What YouTube Editors Can and Cannot Do
Editor access covers editing and uploading, not ownership, deletion rights, or control over who else has access.
Is this your situation?
You gave someone Editor access and want to know what that role actually lets them do. You are checking whether an Editor can delete videos, manage permissions, or take the channel over.
What it is
The Editor role can view all channel data. The Editor role can edit everything. The Editor role can publish effects built on Effect Maker. An Editor can delete drafts, and can manage live streams. An Editor cannot manage permissions, and cannot enter into contracts.
How YouTube handles this
- Editing power: an Editor can edit everything.
- Live streams: an Editor can manage live streams.
- Stream records: an Editor cannot delete scheduled, live, or completed streams, and cannot delete or reset stream keys.
- Stream keys: an Editor cannot delete or reset stream keys.
- No permission control: an Editor cannot manage permissions for other users, and cannot enter into contracts.
Side by side
| Role | Can do | Cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Can do everything on all platforms, including deleting the channel, and can manage live streams and live chat. | Cannot transfer ownership to other users. |
| Manager | Can manage permissions in YouTube Studio. | Cannot delete the channel. |
| Editor | Can view all channel data. | Cannot manage permissions. |
| Subtitle Editor | Can add, edit, publish and delete subtitles on eligible videos. | Cannot edit anything except video subtitles. |
| Viewer | Can view but not edit all channel details, and can view all stream settings except the stream key. | Cannot manage live streams. |
| Editor (Limited) | Not stated by YouTube | Cannot access revenue data, including chat revenue and viewer activity tab. |
Common mistakes
- Assuming an Editor can delete videos An Editor cannot delete the channel or published content.Why it happens: The broad 'edit everything' wording is read as covering deletion of published work.Already happened: If access may already be lost — Someone removed me from my YouTube channel
- Expecting an Editor to manage access An Editor cannot manage permissions.Why it happens: Broad editing rights are mistaken for control over who else has access.
- Expecting an Editor to end a live stream An Editor cannot delete scheduled, live, or completed streams.Why it happens: Managing live streams is confused with full control over stream records.
If this changes who is in control
An Editor cannot manage permissions, so adding one does not change who controls channel access. Review the Manager vs Editor comparison and the best roles for editors, agencies, and assistants before deciding who gets this role.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can an Editor view all channel data? | Yes, an Editor can view all channel data. |
| Can an Editor edit content? | Yes, an Editor can edit everything. |
| Can an Editor delete the channel? | No, an Editor cannot delete the channel or published content. |
| Can an Editor manage permissions? | No, an Editor cannot manage permissions. |
| Can an Editor sign contracts? | No, an Editor cannot enter into contracts. |
| Can an Editor delete a completed stream? | No, an Editor cannot delete scheduled, live, or completed streams. |
| Can an Editor reset a stream key? | No, an Editor cannot delete or reset stream keys. |
| Can an Editor publish effects from Effect Maker? | Yes, an Editor can publish effects built on Effect Maker. |
Frequently asked questions
Can an Editor delete videos?
An Editor can delete drafts, but cannot delete the channel or published content.
Can an Editor remove other users?
No, an Editor cannot manage permissions and cannot enter into contracts.
Can an Editor manage live streams?
Yes, an Editor can manage live streams, but cannot delete or reset stream keys.
What can an Editor do with channel content?
The Editor role can edit everything, upload content, and publish it.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about what each role builds up over time, as roles and collaborators change. Delvia keeps a clear record of who holds each role and what they can do with it.
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