Lost Access to Your Google Business Profile? Here's What to Do

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Can't see the management options when you open your profile to change your hours, or can't remember which account you created it with? This is common. Losing access to a Google Business Profile usually doesn't mean it was deleted: the profile, your reviews and photos are still there; the only unknown is who holds the authorized account.

We tackle it in four steps: finding the account, recovering it, asking another owner for access and, as a last resort, requesting ownership through Google. The final section helps you avoid a repeat.

First, find which account holds the profile

Problems that start with "I can't get into my Google business account" sometimes come down to signing in with the wrong account. First think about who might have created the profile: you, an employee, the person who built your website, a past agency, or a family member. Then:

1. List every Google account you use. Personal email, company email, accounts you opened years ago and forgot.
2. Sign in with each account separately and look for your profile in Business Profile Manager or by searching for your business on Google. According to Google's help page, if you don't see the "Own this business?" button when you search for your profile, that account may already own it.
3. Search your inboxes. Whichever address got Google's verification, performance or profile notification emails most likely holds the profile.
4. Ask people who may have created the profile for you. A former employee, web designer or agency may have linked the profile to their own account.

These steps answer "who has my Google Business Profile?" Found the account but can't get in? Go to the next section. If it belongs to someone else, see the sections on access and ownership.

Account recovery

You access Business Profile through your Google Account, so Google Business Profile account recovery really means recovering the linked Google Account: when it comes back, so does the profile.

If you forgot your password, your phone number changed, or you can't get your 2-Step Verification codes, follow Google's account recovery steps. Helpful points:

• Try from a device you often used with this account, in a familiar location; for example, the work computer you use every day.
• Answer questions as closely as you can rather than leaving them blank; for example, enter the most recent password you know.
• If you added a recovery phone or recovery email to the account earlier, remember that codes will go there.
• Once recovery succeeds, update your recovery information right away.

Two security rules: Don't share your password or a verification code you receive with anyone; people who ask for a code saying "let's recover your account" may be scammers. Google's help page also says there's no need to share passwords to manage a profile, and that each user should be added with their own Google Account.

If the account belongs to a former employee or someone else, don't try to recover it; use the paths below.

Asking another owner for access

If someone still has access to the profile (your partner, your former agency or an employee), the fastest route is for them to add you. Google has two roles:

• Owner: Has full control of the profile; can add and remove users and delete the profile. A profile can have more than one owner but only one primary owner.
• Manager: Does almost the same work as an owner, but can't add or remove users or delete the profile.

This distinction matters: if the person with access is only a manager, they can't add you; you need to reach an owner. The owner adds you under More > Business Profile settings > People and access: they select Add, enter your email address, set the access level to Owner and send the invitation. Once you accept, you're in. Details are on Google's manage owners and managers page; we explain the difference between roles and how to give an agency access in our article Adding managers to your Google Business Profile and user roles.

As a new owner, you must wait 7 days for some actions. According to Google's help page, during this time you can't delete the profile, remove other owners or managers, or transfer primary ownership. For example, if you're parting ways with an agency, get added as an owner first, wait for this period to end, ask for primary ownership to be transferred to you, and only then remove the old access.

Make your request in writing, naming the exact email address to add as owner, so the invitation doesn't go to the wrong account.

Moving on to an ownership request

If you can't reach anyone with access, or they won't add you, you can request ownership through Google. For businesses with a physical storefront or hybrid businesses, Google's help page gives these steps:

1. In your browser, go to business.google.com/add.
2. Enter your business name and address.
3. Select your business from the list; you'll see a message that another user may be managing the profile.
4. Select Request access, fill in the form and submit it.

After your request, you receive a confirmation email. The current owner is notified by email and given 3 days to respond. If the owner approves, you start managing the profile; if they deny it, you can suggest profile edits or try to appeal. If the period ends with no response, you can claim the profile and verify your business using the steps in the confirmation email. Google notes that this option may not always be available. Google chooses the verification method; to prepare, see our article on Google Business Profile verification.

For service-area businesses without a storefront that serve customers at their locations, Google asks you to contact it directly about ownership transfer. Full details are on Google's request ownership page.

The outcome is Google's decision, and no exact time can be given. Meanwhile, don't create a second profile for the same business: more than one profile for the same place breaks Google's rules and makes the problem worse, not better.

So you never lose access again

• Make the business itself the primary owner. Keep the profile in a Google Account tied to a permanent business email address. Google also recommends linking your company email address to your Google Account.
• Set up at least two owners. If one account gets locked, you carry on with the other.
• Give your agency and employees the manager role. They can do day-to-day work with it; the power to add and remove users stays with the business.
• Keep recovery information current and turn on 2-Step Verification. Store backup codes somewhere safe.
• Remove a departing employee's access the same day. Review the People and access list every few months.
• Keep a short access log: which account holds the profile, who has which role, when the list was last checked.

If you can't connect your profile yourself or want to set things up correctly from the start, BadePlus's map setup service guides you through connecting the existing profile to you and the verification steps Google asks for. Approval of the profile is still Google's decision.

Frequently asked questions

My agency won't release the profile. What can I do?

First, ask in writing for them to add you as an owner and transfer primary ownership to you. If that doesn't work, you can request ownership through Google; the decision is Google's.

Wouldn't opening a new profile be faster?

Opening a second profile for the same place breaks Google's rules. The two listings get mixed up, and your reviews and history stay on the old profile. Regaining access to the existing profile is the right way.

How long does an ownership request take?

The current owner gets 3 days to respond. After that, it depends on Google's review, and no exact time can be given.

Summary

• First find which Google account holds the profile; Google notifications in your email offer a clue.
• If the account is yours, follow the Google Account recovery steps; don't share passwords or verification codes.
• An owner with access can add you under People and access; managers can't add users.
• If you can't reach anyone, request ownership; the current owner gets 3 days, and the decision is Google's.
• Make the business's own account the primary owner and set up at least two owners.