How to give analytics-only access to a YouTube channel

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Confirm the person needs ongoing access Decide if a one-time report would serve instead.Verify: Check whether recurring access is required.
• Know what Viewer includes Viewer can view revenue data, including chat revenue and viewer activity tab.Verify: Check that revenue visibility is acceptable here.
• Check channel permissions setup Channel permissions let you give others access via specific roles.Verify: Check Settings → Permissions for current roles.
• Have the invitee's email ready Granting access requires entering the invitee's email in the Email field.Verify: Confirm the email address is correct.

How YouTube handles this

• The Viewer role can view but not edit all channel details.
• The Viewer role can create and edit YouTube Analytics groups.
• The Viewer role can view all stream settings except the stream key.
• The Viewer role cannot manage live streams.

Step by step

1. Open channel permissions Sign in to YouTube Studio to manage who can access the channel.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions page for the current list of users.
2. Start an invite Click INVITE to add a new person to the channel.Where: Settings → Permissions → INVITEConfirm: Check that the invite form has opened.
3. Enter the email Granting channel access requires entering the invitee's email address in the Email field.Where: Invite form → Email fieldConfirm: Check that the email address entered is correct.
4. Select the role Granting channel access requires selecting a role in the Access drop-down.Where: Invite form → Access drop-downConfirm: Check that Viewer is selected in the drop-down.
5. Send the invite You want the invited person to be able to accept the invite.Where: Invite form → SendConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the pending invite.If this fails: Re-check the email address and try sending again.
6. Track the invite window Once a channel permissions invite is sent, it expires after 30 days.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the invite date against the 30-day window.
7. Confirm access is limited Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that only managers and the owner can see the full access list.
8. Review analytics group setup The Viewer role can create and edit YouTube Analytics groups.Where: YouTube Studio → Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that the invited Viewer can see analytics groups.
9. Check stream visibility The Viewer role can view or monitor created streams, pre-live and while live.Where: YouTube Studio → Live Control RoomConfirm: Check that the invited Viewer can see the stream status.
10. Verify revenue visibility The Viewer role can view revenue data, including chat revenue and the viewer activity tab.Where: YouTube Studio → Analytics → RevenueConfirm: Check that the invited Viewer can see revenue figures.

Common mistakes

• Granting a broader role than needed You pick a role above Viewer when analytics access is all that is needed.Why it happens: The Access drop-down lists multiple roles at the point of invite.
• Expecting live stream management The Viewer role cannot manage live streams.Why it happens: You expect Viewer to cover every channel control.
• Invite sitting unaccepted past 30 days You leave the invite unaccepted and later check why it no longer works.Why it happens: Once a channel permissions invite is sent, it expires after 30 days.Already happened: See invite expired for what to do next.
• Assuming Viewer hides all revenue data Viewer can view revenue data, including chat revenue and viewer activity tab.Why it happens: You assume Viewer is a revenue-restricted role.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access