When should you give Manager access instead of Editor access?

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Confirm whether the person needs to manage permissions Managing permissions in YouTube Studio is a Manager capability.Verify: Check whether the task list includes adding or removing other users.
• Confirm whether the person needs to edit channel details Managers can edit channel details.Verify: Check whether the task involves changing channel-level settings.
• Confirm whether channel deletion should stay out of reach Managers cannot delete the channel.Verify: Check that deleting the channel is not a task you plan to assign.

How YouTube handles this

• The Manager role can manage permissions in YouTube Studio.
• The Manager role can edit channel details.
• The Manager role can manage live streams.
• The Editor role cannot manage permissions.

Step by step

1. List the tasks the collaborator needs to perform Write down whether they need to manage permissions, edit channel details, or manage live streams.Confirm: Check your task list against the Manager capabilities.
2. Check if permissions management is required The Manager role can manage permissions in YouTube Studio.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions list for a Manager option in the Access drop-down.
3. Check if channel detail editing is required The Manager role can edit channel details.Where: YouTube Studio → SettingsConfirm: Check whether the task involves changing basic channel info.
4. Check if live stream management is required The Manager role can manage live streams.Confirm: Check whether the task involves setting up or ending streams.
5. Check if content editing alone is enough The Editor role can edit everything.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check whether the task list stops at content work.
6. Rule out channel deletion for either role The Manager role cannot delete the channel.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that no assigned task requires channel deletion.
7. Rule out contract signing for the Editor role The Editor role cannot enter into contracts.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that no assigned task requires entering contracts.
8. Check whether ad account linking is required The Manager role can link Google Ads accounts.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check whether the task involves linking a Google Ads account.
9. Select the matching role in the Access drop-down Choose Manager or Editor based on the tasks identified.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions → INVITEConfirm: You entered the name and want to confirm the invite was sent.

Common mistakes

• Giving Manager access for content-only work The Manager role can manage permissions in YouTube Studio.Why it happens: The distinction between Manager and Editor access is often unclear at first.
• Assuming Editor can manage permissions The Editor role cannot manage permissions.Why it happens: Editors already have broad content control, which can look like full access.Already happened: Remove the old editor and reassign the correct role.
• Assuming Manager can delete the channel The Manager role cannot delete the channel.Why it happens: Manager's broad permissions control can suggest it covers deletion too.
• Assuming Editor can delete published videos The Editor role cannot delete the channel or published content.Why it happens: Editors can delete drafts, which can suggest they can delete published videos too.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access