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To become a YouTube Partner, meet the requirements for the YPP tier you want, apply in YouTube Studio, and pass YouTube’s review of your channel. As of October 3, 2026, full ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing requires 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the past 90 days. An earlier-access tier starts at 500 subscribers, but it does not unlock ad revenue sharing.
How do I become a YouTube Partner?
Use this sequence to work toward eligibility and apply. Reaching a threshold makes your channel eligible to apply; it does not guarantee acceptance.
- Choose a sustainable format and audience. Decide what a viewer can reliably expect from your channel and make original videos that serve that audience. A clear promise and appealing titles and thumbnails can help people decide to watch, but no particular topic, schedule, title tactic, or video length guarantees growth or acceptance.
- Build qualifying activity. Track the watch-hour or Shorts-view route you are pursuing. Lifetime views and all channel activity are not interchangeable with the qualified activity YouTube counts.
- Check the channel and account requirements. Confirm your country or region is eligible, that you have no active Community Guidelines strikes, 2-Step Verification is enabled, advanced features are available to your channel, and one active AdSense for YouTube account is linked or ready to set up.
- Apply through YouTube Studio. Open the Earn area, check which route and features are available to your channel, then complete the signup steps shown there. The Earn area also shows notices and application status.
- Wait for the channel review. YouTube reviews the channel as a whole against its monetization policies. Subscriber and viewing thresholds alone do not ensure approval.
- Review feature terms after acceptance. YPP membership does not automatically activate every way to earn. Review and accept the relevant feature modules; Shorts ad revenue sharing, for example, requires acceptance of the Shorts Monetization Module.
YouTube’s current requirements and application checklist are described in its YouTube Partner Program overview and eligibility guide.
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Which YouTube Partner Program tier should you target?
YouTube has an earlier-access expanded YPP tier and a higher tier for ad and YouTube Premium revenue. The figures below are YouTube program thresholds checked October 3, 2026; qualifying activity must fall within the stated rolling window.
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| Tier | Subscriber and activity requirements | What it can unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP, where available | 500 subscribers; at least 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days; and either 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months or 3 million qualified public Shorts views in the previous 90 days. | Some fan-funding and Shopping features, subject to feature-specific requirements, availability, and applicable terms. This tier does not by itself unlock ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing. |
| Full ad and Premium revenue eligibility | 1,000 subscribers; and either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days. | Eligibility to apply for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue, subject to review, relevant terms, and other requirements. |
Feature access varies by country or region and may carry additional requirements. The expanded tier is not available everywhere; check YouTube Studio’s Earn area and the expanded YPP overview for availability and current details.
How many subscribers do you need to get monetized on YouTube?
It depends on what you mean by “monetized.” The expanded YPP entry point is 500 subscribers, with additional upload and viewing requirements, and can provide access to some fan-funding and Shopping features. For ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing under the rules in force on October 3, 2026, you need 1,000 subscribers and one of the qualifying watch-hour or Shorts-view totals. Neither threshold guarantees approval, and a feature may have its own eligibility rules.
What watch hours and Shorts views count?
Watch-hour route
The 4,000-hour full-revenue route uses qualified watch hours from public long-form videos within the previous 12 months. Shorts Feed watch time does not count toward it. Private, unlisted, or deleted videos, ad campaigns, Shorts, and certain livestreams do not contribute to this threshold.
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Shorts route
The Shorts route measures qualified views of public Shorts in the Shorts Feed during the previous 90 days. Views from private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts and ad campaigns do not count toward the threshold.
Paid promotion is not a shortcut
Watch time and views generated through paid ad campaigns do not count toward eligibility thresholds. YouTube’s feature overview identifies follow-on organic views after promoted content as eligible; promotion itself does not purchase qualifying progress. See YouTube’s monetization feature overview.
Do Shorts views count toward 4,000 watch hours?
No. Shorts Feed watch time does not count toward the 4,000 qualified public watch-hour threshold. Shorts have a separate eligibility route based on qualified public Shorts views in the Shorts Feed over 90 days.
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Long-form or Shorts: which route fits your channel?
Neither route is universally easier. Compare the measurement window, the activity you can produce consistently, and the scale required. Both routes still depend on qualifying activity and policy compliance.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Long-form | Previous 12 months | Qualified public watch hours from long-form videos | 4,000 hours |
| Shorts | Previous 90 days | Qualified views of public Shorts in the Shorts Feed | 10 million views |
Choose based on the format you can make well and sustain while building a returning audience—not on an assumption that one threshold is easier for every creator.
What monetization can YPP provide?
Earlier-access features
In eligible regions, the expanded tier may provide access to channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, eligible live-stream gifts, and Shopping. Each feature can have separate eligibility rules, country availability, and module terms.
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Ad and Premium revenue
At the higher eligibility tier, creators can apply for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue, subject to YouTube’s review and the terms for each feature. For Shorts ad revenue sharing, creators must accept the Shorts Monetization Module; eligible Shorts views accrue for sharing only from the date of acceptance. Non-original Shorts and artificial or fake views are examples of views that are ineligible for payment. Read YouTube’s Shorts monetization policies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Review your channel before you apply
YPP review considers the channel as a whole, not only its numbers. Before applying, review YouTube’s channel monetization policies and check that your content and channel comply. Reaching a threshold does not override policy requirements.
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- Build around original work and meaningful value for viewers. Repeatedly reused or minimally changed material may raise policy concerns; a view count does not establish that content is eligible for monetization.
- Do not buy or artificially generate views, subscribers, or engagement. Artificial or fake Shorts views can be ineligible for payment, and paid ad campaign activity does not count toward eligibility thresholds.
- Check current program and feature terms in YouTube Studio, particularly if your channel covers sensitive or third-party material.
A scheduled change to full-revenue thresholds
YouTube has announced that, starting February 1, 2027, full ad and Premium entry thresholds for new creators will rise to 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. The announcement says the lower fan-funding and YouTube Shopping thresholds will not change. These are announced future requirements, not the thresholds in force on October 3, 2026. Check YouTube’s YPP changes announcement and the Earn area for updates before applying, especially on or after the effective date.
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Keep a YouTube livestream running while you grow
If a channel’s programming includes continuous playback of uploaded videos, a cloud service can keep a YouTube stream running without leaving a home computer on. StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for uploaded recordings and playlists; it does not stream from a camera.
Or let it run in the cloud
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud.
Nothing has to stay on at home. Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; YouTube-drop recovery is automatic. The first day is free with no card. The Monthly plan is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for service details, then start the free first day.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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