Multiple Account Sign-In Issues

Problem

You encounter errors or issues when:

• Multiple Google accounts are signed in at the same time
• You're switching between different Google accounts
• Two Minute Reports authenticates with the wrong account
• You get permission errors even though you should have access

This typically happens when you have more than one Google account logged in simultaneously in the same browser.

Why This Happens

When multiple Google accounts are signed into the same browser session, Looker Studio, Google Sheets, and Two Minute Reports may:

• Authenticate with the wrong account by default
• Use one account's permissions while you're expecting another's
• Cause confusion about which account owns a report or data source
• Lead to permission denied errors when trying to access shared resources

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: You have a personal Google account and a work account both signed in. When you try to access TMR, it uses your personal account, but the report belongs to your work account.

Scenario 2: You're trying to authenticate a new data source in TMR. It authenticates with your old account instead of your new account, causing permission issues.

Scenario 3: You created a report with Account A, but later logged in with Account B, and now you can't access the report.

Solution: Manage Your Google Account Sessions

Quick Fix: Use Incognito/Private Window

For a quick test or one-time access with a specific account:

1. Open an Incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows, Cmd+Shift+N on Mac)
2. Sign in with the specific Google account you want to use
3. Access Looker Studio or Google Sheets
4. Use TMR in this isolated session
5. Close the Incognito window when done

This ensures only one account is active and prevents conflicts.

Recommended: Use Separate Browser Profiles

For ongoing work with multiple accounts, use Chrome's Profile feature:

1. Open Chrome Settings (click the profile icon in top-right)
2. Click "Manage your Google Account" or "+ Add another person"
3. Create a new Chrome profile for each Google account you use
4. Switch between profiles as needed (click the profile icon in the top-right)
5. Sign in with a different Google account in each profile
6. Each profile maintains separate cookies, logins, and sessions

Option: Sign Out of Other Accounts

If you only need one account active at a time:

1. Go to accounts.google.com
2. Click "Your account" in the top-right
3. Select "Sign out of all other accounts"
4. Confirm you want to sign out of all other sessions
5. Only your current account will remain signed in

Best Practices to Avoid Conflicts

1. Be Clear About Which Account to Use

Before accessing a report or creating a data source:

• Decide which Google account you need to use
• Ensure only that account is actively signed in (or use an Incognito window)
• Verify you're using the right account before proceeding

2. Use Consistent Email Addresses

When a team owner adds you to a team:

• Make sure they use the same email you use to sign into Looker Studio
• If you have multiple email addresses, pick one and stick with it
• Avoid switching between personal and work email accounts for the same resources

3. Label Accounts Clearly

In your browser profiles or account manager:

• Name profiles clearly: "Work Account", "Personal Account", etc.
• Keep different purposes in different profiles
• Avoid confusion about which account is active

4. Test Account Access Before Sharing

Before sharing a report:

1. Sign in with each team member's email address
2. Verify they can access the report
3. Ensure data sources are properly connected
4. Test in both Looker Studio and Google Sheets if applicable

Troubleshooting Steps

Problem: "Permission Denied" Error

1. Check which Google account you're currently signed into
2. Verify this is the account that was added to the TMR team
3. If it's the wrong account, sign out and sign in with the correct one
4. Or ask the team owner to add your current email address to the team

See Permission Denied Errors for detailed solutions.

Problem: Data Source Authentication Fails

1. Ensure you're signed into the Google account that will own the data source
2. Check which Google account is currently active (click your profile icon)
3. If it's wrong, sign out of other accounts first
4. Then authenticate the data source with the correct account
5. The data source will be owned by whichever account authenticates it

Problem: Creating a Report From a Template

When copying a template report:

1. Sign in with your work Google account (the one you want to use with TMR)
2. Make a copy of the template in Looker Studio
3. Re-authenticate all data sources with your account
4. Don't sign into your personal account while setting this up
5. Test in an Incognito window with your personal account to verify others can access it

Problem: Can't Remember Which Account to Use

1. Check your email inbox for invitations from the team owner
2. The email account that received the invitation is the one to use
3. Or ask the team owner which email they added to the team
4. Use that email address to sign in

Using Multiple Accounts Safely

If you regularly work with multiple Google accounts, follow this workflow:

1. Create separate Chrome profiles for each account
2. In each profile, sign in with one Google account only
3. Switch profiles when you need to use a different account
4. Each profile maintains separate TMR logins and report access
5. You can work with multiple accounts simultaneously without conflicts

Browser Extensions and Third-Party Tools

Some extensions help manage multiple Google accounts:

• Google Account Manager (Chrome Web Store)
• Accounts extension
• Gmail Account Switcher

These can make it easier to switch between accounts without signing out and back in.

Prevention Going Forward

• Use separate Chrome profiles for different Google accounts
• When adding team members, always verify their email address first
• Document which email address you use for TMR in your team
• Test access with all team members before fully deploying a report

Still Having Issues?

If you've tried all solutions and still have problems with multiple accounts:

1. Document your setup: Which accounts do you have? Which one should own the report?
2. Take a screenshot of the error message
3. Note which account is currently signed in (visible in the top-right)
4. Contact [email protected] with these details

Our support team can help:

• Verify the correct email address in your team
• Move resources between accounts if needed
• Set up proper access controls for multiple team members