If you're managing multiple Facebook ad accounts, one of the major headaches is granting permissions to various team members, which often requires access to their personal Facebook accounts. This process is further complicated by the need to adjust permissions when team members leave and transfer them to new staff.
Leveraging a Facebook / Meta System User could be a great solution for you, as it provides a single point of connection that doesn't require individual Facebook accounts to be connected to Adpulse.
Once you have created a Meta System User and assigned it to your Ad Accounts, you'll need to connect it to the Adpulse business App. The steps for this are below.
Here is the documentation from Meta:
Before you connect your System User to Adpulse, you'll need to contact Adpulse to get the ID of the Adpulse Facebook app. Send an email to [email protected]
What Are Facebook System Users?
In Meta / Facebook's Business Manager, a Meta System User is essentially a non-human account representing a server, app, or automation process that makes API calls on behalf of a business.
They are used to programmatically manage assets (e.g., ad accounts, pages, campaigns) without relying on a person’s individual Facebook login.
There are typically two types:
Admin system user — has wide permissions like creating other system users, assigning assets, etc.
Regular system user — has more limited permissions; only accesses assets explicitly granted to them.
We'd recommend using a Regular System User to integrate with Adpulse
There are a few steps to get this working, but the process is relatively straightforward.
1. Set up a Meta System User and assign it to your ad accounts
First, you need to follow the steps as outlined here: Add system users to your business portfolio. There are:
Go to Settings in Meta Business Suite.
In the Users tab in the left sidebar, select System users.
Click Add new system user (choose Regular system user)
Give a name to the system user and click Create system user.
Assign your ad accounts to the new user under assets
Once you have assigned it to a few ad accounts, you'll need to connect it to Adpulse:
2. Connect your Meta System User to the Adpulse Facebook App
Here are the steps in the Meta documentation: Add apps to your business portfolio
Before you start, you'll need to contact Adpulse to get the ID of the Adpulse Facebook app. Send an email to [email protected]
Go to Settings in Meta Business Suite or Business settings in Business Manager.
Under Accounts, click Apps.
Click the Add drop-down menu.
Select Connect an app ID.
Select 'Request access to an app ID
Enter the Adpulse app ID.
Click Add app
3. Connect your Meta System User to Adpulse
In your Facebook Business Manager;
Navigate to Users > System Users
Select the one you have created to connect with Adpulse
Click Generate new token.
Select the Adpulse app and your permissions, then click Generate token.
The permissions you need are;
ads_read, ads_management)
Copy and save your token.
In Adpulse;
Navigate to Settings > Integration > Ad Platforms
Click on Add Facebook System User
Enter the token you generated above, and enter a simple name so it's easy to identify
4. Import your ad account to Adpulse
Your Facebook ad accounts will now appear under Settings > Ad Accounts> Not Imported, so you can import them to Adpulse.
Sync your ad accounts in Adpulse
If you add your System User to more Ad Accounts in Facebook, you'll need to re-sync the permissions. This is done automatically every 6 hours, but if you want them to appear quicker, you can do a manual sync:
Navigate to Settings > Integration > Ad Platforms
Using the triple dot menu for the System User connection, select 'Sync'
