How to reduce someone’s YouTube permissions

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Know the roles available Channel permissions support five different levels of permissions.Verify: Check the roles explained page for each level.
• Confirm you can see access Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.Verify: Check that your own role is Manager or Owner.
• Know what the role removes Managers can manage permissions in YouTube Studio.Verify: Check the manager versus editor page.

How YouTube handles this

• Changing a role is done from Settings, Permissions, under the person's current Role.
• Channel permissions give access to channel data, tools, and features without needing access to the Google Account.
• Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access to a channel.
• Once a channel permissions invite is sent, it expires after 30 days.

Step by step

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio Open YouTube Studio with the channel owner or manager account.Where: You sign in to YouTube StudioConfirm: Check that the channel dashboard loads for the correct channel.
2. Go to Permissions Clicks Settings, then clicks Permissions.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the person's name.
3. Find the person Locate the person whose access you want to reduce.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that the listed email matches the person you intend to change.
4. Open their role control Click the down arrow under Role next to their name.Where: Permissions → person → down arrow under RoleConfirm: Check that a list of roles appears.
5. Select a smaller role Choose a new, more limited role for the person.Where: Role → new roleConfirm: Check that the dropdown now shows the new role name.
6. Review the role's limits Check what the new role excludes before confirming the change.Confirm: Check that the new role matches the access level you want.
7. Wait for the change to apply You want to confirm the role change took hold.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Look at the Permissions list next to their name.If this fails: Refresh the Permissions page and check again.
8. Check who can still see the list Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that only managers and the owner appear able to view the list.

Common mistakes

• Expecting instant removal of access You expect the change to apply the moment you select it.Why it happens: You check the screen too soon after changing the role.
• Reducing the wrong person Changing the wrong entry can leave the real target with full access.Why it happens: Similar names or emails in the Permissions list get selected by mistake.Already happened: See what happens if you remove the wrong person.
• Assuming reducing a Manager matches reducing an Editor You expect the two roles to end up with the same limits.Why it happens: You read the roles explained and the manager versus editor names as similar.
• Assuming the new role still allows managing permissions The Editor role cannot manage permissions.Why it happens: You expect the Manager ability to carry over to the new role.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access