You can give other people access to help manage a YouTube channel by assigning roles. This is especially useful when your channel is connected to a Brand Account, which allows multiple users to manage the same channel safely.
Why channel permissions matter
Instead of sharing passwords, YouTube recommends using channel permissions. This allows you to:
- Give access to trusted users only
- Assign different roles with different levels of control
- Improve account security and privacy
Brand Account channels
If your channel is linked to a Brand Account, multiple people can manage it using their own Google Accounts.
With a Brand Account:
- No password sharing is needed
- Each user logs in with their own Google Account
- The channel can have multiple owners and managers
A Brand Account is used only for YouTube and cannot manage other Google services.
Check if your channel uses a Brand Account
Before changing roles, confirm whether your channel is already linked to a Brand Account in entity[“software”,”YouTube Studio”,”video management platform by YouTube”].
Adding or managing users
Role types
When inviting others, you can assign different access levels:
- Owner: Full control of the channel, including managing other users. There must be one primary owner.
- Manager: Can upload and manage content but cannot control ownership settings.
- Communications Manager: Can manage some communication features but cannot access YouTube upload tools.
How to add or change channel access
- Open entity[“software”,”YouTube Studio”,”video management platform by YouTube”]
- Go to Settings → Permissions (or Brand Account settings)
- Select Manage permissions
- Click Invite new users
- Enter the email address of the person you want to add
- Choose their role (Owner, Manager, or Communications Manager)
- Send the invitation
The invited user must accept the email invite to gain access.
Setting a primary owner
A Brand Account must always have one primary owner.
To assign or transfer primary ownership:
- Go to your Google Brand Account settings
- Open Manage permissions
- Find your account name in the list
- Select Primary owner next to the desired user
- Confirm the transfer
Note: You may need to wait a short period (such as 7 days after being added as an owner) before changing primary ownership.
- Channel permissions are safer than sharing login credentials
- Only trusted users should be given access
- Some changes require waiting periods for security reasons
- If using channel permissions, avoid switching systems repeatedly as it may require re-inviting users
Brand Accounts allow multiple people to manage a YouTube channel safely. By assigning roles like Owner or Manager, you can control who has access while keeping your account secure and organized.
