How to Add Someone to a YouTube Channel

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Confirm you're opted into channel permissions A Brand Account owner must switch to channel permissions to add or remove channel access.Verify: Check YouTube Studio Settings → Permissions for an Invite option.
• Decide the right role Channel permissions support five different levels of permissions people can be granted.Verify: Review the roles explained before choosing.
• Have the correct email address Granting access requires entering the invitee's email address in the Email field.Verify: Check the email address is the one the invitee uses.

How YouTube handles this

• Channel permissions let people be granted access to channel data, tools, and features without access to the Google Account.
• Granting channel permissions is safer than sharing a password or other sensitive sign-in details.
• Granting access lets you specify an access level for more control over who can view or update the channel.
• Channel permissions do not support some parts of YouTube: invited users cannot access YouTube Music, YouTube Kids app, and YouTube APIs even though the owner can.

Step by step

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio On desktop, sign in to YouTube Studio to grant channel access.Where: YouTube StudioConfirm: Check that the Studio dashboard loads for your channel.
2. Open Settings Click Settings to reach channel configuration.Where: YouTube Studio → SettingsConfirm: Check the Settings panel has opened.
3. Open Permissions Click Permissions to see the channel's access list.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions list for existing users.
4. Click Invite Click INVITE to start adding a new user.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions → InviteConfirm: Check that an invite form appears.
5. Enter the email address Enter the invitee's email address in the Email field.Where: Invite form → Email fieldConfirm: Check the email field shows the address you typed.
6. Select a role Select a role for the invitee in the Access drop-down.Where: Invite form → Access drop-downConfirm: Check the drop-down shows the role you selected.
7. Send the invite You want this person added so they can accept the invite.Where: Invite form → SendConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the name you entered as pending.If this fails: Confirm the email address has no typing errors.
8. Wait for the invite to be accepted Once a channel permissions invite is sent, it expires after 30 days.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the person's name to change from pending.
9. Check who can view the list Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check your own role if the list does not appear.

Common mistakes

• Letting the invite expire A channel permissions invite expires after 30 days once sent.Why it happens: The person does not check the invite email within the window.Already happened: See invite expired.
• Granting a role with more access than needed Channel permissions support five different levels of permissions people can be granted.Why it happens: The owner picks a familiar role rather than reviewing each level.
• Losing track of who was invited Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.Why it happens: A non-manager cannot check the list to confirm who holds access.Already happened: See audit who has access.
• Giving an editor more control than intended An Editor cannot manage permissions.Why it happens: The owner expects an editor to also manage access, which the role does not allow.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access