Remove User Access - LinkedIn Ads | OpsBlu Docs

Remove User Access - LinkedIn Ads

How to revoke user access and offboard team members from LinkedIn Ads. Covers account deletion, API key revocation, partial access removal, and...

Overview

Removing user access revokes all permissions immediately. Users can no longer access the ad account, view campaigns, or make changes. Removal is permanent but users can be re-added later if needed.

When to Remove Access

Common Scenarios

Employment Changes:

  • Employee termination
  • Employee departure
  • Role change (user no longer needs access)
  • Internal transfer

External Relationships:

  • Contract completion
  • Agency relationship ends
  • Consultant project finishes
  • Partner agreement terminates

Security Concerns:

  • Compromised account
  • Unauthorized access detected
  • Compliance violation
  • Security audit requirement

Housekeeping:

  • Inactive user cleanup
  • Access audit findings
  • Duplicate account removal
  • Role consolidation

Prerequisites

  • Account Manager role on the ad account
  • Verification of which user to remove
  • Confirmation removal is authorized
  • Plan for asset ownership transfer (if needed)

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Access Campaign Manager

  1. Log in to LinkedIn Campaign Manager
  2. Select correct ad account (top-left dropdown)

Critical: Verify correct account before removing users.

Step 2: Navigate to User Management

  1. Click account name > Settings
  2. Select Manage access
  3. View current user list

Step 3: Remove User

  1. Find user in the list
  2. Click Remove, Delete, or X icon next to user's name
  3. Confirm removal when prompted
  4. User immediately loses access

Alternative method:

  • Some interfaces: Click on user > More menu > Remove

Step 4: Verify Removal

  1. Check user no longer appears in list
  2. Refresh page to confirm
  3. User access revoked immediately

User impact:

  • Loses all access to ad account
  • Can no longer log in to Campaign Manager for this account
  • Cannot view campaigns or reports
  • All permissions removed

Special Considerations

Removing Last Account Manager

Cannot remove:

  • Every account must have at least one Account Manager
  • LinkedIn prevents removal of last Account Manager

Solution:

  1. Add another user as Account Manager first
  2. Verify new Account Manager has access
  3. Then remove original Account Manager

Removing Yourself

You can:

  • Remove your own access if not last Account Manager
  • Useful when leaving role

You cannot:

  • Remove yourself if you're the last Account Manager
  • Must add another Account Manager first

Best practice: Have another Account Manager remove your access.

Active Campaign Impact

Removing user does NOT:

  • Pause or stop campaigns
  • Delete campaigns they created
  • Remove their historical changes
  • Affect campaign performance
  • Change billing settings

Campaigns continue running - only user access is removed.

Before Removing Access

Pre-Removal Checklist

1. Verify Removal is Appropriate

  • Confirmed with manager/HR
  • Authorization documented
  • Business justification clear

2. Check for Critical Responsibilities

  • User managing active campaigns?
  • User only person with certain knowledge?
  • Transition plan in place?

3. Asset Ownership Transfer

  • Saved audiences user created
  • Lead gen forms user manages
  • Scheduled reports user set up
  • Custom dashboards user built

4. Ensure Account Manager Coverage

  • If removing Account Manager, another exists?
  • Billing contacts updated?
  • Payment methods accessible?

5. Document Removal

  • Screenshot user list before removal
  • Record reason for removal
  • Note date and who authorized

After Removing Access

Immediate Actions

1. Verify Removal

  • User no longer in access list
  • Take screenshot for records
  • Confirm user cannot log in (if possible)

2. Update Documentation

  • Remove from internal access roster
  • Update organizational charts
  • Note in access log
  • Close related tickets/requests

3. Transfer Ownership (if needed)

  • Reassign saved audiences
  • Update lead form access
  • Transfer scheduled reports
  • Document handoff

4. Communication

Notify stakeholders:

  • HR/Manager (confirmation of removal)
  • IT (for related system access)
  • Team (if needed for awareness)

Example email:

Subject: LinkedIn Campaign Manager Access Removed

[Manager/HR contact],

User access removed from LinkedIn Campaign Manager:

Account: [Account Name]
User: [Email address]
Role: [Previous role]
Removed by: [Your name]
Date: [Date]
Reason: [Brief reason]

Access has been revoked and user can no longer access the account.

[Your Name]

Asset Transfer

Saved Audiences

User-created audiences:

  • Matched audiences may show creator name
  • Audiences remain functional after user removal
  • No automatic transfer needed
  • Can be edited by remaining users with access

Lead Gen Forms

Form ownership:

  • Forms continue collecting leads
  • Download access based on role, not creator
  • Campaign Managers can still download
  • No transfer action needed

Scheduled Reports

Email reports:

  • User's email may be in recipient list
  • Remove from scheduled report recipients
  • Update report distribution list

Process:

  1. Review scheduled reports
  2. Check recipient lists
  3. Remove departed user's email
  4. Add replacement if needed

Troubleshooting

Cannot Remove User

Error when trying to remove:

Check:

  1. You have Account Manager role?
  2. User is not the last Account Manager?
  3. Correct account selected?

Solutions:

  • Verify your permissions
  • Add another Account Manager first (if removing last one)
  • Try different browser
  • Contact LinkedIn support

User Still Has Access

After removal, user can still log in:

Verify:

  1. Removal completed successfully?
  2. User appears in access list?
  3. Correct account being checked?
  4. User has access to different ad account?

Solutions:

  • Check user list (refresh page)
  • Verify correct account selected
  • Remove again if still appears
  • User may have access via different account

Accidentally Removed Wrong User

Quick recovery:

  1. Immediately re-add user
  2. Send invitation
  3. User accepts
  4. Access restored

Note:

  • No data lost
  • Campaigns unaffected
  • Re-invitation required
  • User will notice interruption

Best Practices

Timing

Remove access:

  • Immediately for terminations
  • On last day for departures with notice
  • After transition for role changes
  • Promptly when contract ends

Don't delay - security risk increases with time.

Process

  1. Authorization - Get approval before removing
  2. Documentation - Record before and after state
  3. Transition - Plan knowledge/asset transfer
  4. Execution - Remove access promptly
  5. Verification - Confirm removal completed
  6. Communication - Notify relevant parties

Security

Offboarding security:

  • Remove access same day as departure
  • Don't wait for transition completion
  • Downgrade to Viewer if transition needed
  • Remove completely after transition
  • Monitor for unauthorized access attempts

Compliance

Audit requirements:

  • Screenshot before removal
  • Document authorization
  • Record date/time
  • Note who performed removal
  • Maintain audit trail

Multiple Account Removal

User Has Access to Multiple Accounts

Process:

  1. List all accounts user has access to
  2. Remove from each account individually
  3. No bulk removal option in UI
  4. Check each account's user list

Account Manager perspective:

  • Must have Account Manager on each account
  • Remove from each separately
  • Use checklist to track

Example checklist:

User: john@example.com

[ ] Account A - Marketing
[ ] Account B - Sales
[ ] Account C - Product
[X] Removal completed and verified

Re-Adding Removed Users

If User Was Removed by Mistake

Process:

  1. Follow Add User Access guide
  2. Send new invitation
  3. User accepts invitation
  4. Access restored

Note:

  • Same as adding new user
  • Previous role not saved
  • Must select role again
  • New invitation required

If User Needs Access Again Later

Same process:

  • User is not "in system" after removal
  • Must be re-added completely
  • No faster path for re-adds
  • Treat as new user addition

Documentation Template

Removal Log Entry

Access Removal Record

User: john@example.com
Account: Company XYZ - LinkedIn Ads
Previous Role: Campaign Manager

Removal Date: 2024-01-31
Removed by: admin@company.com
Authorized by: Jane Smith (HR)

Reason: Employment terminated
Asset transfer: None required
Notification sent: Yes

Screenshot saved: /path/to/screenshot.png
Audit ticket: TICKET-12345

Compliance Scenarios

Employee Termination

Immediate removal:

  1. HR notifies of termination
  2. Remove access immediately
  3. Don't wait for transition
  4. Document authorization
  5. Notify stakeholders

GDPR Right to be Forgotten

If user requests data deletion:

LinkedIn access removal:

  • Remove from Campaign Manager
  • Historical data remains (campaign changes, etc.)
  • LinkedIn's data policy applies
  • User's personal LinkedIn profile separate

Note: Removing Campaign Manager access doesn't delete user's personal LinkedIn data.

Security Incident

Compromised account:

  1. Remove access immediately
  2. Document incident
  3. Change account passwords if applicable
  4. Review access logs
  5. Report to security team
  6. Follow incident response process

Common Questions

Q: Will campaigns stop running? A: No, campaigns continue normally.

Q: Will we lose historical data? A: No, all historical data preserved.

Q: Can we see who created campaigns? A: Historical attribution remains but may show email address.

Q: Can user be re-added? A: Yes, send new invitation anytime.

Q: Is there a waiting period? A: No, re-add immediately if needed.

Q: Does removal notify the user? A: No automatic notification sent.

Next Steps

After removing user:

  1. Verify removal completed
  2. Update documentation in access log
  3. Transfer assets if needed
  4. Notify stakeholders of removal
  5. Review other access user may have had

Summary

Removing user access from LinkedIn Campaign Manager:

  1. Settings > Manage access
  2. Find user and click Remove
  3. Confirm removal
  4. Verify user removed from list
  5. Document removal

Key points:

  • Access revoked immediately
  • Campaigns continue running
  • User can be re-added later
  • No data lost
  • Document all removals
  • Remove promptly for security
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