How to remove an old editor from YouTube

Is this your situation?

The short answer

Before you start

• Confirm your own role Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.Verify: Check that you can see the Permissions list.
• Find the editor's entry Locate the editor's name in the Permissions list before making changes.Verify: Check the Permissions list for the editor's email address.
• Know the removal path Removing access is done under Settings, then Permissions, by finding the person.Verify: Check that Settings and Permissions are visible in YouTube Studio.

How YouTube handles this

• The Editor role can view all channel data.
• The Editor role cannot manage permissions.
• Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have 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 Sign in with the account that manages the channel.Where: YouTube StudioConfirm: Check that the channel dashboard loads.
2. Open Settings Go to Settings from the left menu.Where: Settings → ChannelConfirm: Check that the Settings panel opens.
3. Open Permissions Click Permissions to see who has access.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions list for names and roles.
4. Find the editor Locate the editor's entry in the list.Where: Permissions listConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the editor's email address.
5. Open the role menu Click the down arrow under Role for that person.Where: Settings → Permissions → RoleConfirm: Check the dropdown for a new role option or a Remove access choice.
6. Select Remove access Find the person, click the down arrow under Role, then select a new role or click Remove access.Where: Role dropdownConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the editor's name.If this fails: Refresh the Permissions page and try again.
7. On mobile, use the app instead On the app, open the app, tap your profile picture, tap Settings then Permissions, select the person, and tap Remove.Where: YouTube Studio appConfirm: Check the Permissions list for the person's name.
8. Check for pending invites too A sent channel permissions invite expires after 30 days.Where: Permissions listConfirm: Check the Permissions list for a pending status next to the name.

Common mistakes

• Removing the wrong person Confirm the email address before removing anyone from the list.Why it happens: Similar names or emails in the Permissions list can be mistaken for one another.Already happened: See what happens if you remove the wrong person.
• Assuming an Editor can remove others The Editor role cannot manage permissions.Why it happens: Editors have broad edit access, which can be mistaken for permission control.
• Leaving old invites pending A sent invite expires after 30 days on its own.Why it happens: Pending invites go unnoticed once someone stops working with you.
• Visibility of the Permissions list is limited Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.Why it happens: An editor checking the Permissions list may expect visibility they do not have.

Roles at a glance

Keeping track of who has access