A YouTube Channel Manager is a permission level that lets you give another person access to help manage your YouTube channel without sharing your Google Account password. This is useful for teams, editors, agencies, and business partners who need access to specific channel functions.
How to Add a Channel Manager
To give someone access through YouTube Studio:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Settings from the left-hand menu.
- Choose Permissions.
- Click Invite.
- Enter the email address associated with the person’s Google Account.
- Select the appropriate permission level, such as Manager.
- Click Done/Save to send the invitation.
The invited user must accept the invitation before they can access the channel.
YouTube Studio Permission Levels
YouTube provides different roles depending on how much access a team member needs:
| Role | Typical Access |
| Manager | Broad channel management access, including managing content, analytics, and permissions, but cannot delete the channel |
| Editor | Can upload, publish, and edit content but has fewer administrative permissions |
| Editor (Limited) | Similar editing access but cannot access revenue information |
| Subtitle Editor | Can manage subtitles and captions on eligible videos |
| Viewer | Can view channel information and analytics without making changes |
| Viewer (Limited) | View-only access with restricted access to revenue information |
Exact capabilities can vary by role, so review the permissions shown in YouTube Studio before assigning access.
Security Best Practices
- Never share passwords: Use YouTube’s permissions system rather than giving someone access to your primary Google Account.
- Use least-privilege access: Give each person only the permissions necessary to perform their job.
- Review access regularly: Remove former employees, agencies, contractors, or partners who no longer require access.
- Protect the owner account: Enable strong account security and 2-Step Verification on the Google Account controlling the channel.
Brand Accounts
Some older channels may use Brand Account roles for multi-user access. YouTube Studio channel permissions provide more granular access controls and are generally preferable when available.
YouTube channel permissions make it possible to safely delegate channel management without sharing your password. Assign the lowest appropriate role and regularly review who has access to keep your channel secure.
