Before Switching Agencies

**What should I export before changing Google Ads agencies?**

Export the campaign, ad group, ad, keyword, search terms, location, device, conversion and change history reports. Then save the settings reports do not carry: conversion definitions, negative keyword lists, audiences, budgets, bid strategies, linked accounts, tags and billing records.

**How do I check whether I have Admin access?**

Open Admin, then Access and security, then Users. Look at the Access level column and confirm a business email you control shows Admin. Check the Managers tab separately for linked manager accounts.

**Does a manager account link mean the agency owns my account?**

No. Google says a manager can manage a client account without automatically becoming its administrative owner. Check the Managers tab to see which manager, if any, is marked as the owner.

**Does the Search terms report show every search?**

No. Google may omit low-volume searches for privacy. Export the report and search terms insights where they are available.

**Should I create a new Google Ads account for the new agency?**

Usually the existing account can stay in use, because Google provides user access, manager links and ownership controls. A new account would start without the history and settings you are saving.

**When should I remove the old agency from the account?**

After your business Admin is confirmed, the new operator has accepted access and signed in, and the exports and tracking notes are saved. Remove departing users last.

## Moving Forward

A single export does not preserve everything. Campaign access is not Admin access, a manager link is not ownership, and a campaign report does not carry conversion definitions, account links, billing records or change history. The Search terms report is not a complete list of every search. Save each piece in its own place, and keep the old agency in place until the new access has been accepted and tested.

Doing this once, with dated files and clear notes, gives the next team a running start instead of a blank page. You also leave with proof of spend and a record of what changed, which is useful if you ever question a report again. Save now, since there is no benefit in waiting.

If you want a second set of eyes, [Web Leveling](https://webleveling.com/) can review the exports with you, reconcile conversions with your leads and bookings, and document the tracking behind them. Our [Google Ads management](https://webleveling.com/services/google-ads-management/) team can then run the account in your name. We work with small and medium businesses across the country and overseas. [Tell us where your Google Ads account stands](https://webleveling.com/contact/), and we will tell you which parts you can finish yourself.

## Terms

Google Ads handoff words in this post

Tap a term to see what it means.

**Admin.** The highest user access level in a Google Ads account, able to invite, edit and remove users.

**Manager account.** A Google Ads account that can manage other accounts, often used by agencies.

**Owner manager.** The one manager that holds administrative ownership of a client account.

**Search terms report.** A list of searches that led to your ad being shown, with low-volume searches possibly omitted.

**Conversion action.** A customer action you choose to count, such as a form, a call or a purchase.

**Primary and Secondary.** Primary conversion actions feed the Conversions column and can guide bidding; Secondary ones are generally observation only.

**Change history.** The log of edits made in the account, with when each happened.

- [Demand Gen cost adjustments can run up to 60 days](https://webleveling.com/blog/demand-gen-cost-adjustments-60-days/): The beta cost adjustment for eligible Demand Gen Target CPA and Target ROAS campaigns can stay active up to 60 days. Judge results after enough conversions.
- [Google Ads lead form lead scoring: set it up to cut junk leads](https://webleveling.com/blog/google-ads-lead-form-lead-scoring/): Google Ads lead form lead scoring tags qualified leads by the answers you choose. See the setup steps, the limits, and how to send results back to bidding.
- [Google Ads channel prioritization: what to set, and when](https://webleveling.com/blog/google-ads-channel-prioritization-budget-allocation/): Google began rolling out channel prioritization and budget allocation on October 15, 2026. Check your account in ten minutes and see if a change fits.