Governance
How to Audit Who Has Access to Your YouTube Channel
Regular access reviews turn scattered permissions into a system you can verify at any time.
Is this your situation?
Where teams go wrong
- Checking only the Owner list Managers can also view all channel data.Why it happens: The Manager role can view all channel data.
- Forgetting Brand Account roles You overlook that a Brand Account has its own owners and managers.Why it happens: Owners on a Brand Account can take the most actions and control who manages the account.
- Assuming names in Permissions are current You assume everyone listed still needs the access they were given.Why it happens: Channel permissions allow you to give other users access to your channel via specific roles.
- Missing who can even see the list No claim states that readers may lack permission to view who has access.Why it happens: Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.
What good practice looks like
| Role | What it can see or do | Audit implication |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Can manage permissions. | Should lead the audit. |
| Manager | Can view all channel data. | Can review the access list. |
| Editor | Cannot manage permissions. | Cannot be relied on to confirm the access list. |
| Viewer | Can view but not edit all channel details. | Has no role in the audit itself. |
| Subtitle Editor | Cannot view all channel data. | Cannot be relied on to confirm the full access list. |
How YouTube handles this
- Channel permissions let you give other users access to your channel via specific roles.
- Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.
- Owners on a Brand Account can take the most actions and control who manages the account.
- A Brand Account must have one primary owner.
- It is the channel owner's responsibility to know their Brand Account's ownership details.
Before you start
- Confirm who can see the full access list Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.Verify: Sign in as an owner or manager first.
- Check the Brand Account permissions list Select Manage permissions to find the people who can manage the account.Verify: Go to the Brand Accounts section of your Google Account.
- Check the channel permissions list in Studio Channel permissions let you give other users access via specific roles.Verify: Check the Permissions list under Settings in YouTube Studio.
- Confirm the primary owner A Brand Account must have one primary owner.Verify: Select Manage permissions to find the list of people who can manage the account, including owners.
Which scenario is yours?
- Is your channel connected to a Brand Account? Owners on a Brand Account can take the most actions and control who manages the account.
- Do you need to know who can edit permissions, not only view data? The Manager role can manage permissions in YouTube Studio.
- Are you unsure whether an Editor can confirm the list for you? The Editor role cannot manage permissions.
- Can an Editor at least confirm what the channel data shows? The Editor role can view all channel data.
- Can a Viewer check the access list themselves? The Viewer role can view but not edit all channel details.
Keeping this working over time
- Review the channel permissions list on a set schedule rather than waiting for a problem to appear.
- Keep the Brand Account owner list current, since control there is separate from channel permissions.
- Set a plan so access does not depend on one person's attention; see how to prevent losing access to your channel.
- Confirm who the primary owner is, since knowing the Brand Account's ownership details is the owner's responsibility.
If control is already lost — Someone removed me from my YouTube channel
Keeping track of who has access
An audit is only useful if the next one is as straightforward as the first. Delvia keeps a record of access across people and over time, so reviews do not start from scratch. That record makes it easier to see who should still be there and who should not. Clear access, kept current, is the structure that removes the uncertainty an audit is meant to address.
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