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As of October 3, 2026, YouTube’s standard route to Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue requires 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days. In eligible regions, creators can apply to the expanded YouTube Partner Program earlier—at 500 subscribers, three valid public uploads in 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours or 3 million qualified Shorts views. That lower tier can unlock eligible fan-funding and Shopping features, but not ad or Premium revenue. Meeting a threshold lets you apply; it does not guarantee acceptance.
Choose the YPP tier that matches your goal
YouTube has two relevant entry tiers. The lower, expanded YPP tier can provide eligible fan-funding and Shopping features in participating regions. The higher tier is the one associated with Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue. The viewing routes within each tier are alternatives: meet either the watch-hour target or the Shorts-view target, not both.
| Tier | Subscriber and activity requirements | Potential features | Availability and review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP | 500 subscribers; three valid public uploads in the previous 90 days; and either 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months or 3 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days. | Eligible fan-funding and Shopping features, subject to each feature’s conditions. This tier alone does not qualify a channel for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, or Premium revenue. | Available only in participating countries or regions. YouTube reviews the channel and feature-specific eligibility applies. |
| Standard ad and Premium eligibility | 1,000 subscribers; and either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days. | Eligibility to apply for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue, as well as other available features for which the channel qualifies. | YouTube reviews the channel. Additional terms and feature-specific requirements apply. |
These are requirements retrieved on October 3, 2026. For current details and participating regions, check YouTube’s YPP eligibility page and expanded YPP overview.
What counts toward watch hours and Shorts views
Qualified public watch hours
The watch-hour route uses eligible watch time from public long-form videos. These do not count toward the threshold:
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- Watch time from private, unlisted, or deleted videos.
- Watch time generated by ad campaigns.
- Watch time from Shorts in the Shorts Feed.
- Livestream watch time if the stream remains unlisted, is deleted, or is not converted to video on demand.
A public livestream may contribute only when it satisfies YouTube’s stated conditions, including being converted to video on demand. Do not assume that every hour watched during a live broadcast is included. Check YouTube’s eligibility guidance for the current metric definitions.
Qualified Shorts views
The Shorts route counts eligible views of public Shorts appearing in the Shorts Feed. Private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts, ad-campaign activity, and image posts in the Shorts Feed do not count. Shorts Feed watch time cannot be added to the long-form watch-hour total.
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Paid promotion does not replace qualifying organic activity
Views and watch time generated by paid ad campaigns do not count toward these thresholds. YouTube says qualifying follow-on organic views after promoted content can count. See its monetization feature comparison for this distinction.
Check the other requirements before applying
Subscriber and viewing totals are only part of eligibility. YouTube’s main prerequisites include:
Rank #3
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Your channel is based in a country or region where the relevant YPP tier is available.
- You follow YouTube’s channel monetization policies and have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- You have 2-Step Verification enabled and access to advanced features.
- You link or prepare to set up one AdSense for YouTube account through YouTube Studio.
- You complete the signup steps and accept the relevant terms and monetization modules.
Meeting these prerequisites does not make acceptance automatic. YouTube reviews the channel as a whole against its monetization policies, which include Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, copyright and rights-clearance rules, program rules, and advertiser-friendly content standards for ad monetization. YouTube’s channel monetization policies explain the policy scope.
Apply in YouTube Studio
- Check your eligibility and progress: In YouTube Studio, open Earn. Review the requirements shown for your channel and the features available in your region.
- Complete outstanding prerequisites: Turn on 2-Step Verification, confirm advanced-features access, address any active Community Guidelines strike, and prepare the AdSense for YouTube account setup if needed.
- Start the application when eligible: In Earn, follow the displayed signup steps, accept the relevant base terms, and connect or set up AdSense for YouTube as prompted.
- Wait for channel review: YouTube assesses the channel against its policies. Reaching a number in Studio is not approval; review applies to the channel as a whole.
- Enable eligible features and modules: After acceptance, review the available features and accept the applicable terms or modules. Eligibility can differ by feature, including age, location, content, and other conditions.
For feature-specific requirements, consult YouTube’s guide to earning money on YouTube. If you apply while your metrics are above the threshold, YouTube says that a subsequent drop below the subscriber or watch-hour threshold while the application is waiting for review does not stop that review. YouTube may also turn off monetization for a channel with no video uploads or Posts activity for six months or more. Both conditions are described on its YPP eligibility page.
Rank #4
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Know which features each tier can unlock
The 500-subscriber expanded tier can make certain features available, including memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, and Shopping, when the channel meets the applicable additional conditions. The higher threshold is associated with Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and Premium revenue. Availability is not identical for every creator or feature, so check the terms shown in Studio and YouTube’s feature comparison and feature requirements.
For Shorts ad revenue sharing, accepting the applicable Shorts monetization module matters: eligible Shorts views qualify for revenue sharing only from the time you accept it. Earlier views are not paid under that module. See YouTube’s Shorts monetization policies.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
What changes on February 1, 2027
YouTube has announced a future increase for new creators seeking ad and Premium revenue, effective February 1, 2027: 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days. This is not the standard threshold in effect on October 3, 2026. YouTube says existing YPP status will not be affected, and the lower fan-funding and Shopping route will remain at 500 subscribers, three valid public uploads in 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours or 3 million qualified Shorts views. Details are in YouTube’s YPP change notice.
If you run a 24/7 documentary stream
A continuous stream is not a shortcut around YPP eligibility or channel review. For watch-hour eligibility, livestreams must meet YouTube’s stated conditions, including conversion to video on demand; unlisted, deleted, or non-converted streams do not count. A channel still needs original, policy-compliant material and must meet the applicable thresholds.
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping a channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; the cloud keeps the loop running without a computer or home connection staying on. It is separate from YPP and does not guarantee monetization or make otherwise ineligible viewing activity count. Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, playlists, automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and support. Uploads stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. 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.
