What YouTube access should an agency get?

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Decide what the agency must do Match the task list to a role before inviting anyone.Verify: Confirm whether the agency needs to add or remove other users.
• Avoid sharing your password Use channel permissions or Brand Account permissions instead.Verify: Check that no password has been sent to the agency.
• Share safety guidance Share the safety article with the agency before granting access.Verify: Confirm the agency received the safety information.

How YouTube handles this

• Channel permissions let a creator give someone access to their channel without giving access to their Google Account.
• The Manager role can add or remove others and edit channel details.
• The Editor role can edit all channel details.
• The Viewer role can view, but not edit, all channel details.

Step by step

1. Decide the task before the role List what the agency needs to do on your channel.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the task list against the role descriptions.
2. Use channel permissions Use channel permissions instead of sharing your password with the agency.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that an invite option appears, not a password field.
3. Enter the agency contact You enter the email address of the agency contact.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions → InviteConfirm: Check the entered email address for accuracy.
4. Choose Manager if removal rights are needed The Manager role can add or remove others and edit channel details.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions → RoleConfirm: Check the role selector shows Manager.
5. Choose Editor for content work The Editor role can edit all channel details.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions → RoleConfirm: Check the role selector shows Editor.
6. Share safety guidance Share the safety article with the agency before access begins.Confirm: Check that the agency confirmed receipt of the article.
7. Send the invite You submit the invite with the chosen role attached.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions → InviteConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the pending invite.If this fails: Re-enter the email address and resend the invite.
8. Review access after the engagement starts Remove access for anyone the owner does not recognize as managing the channel.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions list against who the agency says is working.

Common mistakes

• Sharing the account password Use channel permissions instead of sharing passwords when granting agency access.Why it happens: Password sharing feels faster than setting up a role.Already happened: If this already happened, see how to stop sharing a password.
• Giving Manager when Editor would do The Manager role can add or remove others, a step beyond editing channel details.Why it happens: Agencies ask for broader access than the task requires.
• Leaving an unrecognized manager in place Remove access for people the channel owner does not recognize as managing the channel.Why it happens: Access outlives the engagement when no one reviews it.Already happened: If this already happened, see how to audit who has access.
• Skipping the safety guidance step Sharing the safety article before granting access is recommended.Why it happens: The step gets skipped during a rushed onboarding.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access