How to change access to a YouTube stream recording

What you can change after the stream ends

After a live broadcast ends, YouTube usually saves it as a separate video. You can change its access after the broadcast is over: make it public for all viewers, keep it available only via link, or hide it from everyone else.

First, wait for YouTube to process the recording. Right after the broadcast ends, the video may not yet appear in your content list or may open with restrictions. Processing is especially important for long broadcasts and recordings with high image quality.

If there is no archive at all, check the live streams section in YouTube Studio. The recording may still be processing, or a saving error may have occurred during the broadcast. You can only change access to a video archive that has been created.

Recording access options

• Public access — the recording is visible to all users. It may appear on the channel page, in search, and in recommendations.

• Unlisted — the video is not shown on the channel page and usually can't be found through search, but anyone with the link can watch it.

• Private — only you and the users you've specifically allowed to view through their accounts can see the recording.

How to change recording visibility from a computer

Open YouTube Studio and go to the "Content" section. Then select the live streams tab. Find the completed broadcast in the list and click on its title or thumbnail.

On the settings page, find the "Visibility" item. It will show the current access option for the recording. Select the value you need: "Public", "Unlisted", or "Private". The names of individual items may differ slightly depending on the interface version.

If you chose private, YouTube will prompt you to specify the users allowed to view. Make sure you're adding the correct accounts: the invited viewer will need to sign in to the exact account the permission was sent to.

After making your selection, click "Save". The new setting applies to the same recording, so there's no need to re-upload the video or create a new link. The link to the archive stays the same when you change visibility.

How to change access from a phone

To do this, use the YouTube Studio app. Open the content section, go to the list of streams, and select the recording you need. Tap the edit button, usually marked with a pencil icon.

Find the "Visibility" setting, choose the appropriate option, and save your changes. If the item you need doesn't appear in the app, open YouTube Studio in your phone's browser. In some versions of the mobile interface, certain settings are located within the video's additional options.

After saving, check the result from more than just the channel owner's account. To check public access, use incognito mode or another account. That way you'll see how the recording looks to a regular viewer.

What else to check in the broadcast archive

Changing the recording's visibility doesn't retroactively change the live broadcast settings and doesn't delete the archive itself. If you want to hide only the viewers' chat while keeping the video available, find the chat replay setting in the recording's settings. Its location may depend on the YouTube Studio version.

If the recording should only be available to a small group, don't choose unlisted access. Such a URL can be forwarded to someone else. For restricted viewing, use the private option and invite specific accounts.

If the video still opens with the old setting after saving, refresh the page and check the "Visibility" item again. While processing is still ongoing, some settings may temporarily work with a delay.

In short: what to do step by step

1. Wait for the stream archive to appear and finish processing in YouTube Studio.

2. Open "Content", go to live streams, and select the recording you need.

3. In the "Visibility" section, set public access, unlisted access, or private viewing.

4. If needed, add specific users and click "Save".

5. Check the recording from another account or in incognito mode.