Brand Account Roles vs Channel Permissions
Brand Account roles and Channel Permissions are two different systems for controlling who can act on a YouTube channel.
Is this your situation?
You manage a YouTube channel and see two different ways people are given access: Brand Account roles and Channel Permissions. You want to know which system is actually controlling who can do what on your channel.
What it is
A Brand Account is a Google account for a business or brand that's available for some Google services. Channel permissions provide the ability to give other users access to a channel through specific roles. Migrating to channel permissions helps prevent security risks such as password sharing. When migrating, control of user access shifts from Brand Account roles to permissions within YouTube Studio. Channel permissions access is managed exclusively through YouTube Studio.
How YouTube handles this
- Existing Brand Account users will be copied into channel permissions.
- Before existing users become active, the permissions level must be manually set and the invite must be sent.
- People invited to manage a channel can manage it on YouTube and YouTube Studio, computer and mobile.
- People invited to manage a channel cannot manage it via YouTube APIs.
- Channel permissions allow granular levels of access, unlike Brand Account roles.
Side by side
| Role | Brand Account roles | Channel permissions |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Has no limitations. | Has no limitations and can take actions like deleting the channel. |
| Manager | Can't invite other users. | Can delete draft videos. |
| Manager | Can't delete the channel. | Can't delete the channel. |
| Editor | You won't find this role under Brand Account roles. | Can't delete scheduled, live, or completed streams. |
| Communications Manager | Can't take any actions on YouTube. | You won't find this role under channel permissions. |
Common mistakes
- Assuming Brand Account roles still apply after migration Control of user access shifts from Brand Account roles to Permissions within YouTube Studio when migrating.Why it happens: The old role names look familiar, so the shift in control is overlooked.Already happened: If access may already be lost — Someone removed me from my YouTube channel
- Expecting API access for invited users People invited to manage a channel cannot manage it via YouTube APIs.Why it happens: Studio and mobile access work normally, hiding the API limitation.
- Treating migration as risk-free for collaborators Before existing users become active in channel permissions, the level must be manually set and the invite sent.Why it happens: The copy step can look complete before access is active.Already happened: Check what happens to users during migration.
If this changes who is in control
Control of user access shifts from Brand Account roles to Permissions within YouTube Studio when migrating. Review whether this shift changes who you consider in control before deciding when to migrate.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What do channel permissions provide? | Access to a channel via specific roles. |
| Where is channel permissions access managed? | Exclusively through YouTube Studio. |
| What happens to existing Brand Account users? | They are copied into channel permissions. |
| Can invited users manage via APIs? | No, they cannot manage it via YouTube APIs. |
| Can Owner delete the channel under permissions? | Yes, Owner has no limitations and can delete the channel. |
| Can Manager delete the channel under permissions? | No, Manager can't delete the channel. |
| Can a Brand Account Manager invite users? | No, the Manager role can't invite other users. |
| Does channel permissions allow granular access? | Yes, unlike Brand Account roles. |
Frequently asked questions
Is a Brand Account the same as channel permissions?
Channel permissions provide the ability to give other users access to a channel via specific roles.
Will my current collaborators lose access during migration?
Existing Brand Account users will be copied into channel permissions.
Can collaborators use third-party tools after migration?
People invited to manage a channel cannot manage it via YouTube APIs.
Is channel permissions more flexible than Brand Account roles?
Channel permissions allow granular levels of access, unlike Brand Account roles.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about who holds which access builds as a channel moves between Brand Account roles and channel permissions. Delvia keeps a clear record of who has access and under which system, so the arrangement stays visible.
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