## **🔍 Overview**

Your primary email address in Search Atlas is locked to the account you created at sign-up. This is a security measure that protects your account from unauthorized changes. However, if you use a different Google account for your Google Business Profile or Google Ads, Search Atlas provides a straightforward way to connect those accounts through the Integrations workflow — no need to change your primary email.

## **❓ Why Can't I Change My Primary Email Address?**

Search Atlas ties your primary email address to your account identity at the time of registration. This lock exists for two key reasons:

- **Account security:** Preventing email changes stops bad actors from hijacking accounts by swapping the login credential.
- **Billing and subscription integrity:** Your primary email is linked to your subscription record. Changing it could disrupt invoices, renewal notices, and payment verification.

Because of these constraints, the primary email field is not editable from within the platform settings. If your organization has rebranded or you are using a different email for day-to-day work, the solution is to connect additional Google accounts rather than replace the primary address.

## **✅ How to Add an Alternate Google Account via Integrations**

If your Google Business Profile or Google Ads account is managed under a different email address, you can link that Google account to Search Atlas through the Integrations section. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to Search Atlas using your primary account credentials.
2. Click your avatar in the top-right corner (Account Menu) to open the account menu.
3. Navigate to **Site Metrics → GSC Performance** (Your connected GSC Accounts).
4. Locate the **Connect GSC Account** and **Connect GA Account** buttons and click the appropriate one.
5. A Google OAuth window will open. Sign in with the Google account that is associated with your Google Business Profile or Google Ads — this can be a completely different email from your Search Atlas login.
6. Grant the requested permissions and click **Allow**.
7. Once connected, the alternate Google account will appear as an active integration in your Integrations list.

You can repeat this process to connect more than one Google account if your Google Ads and Google Business Profile are managed under separate emails.

## **📢 How This Affects the Google Ads Feature**

The Google Ads features inside Search Atlas pull data directly from the Google account connected through your Integrations, **not** from your Search Atlas primary email. This means:

- If your Google Ads account is managed under a different email than your Search Atlas login, you must connect that Google account via Integrations for the Google Ads features to work correctly.
- Updating your Google Business Profile to use a new or different email address will **not** break the Google Ads integration as long as the Google account you connected through Integrations still has manager or owner access to the relevant Google Ads account.
- If you transfer ownership of your Google Ads account to a new Google email, you will need to disconnect the old Google integration and reconnect using the new account owner's credentials.

In short: Search Atlas reads Google Ads data through the OAuth token of the connected Google account. Keep that connected account active and correctly permissioned, and the feature will work regardless of what email appears on your Google Business Profile.

## **🔄 Managing and Reconnecting Google Integrations**

If your Google Ads data stops syncing or you see an authentication error, your OAuth token may have expired or been revoked. To fix this:

1. Go to **Site Metrics → GSC Performance** (Your connected GSC Accounts).
2. Find the affected Google account and click **Disconnect**.
3. Click **Connect GSC Account** or **Connect GA Account** and complete the Google sign-in flow again with the correct account.
4. Allow up to 24 hours for data to refresh after reconnecting.

## **⚠️ Key Limitations to Keep in Mind**

- Your Search Atlas **primary email cannot be changed** under any circumstance from within the platform.
- Connecting a Google account does not merge it with your Search Atlas login — it only grants Search Atlas read access to that Google account's data.
- Removing a connected Google account will immediately pause any Google Ads data syncing tied to that account.
- Only users with **Admin** or **Owner** roles in Search Atlas can add or remove integrations.

## **💬 Need More Help?**

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be connected with a member of our team.