Should I move my YouTube channel to a Brand Account before adding collaborators?
The decision turns on how the channel is currently connected, not on how many people you plan to add.
Is this your situation?
You are about to add collaborators to a YouTube channel and are not sure whether to move it to a Brand Account first. You want to know what changes for access once the channel is connected to a Brand Account.
What it is
A Brand Account is a Google account for a business or brand that is available for some Google services. If a YouTube channel is linked to a Brand Account, multiple people can manage it from their own Google Accounts. Channel permissions provide the ability to give other users access to a channel via specific roles. Migrating to channel permissions helps prevent security risks such as password sharing. Before existing users become active in channel permissions, the permissions level must be manually set and the invite must be sent.
How YouTube handles this
- A Brand Account must already exist before opting into channel permissions.
- A user must sign in as the primary owner of the Brand Account to have the option to opt into permissions.
- Control of user access shifts from Brand Account role assignment to Permissions assignment within YouTube Studio when migrating.
- Channel permissions access is managed exclusively through YouTube Studio.
- The primary owner of the Brand Account can decide to use channel permissions in YouTube Studio or directly on YouTube.
Side by side
| Aspect | Personal channel | Brand Account channel |
|---|---|---|
| Management | A Google Account is specific to one person and uses one identity across Google services. | Multiple people can manage a channel linked to a Brand Account from their own Google Account. |
| Sign-in | Only the owner of that Google Account can access the channel. | No separate username or password is needed to manage a channel with a Brand Account. |
| Naming | The channel uses the same name and photo as the Google Account. | The channel can use a different name than the Google Account. |
| Adding managers | Only the owner of the Google Account can access the channel. | An owner of a Brand Account can add people to help manage it. |
Common mistakes
- Assuming migration is required for any collaborator Channel permissions should be used to manage user access rather than Brand Account roles.Why it happens: Owners conflate adding a Brand Account with adding channel permissions.Already happened: See what happens to users during migration.
- Trying to add a Brand Account manager without one A Brand Account must already exist before opting into channel permissions.Why it happens: The Brand Account step is skipped before adding collaborators.
- Opting in without being the primary owner A user must sign in as the primary owner to opt into permissions.Why it happens: A manager attempts the opt-in step instead of the primary owner.
Quick reference
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Existing state | Brand Accounts can only be linked to YouTube channels. |
| Managers | Managers of a Brand Account can use Google services that support Brand Accounts, like posting videos on YouTube. |
| Primary owner | A Brand Account must have one primary owner. |
| Invites | People invited to manage a Brand Account receive an email where they can accept the invitation. |
| Opting in | To opt into channel permissions, go to studio.youtube.com and click Settings. |
| Invite fields | The Email and Access fields must be filled out for each new user. |
| Sending invites | After filling out the invite fields, clicking Save may prompt the user to verify their account to save changes. |
| After invite | Each new user will show in Studio Permissions after being invited. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose control by moving to a Brand Account before adding people?
Owners of a Brand Account can take the most actions and control who manages the account.
Can I add collaborators without a Brand Account first?
A Brand Account must already exist before opting into channel permissions.
Will existing collaborators disappear after migration?
Existing Brand Account users will be copied into channel permissions.
Who can complete the opt-in to channel permissions?
A user must sign in as the primary owner of the Brand Account to have the option to opt into permissions.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about who can manage a channel builds as more collaborators are added over time. Delvia gives you one place to see who holds access, however the channel is set up.
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