Governance
How to find old users with access to your YouTube channel
Old collaborators keep access long after their work ends, unless someone checks the permissions list on a schedule.
Is this your situation?
You want to know who still has access to your channel before deciding whether their access is still needed. You are checking whether the current permissions list matches the people who still work with the channel.
Where teams go wrong
- Trusting memory over the list Teams assume they know who has access instead of checking Permissions.Why it happens: Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.
- Confusing roles with people A role name in the list is checked but the person behind it is not.Why it happens: Channel permissions let people be granted access without needing access to the Google Account.
- Missing Brand Account managers A Brand Account owner checks channel permissions but not the Brand Account manager list.Why it happens: A Brand Account owner must switch to channel permissions to add or remove access.
- Assuming Editors can review access You ask an Editor to review the permissions list.Why it happens: Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.
What good practice looks like
| Role | Can view the access list | Can remove access |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Can view names and emails of people with access | Can go to Settings, Permissions to remove access |
| Manager | Can view names and emails of people with access | Can go to Settings, Permissions to remove access |
| Editor | Cannot manage permissions | Cannot manage permissions |
How YouTube handles this
- Channel permissions let people be granted access to channel data, tools, and features in YouTube and YouTube Studio without needing access to the Google Account.
- Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.
- On desktop, to remove access you go to Settings, click Permissions, find the person, click the down arrow under Role, then select a new role or click remove access.
- A Brand Account owner must switch to channel permissions to add or remove access to a channel.
Before you start
- Confirm your role Check whether you are owner or manager before reviewing access.Verify: Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.
- Check for expired invites Look for invites sent that were never accepted.Verify: A channel permissions invite expires after 30 days once sent.
- Check Brand Account managers separately Review the Brand Account manager list if the channel uses one.Verify: A Brand Account owner must switch to channel permissions to add or remove access to a YouTube channel.
- Decide on each role foundVerify: Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people that have access to a channel.
Which scenario is yours?
- Are you the owner or a manager of the channel? You can view names and emails of people who have access to the channel.
- Are you an Editor or in a lower role on the channel? You cannot view names and emails of people who have access to the channel.
- Does the channel use a Brand Account? The owner must switch to channel permissions to add or remove access to the channel.
- Do you want to remove access rather than view the list? On desktop, go to Settings, click Permissions, find the person, click the down arrow under Role, then select a new role or click Remove access.
- Was an invite sent to someone but never accepted? Once a channel permissions invite is sent, it expires after 30 days.
Keeping this working over time
- Review the permissions list on a regular schedule rather than after a problem appears.
- Compare the list against current collaborators and remove access that no longer matches active work.
- Set a recurring reminder to check who manages the Brand Account connected to the channel.
- Confirm that only the owner and managers can see the access list.
If control is already lost — Someone removed me from my YouTube channel
Keeping track of who has access
Delvia keeps a clear record of who holds access to a channel across people and time. Instead of relying on memory, you can see every granted role in one place. That view makes it straightforward to spot access that no longer matches current work. Reviewing access becomes a scheduled check rather than a scramble after something goes wrong.
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