How to Share Google Search Console Access with Your SEO Agency
Handing over your Search Console data can feel risky, but sharing access is both safer and simpler than exporting spreadsheets and emailing them around. This guide explains the permission levels, how to add a user, and how to take access back whenever you want.
Why share access instead of sending exports
Exports are snapshots. A shared connection gives ongoing, read-only visibility into how your site performs over time, which is what real SEO work needs. It also avoids the most common mess: three versions of a CSV with different date ranges floating around in email threads.
What permission levels exist in GSC
Search Console offers two levels:
- Full: the user can see almost all data and can change some settings.
- Restricted: view-only for performance and most reports. This is what an external partner usually needs.
For an auditor or agency, Restricted is enough. If a partner asks for Full when they only need to read data, ask why.
How to add a user, step by step
Step 1: Open Users and permissions
In Search Console, pick the property, then open Settings in the left menu and choose Users and permissions.
Step 2: Click Add user
Enter the email address of the person you are giving access to. It must be a Google account.
Step 3: Choose the permission level
Set Restricted for read-only work, or Full if you genuinely need settings access. When in doubt, start Restricted and upgrade later.
Step 4: Confirm
Click Add. The person gets an email and sees the property in their own Search Console within a few minutes.
Verifying and revoking access
You stay in control. Open Users and permissions any time to see exactly who has access, change their level, or remove them with a single click. Removing access is instant, which makes sharing far safer than forwarding data files.
What happens once access is shared
With read-only access, an auditor can pull your full performance history, spot the queries sitting just outside the top results, and prioritise fixes by impact. The reports are based on your live data, not a stale export.
That is exactly what our Google Search Console audit does. Whether you send a ZIP export or share read-only access, you get a prioritised, plain-English report of what to change first.
FAQ
Do you need my password?
No. Adding a user in GSC grants access without ever sharing a password.
Can I remove access later?
Yes, instantly, from the same Users and permissions screen.
How many users can I add?
There is a generous limit, well above what a normal team needs.