It’s a tale as old as time: a colleague pings you a link to a crucial Google Analytics report. You click it, ready to find that key insight, but instead of data, you hit a familiar, frustrating wall:
Missing permissions
You do not have access to the account or property. Contact an Analytics administrator who has the Manage Users permission.
You stare at the screen in disbelief. "But I was just in that property five minutes ago! I know I have access!"
Nine times out of ten, you do have permission. The problem is getting Google to use the right account. In this guide, we'll explain why this happens and how to fix it for good—whether you're sharing the link or stuck staring at the error.
Why This Happens: The Multi-Account Maze
The problem isn't your permissions. It’s your browser's loyalty to the wrong Google account.
When you're signed into multiple Google accounts (work, personal, client, etc.), your browser designates one as the "default" (authuser=0). When you click a GA4 link, it automatically tries to open it with that default account.
If your default account is your personal Gmail, Google will show the "Missing permissions" error, completely ignoring the fact that another one of your logged-in accounts does have access.
The Old Way vs. The One-Click Fix
For years, the only solutions were painfully manual:
- The "GA4 Shuffle": Copy the URL, open a new browser profile, paste, log in, and hope you pick the right account.
- The Interrogation: Ask the person who shared the link which property and report it is, then navigate there yourself.
Both are slow, tedious, and pull you right out of your workflow.
Our free GA4 Optimizer extension ends this frustration.
The moment it detects the "Missing permissions" error, it adds a new, smarter button to the dialog box:
When you click "Try Another Account," the extension instantly reloads the link using your next signed-in Google account (authuser=1, then authuser=2, etc.). You just click until the report loads.
No more copying links. No more switching profiles. Just one click.
How to Make Sure Your Shared Links Actually Work
If you're the one sharing GA4 links, how do you prevent this headache for your team?
The best practice involves two simple steps:
1. Share the Right Way:
- For Standard Reports: Navigate to the report, click the "Share this report" icon in the top-right, and select "Copy Link".
- For Exploration Reports: First, click the "Share Exploration" icon (two-person icon) in the top right corner. This makes the report read-only for others. Then, you can copy the URL from your browser to share.
2. Share the Solution:
Advise your team to install the free GA4 Optimizer extension.
When everyone has the tool, the multi-account problem disappears. Links just work. This is just one of over 15+ features we've built to make your work in GA4 easier so you can find insights faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does GA4 say 'You do not have access to the account or property' when I know I do?
A: This error almost always occurs when you are logged into multiple Google accounts. GA4 is trying to open the link with your default account (often a personal one) instead of the account that has the correct permissions. The GA4 Optimizer extension fixes this by letting you instantly retry the link with your other accounts.
Q: How do I fix a shared GA4 report link that isn't working?
A: The fastest and easiest solution is to use the free GA4 Optimizer browser extension. It adds a 'Try Another Account' button to the error message, which lets you cycle through your logged-in Google accounts with one click until you find the one with access.
Q: How do I share a Standard report in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)?
A: To share a Standard report, navigate to it, click the 'Share this report' icon in the top-right corner, and select 'Copy Link'. You can also just copy the URL from your browser. Be aware that colleagues may still encounter the multi-account permissions error.
Q: How do I share an Exploration report in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)?
A: To share an Exploration report, first click the 'Share Exploration' icon in the top right to make it read-only for others. Then, you can copy the URL from your browser to share the link. Recommending a tool like GA4 Optimizer can help your colleagues avoid permission errors.