You can transfer a YouTube channel to another email by changing the Google Account that owns it, but the process depends on whether you're moving it to an existing Google Account or creating a new one
YouTube channels live inside Google Accounts. To move your channel, you're essentially changing which Google Account has ownership rights. Google offers two main paths: you can add a new owner to your current channel and then remove yourself, or you can transfer the channel directly if you're moving it to a brand-new Google Account. The method you use depends on your situation and whether the receiving email already has a YouTube presence.
The transfer itself doesn't happen automatically—you'll need to take specific steps in YouTube Studio, and the person receiving the channel (if it's someone else) must accept the ownership change. If you're moving the channel to your own new email, you'll manage both sides of the process yourself.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube channels are owned by Google Accounts, so transferring a channel means changing which account has owner permissions.
- You can add a new owner through YouTube Studio, then remove yourself as the old owner—this works whether you're transferring to your own new account or to someone else.
- The person receiving ownership must have a Google Account and must accept the ownership invitation before the transfer completes.
- Transferring a channel does not move its subscribers, videos, or watch history—those stay with the channel itself, not the email address.
- If you're locked out of the original email, you'll need to recover that account first or contact YouTube Support for help.
Adding a new owner through YouTube Studio
Open YouTube Studio on the account that currently owns the channel. In the left menu, select Settings, then click Channel in the submenu. Scroll down to find the Channel Membership section (sometimes labeled Advanced Settings depending on your account type).
Look for an option to add a new owner or manager. Click Add Owner or Add User. You'll be asked to enter the email address of the Google Account that will become the new owner. Type in the email address carefully—this is the account that will receive ownership rights. YouTube will send an invitation to that email address.
The person at that email address must log into their Google Account and accept the ownership invitation. They'll receive a notification or can check their Google Account settings to find the pending channel ownership request. Until they accept, the transfer is not complete and they won't have owner access yet.
Removing yourself as owner after the transfer is accepted
Once the new owner has accepted the invitation, you can remove yourself from the channel. Go back to YouTube Studio, navigate to Settings > Channel, and find the user management section again. You should now see the new owner listed alongside your own account.
Select your own account from the list and choose Remove or Delete User. YouTube will ask you to confirm—this action cannot be undone, so make sure the new owner is already in place and has accepted before you proceed. After you remove yourself, you will no longer have any access to the channel, including the ability to upload videos, change settings, or view analytics.
If you need to keep some access (for example, as a manager rather than an owner), you can instead downgrade your role to Manager or Editor instead of removing yourself entirely. This lets you help with the channel without holding owner permissions.
Transferring to a brand-new Google Account
If you're moving the channel to a new email address that doesn't yet have a Google Account, the receiving person must create one first. They should go to accounts.google.com, click Create Account, and follow the steps to set up a new Google Account with their desired email address. This takes just a few minutes.
Once the new account exists, follow the same process: add that new email as an owner through YouTube Studio, wait for them to accept the invitation, then remove yourself. The channel will now be owned by the new account and email address.
Keep in mind that a brand-new Google Account won't have any YouTube history or subscriptions yet. The channel itself—its videos, subscribers, and analytics—transfers with the channel, not with the email address. But the new owner's personal YouTube recommendations, watch history, and subscriptions will be separate and new.
What transfers and what stays behind
When you transfer a YouTube channel, the channel's content, subscriber count, upload history, and all analytics move with it. The new owner will see the same view count, revenue data (if applicable), and community posts. Comments and likes on videos stay attached to those videos.
What does not transfer: the old owner's personal YouTube watch history, recommendations, and subscriptions. These are tied to the Google Account itself, not to the channel. If the old owner had a separate personal YouTube channel, that channel stays with their original account.
If the channel has a YouTube Partner Program agreement (meaning it earns money), the transfer may require additional steps. Contact YouTube Support or check your Partner Program settings to confirm whether you need to update payment information or tax documents after the ownership change.
If you no longer have access to the original email
If you've lost access to the email address that owns the channel, you'll need to recover that Google Account first. Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow Google's account recovery process. You may be asked to verify your identity using a recovery email, a phone number, or security questions you set up previously.
Once you've regained access to the original account, you can then add a new owner and remove yourself using the steps above. If you cannot recover the account, contact YouTube Support directly. Explain that you own the channel but have lost access to the associated email. YouTube Support can sometimes help verify your ownership and assist with the transfer, though this process is slower and may require proof of ownership.
Transferring a channel you manage but don't own
If you're a manager or editor on a channel but not the owner, you cannot transfer the channel yourself. Only the owner can add new owners or remove existing ones. You'll need to ask the current owner to add the new owner and remove you, or to transfer the channel on your behalf.
If the owner is unavailable or unresponsive, you may be able to contact YouTube Support and explain the situation. YouTube can sometimes intervene if there's a dispute over channel ownership, but they will ask for proof of your relationship to the channel and your role in managing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does transferring a YouTube channel delete the videos?
No. All videos, playlists, and channel content stay on the channel after the ownership transfer. The new owner will have full access to upload, edit, and delete videos, but the existing content is not affected by the ownership change itself.
Can I transfer a channel to an email address that already has its own YouTube channel?
Yes. A single Google Account can own or manage multiple YouTube channels. When you transfer a channel to an email that already has a YouTube presence, that person will now have access to both their original channel and the transferred one. They can switch between them in YouTube Studio.
How long does it take for the new owner to receive the invitation?
The invitation is usually sent within a few minutes of you adding the new owner. The new owner should check their email and their Google Account notifications. If they don't see it within an hour, ask them to check their spam folder or refresh their Google Account settings page.
What happens to the channel's money or ad revenue after a transfer?
If the channel earns money through YouTube Partner Program, AdSense, or channel memberships, the revenue continues to flow to the associated payment method. The new owner may need to update payment information or tax documents depending on their location and the channel's monetization setup. Check YouTube Partner Program settings after the transfer to confirm everything is correct.
Can I undo a channel transfer after I've removed myself as owner?
Not directly. Once you remove yourself as owner, you no longer have the ability to change ownership settings. If you need to regain ownership, the current owner would have to add you back as an owner. Plan carefully before removing yourself, and make sure the new owner has accepted the invitation and confirmed they can access the channel.