# Open the custom layout editor for a channel

- Log in to the Admin panel as **admin**, see Connect to the Admin panel.

- From the **Channel(s)** menu, select the channel and click **Layout(s)**. The custom layout editor opens.

- From the **Layouts** list, select the layout you want to edit. The layout editor updates to display the selected layout and the row for the selected layout is highlighted in green.

If this is a new layout, an unformatted layout, or there is no video source connected, then the layout area is empty and a black background matte appears.

> product: unify · topic: layout · source: unify-userguide.md · updated: Oct 7, 2026