What Is YouTube Channel Permissions
Channel permissions let you give others access to your channel without sharing passwords or your Google Account.
Is this your situation?
You want to let someone work on your channel but are not sure what access they would actually get. Channel permissions let you give other users access to your channel through specific roles.
What it is
Channel permissions allow you to give other users access to your channel via specific roles. They let people be granted access to channel data, tools, and features in YouTube and YouTube Studio without needing access to the Google Account. Channel permissions support five different levels of permissions that multiple people can be granted to manage a channel. Granting channel permissions is safer than sharing a password or other sensitive sign in details. Granting channel permissions lets the granter specify an access level for more control over who can view or update the channel.
How YouTube handles this
- A Brand Account owner must switch to channel permissions to add or remove access to a channel.
- Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people who have access.
- Channel permissions do not support YouTube Music, YouTube Kids app, and YouTube APIs, even though the owner can use them.
- A sent channel permissions invite expires after 30 days.
- If a teen user is given channel access, a guardian will have access to a dashboard with public channel info.
Side by side
| Role | Can do | Cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Can manage permissions. | Cannot transfer ownership to other users. |
| Manager | Can manage permissions in YouTube Studio. | Cannot delete the channel. |
| Editor | Can edit everything. | Cannot manage permissions. |
| Editor (Limited) | Has the same permissions as Editor. | Cannot access revenue data, including chat revenue and viewer activity tab. |
| Viewer | Can view revenue data, including chat revenue and viewer activity tab. | Cannot manage live streams. |
Common mistakes
- Expecting a Manager to delete the channel The Manager role cannot delete the channel.Why it happens: You assume broad access includes every Owner action.Already happened: If a Manager has acted unexpectedly, review channel access. Someone removed me from my YouTube channel
- Assuming an invited role reaches every feature Channel permissions do not support YouTube Music, YouTube Kids app, or YouTube APIs.Why it happens: You expect an invited role to work the same everywhere.
- Not knowing who can see the access list Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access.Why it happens: You expect every role to see who else has access.
If this changes who is in control
You are not sure which role can transfer ownership or manage permissions on your channel. Review who has access to your channel if you are unsure who currently holds each role.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are channel permissions? | A way to give others access to your channel via specific roles. |
| Does the Owner have limits? | The Owner cannot transfer ownership to other users. |
| Can a Manager delete the channel? | No, the Manager role cannot delete the channel. |
| Can an Editor manage permissions? | No, the Editor role cannot manage permissions. |
| How long does an invite last? | A sent invite expires after 30 days. |
| Who can see the access list? | Only managers and the owner can view names and emails of people with access. |
| Can an invited user access YouTube Music? | No, channel permissions do not support YouTube Music, YouTube Kids app, or YouTube APIs. |
Frequently asked questions
Do channel permissions require sharing a password?
No, granting channel permissions is safer than sharing a password or other sensitive sign in details.
How many access levels exist?
Channel permissions support five different levels of permissions that multiple people can be granted.
What happens if a teen is given channel access?
A guardian supervising the teen will have access to a dashboard with public info about the channel.
Where can I add someone to my channel?
Channel permissions let you give other users access to your channel through specific roles.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about who holds which role on a channel builds as more people get invited over time. Delvia helps you keep a clear picture of every role and access level on your channel.
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