What you lose when moving a YouTube channel to a Brand Account

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Confirm who currently owns the channel A personal channel is accessible only to the Google Account owner.Verify: Check which Google Account is signed in to the channel.
• Decide who gets owner access Added owners can remove other owners on a Brand Account channel.Verify: List everyone you plan to add as owner.
• Check the identity you want to show A Brand Account channel can use a different name and photo than the Google Account.Verify: Review the name and photo currently used on the personal channel.

How YouTube handles this

• A personal channel uses the same name and photo as the Google Account across Gmail, Docs, and other Google services.
• A YouTube channel connected to a Brand Account can be shared across multiple accounts.
• Any manager or owner of the Brand Account can access the connected channel.
• Owners added to the channel can take full actions, including deleting the channel.

Step by step

1. Check your current channel type You can check on YouTube to find out what kind of account you have.Where: Default ChannelConfirm: Check the account type shown for the channel.
2. Check who can manage the account Basic info about a business or brand can be added, changed, or removed on a Brand Account.Confirm: Check the name and photo currently set on the channel.
3. Review manager control An owner of a Brand Account can decide how much control each added manager has over the account.Where: Google Account → Brand AccountsConfirm: Check the role assigned to each manager.
4. List who will manage the account A channel connected to a Brand Account can be shared across multiple accounts.Where: Manage permissionsConfirm: Check the list of people you plan to add.
5. Confirm Any manager or owner of a Brand Account can access the connected channel.Where: Manage permissionsConfirm: Check the role listed next to each name.
6. Weigh Owners added to a Brand Account channel can remove other owners.Where: Manage permissionsConfirm: Check whether each name needs owner rather than manager access.
7. Proceed You are moving the channel to the Brand Account you have reviewed.Where: Advanced settingsConfirm: You look for the new account in the account switcher.If this fails: Check the account switcher again after signing out and back in.

Before you change who is in control

• Adding owners without reviewing the list Owners added to a Brand Account channel can remove other owners.Why it happens: You add an owner without checking who already holds that role.Already happened: If someone removed you unexpectedly, see what to do if someone takes over your YouTube channel ownership. Recover a Deleted or Lost Brand Account
• Assuming the channel keeps the personal identity A Brand Account channel can have a different name and photo from the Google Account.Why it happens: You expect the channel to look the same as before the move.
• Expecting only one person to retain control Multiple Google Accounts can manage and own a Brand Account.Why it happens: Ownership is not limited to the person who created the channel.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access