To add a moderator on YouTube, open YouTube Studio, go to Settings, then Community moderation, and on the User management tab paste the person's channel URL into the Managing moderators or Standard moderators box, then click Save. During a live stream you can also tap the menu next to someone's chat message and choose Add as managing moderator or Add as standard moderator.
A moderator is someone you trust to keep your comments and live chat in good shape. The role is separate from channel permissions, which control who can edit or upload, so you can hand someone the job of tidying chat without handing them the keys. Here's how to add one, and how the two moderator types differ.
Two ways to add a moderator
From YouTube Studio
- Open YouTube Studio.
- Go to Settings, then Community moderation.
- Open the User management tab.
- Enter the person's channel URL in the Managing moderators or Standard moderators box.
- Click Save.
From live chat in the YouTube app
- Start your live stream in the YouTube app (tap Plus, then Live).
- Find a chat message from the person you want to promote.
- Tap the menu next to it and choose Add as managing moderator or Add as standard moderator.
The Studio route is better if you're setting things up before a stream, because you don't have to wait for the person to type something first.
Standard moderator vs managing moderator
YouTube says a managing moderator has more permissions than a standard moderator. The clearest difference in YouTube Help is automatic moderation: only the channel owner or a managing moderator can change the setting that holds potentially inappropriate live chat messages for review.
| What they can do | Standard moderator | Managing moderator |
|---|---|---|
| Delete chat messages | Yes | Yes |
| Put someone in timeout | Yes | Yes |
| Hide a user from the channel | Yes | Yes |
| See a user's Channel Activity from live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Change automatic moderation (hold messages) | No | Yes |
If you only want someone to keep a single stream civil, a standard moderator is enough. If you want them to manage your moderation settings as well, make them a managing moderator.
What a moderator can do in live chat
Moderators can click any message, or the three-dot menu beside it, and choose an action:
- Remove content. Deleting a message removes it from the live chat permanently, along with any replies.
- Put a user on timeout. The person can't send messages for 10 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes or 24 hours.
- Hide a user. Their chat messages and comments stop being visible to other viewers, and YouTube doesn't tell them.
- Check Channel Activity first. On desktop, moderators can see a user's public profile, handle, join date, subscriber count, up to 50 of their public chat messages in that stream, and how many deletions, timeouts and hides they've had in the last year.
On a computer you can hold Alt (or Option on a Mac) to pause the chat feed while you pick out a message, which helps on a busy stream.
Moderator vs channel permissions
Don't confuse moderators with channel permissions. Permissions, set under Settings, then Permissions, then Invite in YouTube Studio, give someone a role such as Manager, Editor, Subtitle Editor or Viewer. Those roles can see channel data and, depending on the role, edit or upload. YouTube Help's role table says even an Editor can chat or moderate chat within Live Control Room, but a Subtitle Editor or Viewer can't. Permission invites expire after 30 days if they're not accepted.
If you just want help with chat, add a moderator. If you want help running the channel, use permissions.
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Set up these tools before you go live
- Hold potentially inappropriate messages: Settings, Community moderation, Content controls, then choose None, Basic or Strict.
- Blocked words: a list of words that blocks matching chat messages.
- Slow mode: limits how often each person can post. The channel owner, moderators and channel members aren't limited.
- Subscribers-only chat: only subscribers can post, and you can set how long they must have been subscribed.
For the rules you set out for viewers, see YouTube channel guidelines. If chat itself isn't appearing, live chat not showing covers the fixes, and how to turn off live chat explains when that's the better option.
My verdict
Add at least one moderator before any stream you expect to be busy, through YouTube Studio so they're ready from the first minute. Start them as a standard moderator, and promote them to managing moderator once you trust their judgement with your automatic moderation settings. It costs you nothing and it's the quickest way to keep a live chat worth reading.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make someone a moderator on YouTube?
In YouTube Studio go to Settings, Community moderation, User management, paste their channel URL into the Managing moderators or Standard moderators box and click Save. Or, during a stream, tap the menu next to their chat message and choose Add as moderator.
What's the difference between a standard and managing moderator on YouTube?
A managing moderator has more permissions. YouTube Help says only the channel owner or a managing moderator can change automatic moderation settings for live chat.
How long can a YouTube moderator put someone in timeout?
Timeouts range from 10 seconds to 24 hours: 10 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes or 24 hours.
Does YouTube tell someone when they're hidden by a moderator?
No. YouTube says it doesn't let the user know they've been hidden, but their chat messages and comments stop being visible to other viewers.
