Troubleshooting

Added as Manager instead of Owner for transfer?

You were added to help with a transfer, but YouTube only shows you as a Manager.

Is this your situation?

You expected to receive ownership of the channel, but Permissions lists you as Manager. You wonder whether the transfer failed or whether Manager was the only role actually available.

The short answer

You were added as Manager, not Owner, and ownership has not reached you. Under Brand Account rules, the Manager role can't transfer the channel, or have it transferred to them, except by the primary owner. You still need the primary owner to act before you become an owner.

What you see, and why

SymptomCause
You were added, but your role shows Manager, not Owner.The Manager role cannot have the channel transferred to it, except by the primary owner.
You cannot see an option to become primary owner.Managers do not have the option to change the primary owner role on a Brand Account.
You accepted an owner invite but still cannot set yourself primary owner.After accepting an invite to become an owner, you must wait 7 days before trying to set yourself as primary owner again.

Check these first

  • Check your actual role in Permissions.Verify: Check the Permissions list for the role listed next to your name.
  • Check whether you were added as owner at all.Verify: Check the Permissions list for 'Owner' next to your name, not Manager.
  • Check how long you have held owner status, if listed as owner.Verify: To assign yourself as primary owner, you must have been an owner for 7 days or more.

How YouTube handles this

  • The Manager role cannot transfer the channel, or have it transferred to them, except by the primary owner.
  • Managers will not have the option to change the primary owner role on a Brand Account.
  • As the owner of a Brand Account, you can assign yourself as the primary owner.
  • To assign yourself as primary owner, you must have been an owner for 7 days or more.

Which path applies to you?

  1. Does Permissions list you as Manager? The Manager role cannot have the channel transferred to it, except by the primary owner.
  2. Does Permissions list you as Owner but not primary owner? You can assign yourself as primary owner once you have been an owner for 7 days or more.
  3. Have you held the owner role for less than 7 days? You will get an error message when trying to become primary owner.
  4. Can't find your name in the permissions list? You must be added as an owner by another channel owner.

Step by step: finding the cause

  1. Open Brand Account permissions. Go to the Brand Accounts section of your Google Account.Where: Google Account → Brand AccountsConfirm: Check the list for the connected account.
  2. Open the managers list. Select Manage permissions to find a list of people who can manage the account.Where: Brand Account → Manage permissionsConfirm: Check the list for your name and role.
  3. Confirm your listed role. Check whether your name shows Manager or Owner.Where: Brand Account → Manage permissionsConfirm: Check the role column next to your name.
  4. If listed as Manager, ask the primary owner to act. The Manager role can't have the channel transferred to it, except by the primary owner.Where: Brand Account → Manage permissionsConfirm: Check that the primary owner is also listed.If this fails: You want the primary owner to add you as owner first.
  5. If listed as Owner, try setting yourself as primary owner. As an owner, you can assign yourself as primary owner.Where: Google Account → Brand Accounts → select accountConfirm: Check for a confirmation or error message.
  6. Check how long you have held owner status. You must have been an owner for 7 days or more to assign yourself primary owner.Where: Brand Account → Manage permissionsConfirm: Check the date you were added as owner.If this fails: If under 7 days, wait before trying again.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming Manager and Owner are interchangeable for a transfer. The Manager role cannot have the channel transferred to it, except by the primary owner.Why it happens: You received an invite and expected it to carry full ownership with it.
  • Expecting to set yourself primary owner right after being added. You must have been an owner for 7 days or more to assign yourself primary owner.Why it happens: You want access settled and do not expect a waiting period.
  • Trying again soon after an owner invite is accepted. After accepting an invite to become an owner, you must wait 7 days before trying again.Why it happens: Accepting the invite feels like completing the process.

Quick reference

SituationWhat it means
Listed as ManagerChannel cannot be transferred to you except by the primary owner.
Listed as Owner, under 7 daysYou cannot yet assign yourself primary owner.
Listed as Owner, 7 days or moreYou can assign yourself as primary owner.
Attempt made too soonYou will get an error message.
Recently accepted an owner inviteYou must wait 7 days before trying to set yourself primary owner again.
Name not found in permissions listYou must be added as owner by another channel owner.
Checking who manages the accountGo to the Brand Accounts section of your Google Account.
Viewing the full managers and owners listSelect Manage permissions.

Keeping track of who has access

Delvia keeps roles and ownership visible in one place, so a Manager-instead-of-Owner mix-up gets diagnosed before it holds up a transfer.