Where to Find Your AdWords Account Number (Customer ID)

No one wakes up excited to hunt for a 10-digit number hidden in a Google interface. But if you run PPC (or you’re wrangling campaigns for a client), you’ll be asked for your Google Ads Customer ID, often called your AdWords account number. 

Agencies need it to request access, support asks for it on chats, devs use it for integrations, and your digital marketing team needs it when linking other tools. So let’s get this sorted, quickly, clearly, and with minimal faff.

First, What Exactly Is It?

Your Customer ID (CID) is a 10-digit number formatted like 123-456-7890. It identifies your Google Ads account, take it as a licence plate, not a password. You can share it with trusted partners (e.g., PPC agencies in Glasgow you’re onboarding, or your in-house devs. Some third-party tools might ask you to enter it without the dashes, a tiny but important detail.

Common moments you’ll need it:

• Granting an agency access via their manager (MCC) account
  
• Opening a support ticket or live chat with Google
  
• Connecting products (GA4/Google Analytics, Merchant Center, Looker Studio)
  
• Setting up scripts, API jobs, or server-side tagging (hello, dev friends)
  
• Tidying your stack as part of ongoing website maintenance

The Fast Ways to Find Your Customer ID 

Pick whichever is nearest to your mouse:

Path A: Profile picture (top-right)

1. Sign in to Google Ads.
   
2. Click your profile picture (top-right).
   
3. Under Account information, you’ll see Customer ID. Copy it (with dashes). If a tool asks for “numbers only,” paste then remove the dashes.

Path B: Top bar (next to account name)

Sometimes you’ll see the CID shown in the header near your account name. It looks like 123-456-7890. Copy… done.

Path C: The “?” Help menu

Click the ? icon (top-right). In many layouts, Google shows the Account ID at the bottom of that panel. Handy if you’re already mid-chat with support.

Path D: In the URL (power move)

Certain pages expose the CID inside the address bar (e.g., …/cid=1234567890). Not always, but worth a quick glance when you’re already deep in a settings page.

Manager Accounts (MCC): Which ID Do You Give?

If you’re an agency, freelancer, or you’ve got multiple brands under one roof, you might use a Manager Account (MCC). Manager accounts have their own Customer ID and they link to child accounts (the actual advertising accounts). Which ID should you hand out or use in integrations? Two common rules of thumb:

You’re granting an agency access to your ad account:

Share your ad account’s CID (the 10-digit number for the child account). They’ll send a request from their MCC, you approve it, job done.

You’re wiring up conversions/settings that live at the manager level:

Some setups place conversion tracking or shared assets at the MCC level. In those cases, tools may need the manager CID. When in doubt, ask your agency which level holds the conversions.

If you have MCC access yourself and need to check:

Go to Accounts – Sub-account settings and look for the conversion account or similar columns. If it points to “client,” use the child CID. If it points to “this manager,” use the MCC CID. (This saves a lot of back-and-forth with support.)

“I Can’t See It!” Quick Troubleshooting

• Wrong account: If you’ve got multiple logins (personal, work, agency), you may be in the wrong Google account entirely. Click your profile picture and switch.
  
• Permissions: View-only access still shows the CID, but if you don’t see the account at all, you might not be on the right client or property.
  
• UI refresh: Google tweaks layouts. Check all three spots, profile menu, header, and ? menu.
  
• Copy carefully: If a tool rejects the number, try pasting without the dashes.

Why Your Team Keeps Asking for the CID 

Think of the CID as the glue between systems. You’ll use it to:

• Invite partners (agencies, freelancers) who manage white label SEO, Content Marketing, Email Marketing, and, of course, PPC.
  
• Hook up GA4, Merchant Center, and other platforms so your reporting pipeline doesn’t wobble.
  
• Configure scripts or APIs, useful if your catalogue is driven by programmatic SEO (pSEO) templates and you’re pushing lots of product variants.
  
• Speed up support chats so you’re not digging through inboxes mid-issue.

If you run ads across regions (UK + EU) or you’re coordinating with Top WordPress developers in London/Manchester on landing pages, pop the CID into your internal docs or onboarding form. 

Mighty Admin Tips

• Standardise how you store it: Keep the CID in your marketing wiki/Notion along with billing info, users, and account notes.
  
• Note the format requirement: “Enter without dashes” crops up in some integrations, stick a reminder next to the number.
  
• Keep it with your account name: If you manage multiple brands, label them like Acme UK — 123-456-7890. Avoids mix-ups when your PPC London team jumps between accounts.
  
• Tie it to page owners: If you’ve got a landing-page squad, list who to ping when access or tags need changing.

Granting (and Approving) Access the Right Way

Most of the time you’ll share your Customer ID (CID) so an agency or freelancer can connect through their manager account (MCC). The dance looks like this:

Step 1 (You give the CID)

Share your 10-digit ID (e.g., 123-456-7890). If they’re filling a form that wants digits only, remind them to drop the dashes.

Step 2 (They send the request)

From their MCC, they’ll link existing accounts and paste your CID.

Step 3 (You approve it)

In Google Ads: Tools & Settings – Access and security – Managers. You’ll see a pending request. Click Accept. Done.

How to Dodge Common Mishaps

1) Sharing the wrong CID

If you manage several brands, it’s easy to copy the MCC’s ID by accident. Confirm the account name matches the one you’re advertising from. (Use that “Acme UK — 123-456-7890” naming pattern.)

2) Dashes vs. no dashes

Some integrations want the CID with dashes, some without. If a field rejects your entry, paste digits only.

3) Not being an admin

You can find the number without admin rights, but you can’t approve a manager link. If you don’t see Accept under Access and security – Managers, ask an admin.

4) Multiple Google profiles

You’re signed into your personal Gmail, looking at a different set of accounts. Click your profile picture and switch to the right profile.

5) Linking the wrong property

In GA4/Merchant Center, double-check you’re linking the correct CID. If your reporting looks off, it often is, wrong account selected at link-time.

6) Forgetting why you linked

Once it’s connected, finish the job: import conversions, share audiences, or confirm auto-tagging.

Frequently asked questions

The most common questions we get asked.

Is the Customer ID sensitive?

It’s an identifier, not a password. Share it with trusted partners only. Access still needs approval on your side.

Why can’t my agency see my account after I shared the ID?

Because you haven’t approved the link yet. Head to Tools & Settings – Access and security – Managers and accept the request.

My tool rejects the ID. What now?

Try pasting the digits without dashes. If it still fails, confirm you’re using the client CID, not the MCC ID.

We advertise in multiple regions, any tips?

Keep a tiny register: Region – Ad account name – CID – Billing owner – GA4 property. It avoids messy permissions and keeps your PPC and web development Edinburgh teams aligned.