How to opt out of Channel Permissions

Is this your situation?

The short answer

What you see, and why

Check these first

• Confirm you need to complete a channel transfer. Opting out should only be done if a channel transfer needs to be completed.Verify: Check your reason for opting out against this condition.
• Locate the opt-out control in Settings. The option sits under YouTube Studio's Settings → Permissions.Verify: Check YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions for the opt-out link.
• Plan for re-inviting people afterward. Switching back requires inviting everyone to the Brand Account again.Verify: Check your list of current channel permission users before opting out.

How YouTube handles this

• Opting out of channel permissions should only be done if a channel transfer needs to be completed.
• To opt out, select "Opt out of permissions in YouTube Studio" under YouTube Studio's Settings → Permissions.
• To switch back to your Brand Account afterward, you must invite everyone to the Brand Account again.
• Existing Brand Account users will be copied into channel permissions.

Which path applies to you?

1. Do you need to opt out to complete a channel transfer? Opting out of channel permissions should only be done if a channel transfer needs to be completed.
2. Do you know where the opt-out control is? It is under YouTube Studio's Settings → Permissions.
3. Do you plan to restore channel permissions later? You must invite everyone to the Brand Account again to switch back to your Brand Account.
4. Do you want existing people active again after opting back in? Before existing users become active, the permissions level must be manually set and the invite must be sent.
5. Are you unsure if a transfer is actually required? Opting out should only happen if a channel transfer needs to be completed.

Step by step: finding the cause

1. Confirm the reason for opting out. Opting out should only be done if a channel transfer needs to be completed.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that a channel transfer is the reason you are opting out.
2. Open Settings in YouTube Studio. You sign in to YouTube Studio and want to reach its Settings menu.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that the Settings menu has opened.
3. Go to Permissions. You look within Settings for the Permissions section.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check the Permissions page for the opt-out option.
4. Select the opt-out option. Select "Opt out of permissions in YouTube Studio" under Settings → Permissions.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that the opt-out option has been selected.
5. Proceed with the channel transfer. Opting out should only be done if a channel transfer needs to be completed.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that the transfer steps are now available to you.
6. Set permission levels and send invites. The permissions level must be manually set and the invite must be sent before users become active.Where: Settings → PermissionsConfirm: Check that each person's role and invite status are set.

Common mistakes

• Opting out without a transfer in progress. Opting out of channel permissions should only be done if a channel transfer needs to be completed.Why it happens: You see the opt-out control and select it without a transfer in mind.
• Expecting permissions to remain after switching back. To switch back to your Brand Account, you must invite everyone again.Why it happens: People assume the prior invites carry over automatically.
• Looking in the wrong settings area. The opt-out option is under YouTube Studio's Settings → Permissions.Why it happens: Other settings pages do not contain this option.
• Assuming invited people are active right away. The permissions level must be manually set and the invite must be sent before a copied user becomes active.Why it happens: A copied-in name on the list does not mean access has been granted yet.

Quick reference

Keeping track of who has access