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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo become a YouTube Partner, meet one of YouTube’s eligibility thresholds, satisfy its account and policy requirements, apply in YouTube Studio, and pass a review of your channel. The lower threshold can unlock some fan-funding features in eligible regions; Watch Page and Shorts Feed ad revenue sharing require the higher threshold. Neither threshold guarantees acceptance.
Rules and availability can change. The figures below reflect YouTube’s published requirements checked October 3, 2026; confirm your own status in the Earn area of YouTube Studio.
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Which YouTube Partner Program threshold do you need?
YouTube offers two eligibility levels. At either level, the long-form watch-hours route and the Shorts-views route are alternatives, not requirements to meet together.
| Level | Subscriber and activity requirements | Choose one audience threshold | Potential access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP, earlier access | 500 subscribers and at least three valid public uploads in the previous 90 days | 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months, or 3 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days | In eligible countries and regions, may include memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, and Shopping, subject to each feature’s requirements |
| Higher threshold, ad-revenue eligibility | 1,000 subscribers | 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months, or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days | Eligibility for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue sharing, alongside available lower-level features |
These are YouTube’s published figures as of October 3, 2026. The expanded program is available only in listed countries and regions, and some features have separate eligibility rules. Check the Earn tab in your account to see which level and features are available to you; eligible channels may see a “Get notified” option.
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What counts toward the long-form watch-hours path?
The 4,000-hour requirement is for qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months. Shorts-feed watch time does not count toward it. YouTube excludes, among other things, watch time from private, unlisted, or deleted videos, ad-campaign videos, Shorts, and certain livestreams. Check the eligibility details in YouTube Studio rather than assuming every view or stream contributes.
What counts toward the Shorts path?
The Shorts route uses qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days. YouTube excludes, among other things, views on private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts, ad-campaign views, and image posts appearing in the Shorts Feed. The Shorts route is separate from the long-form watch-hours route.
Requirements beyond subscribers and views
Meeting the audience figures is only part of eligibility. YouTube’s listed prerequisites include:
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- Your channel follows YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
- You live in a country or region where YPP is available.
- Your channel has no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- You have 2-Step Verification turned on for your Google Account.
- You have access to YouTube’s advanced features.
- You have one active AdSense for YouTube account linked to your channel, or are ready to set one up through YouTube Studio.
If you need a new AdSense for YouTube account, YouTube instructs creators to create it in Studio. Use the Earn page to check your account’s status and any requirement specific to your region or feature.
How to apply in YouTube Studio
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and open Earn.
- When the channel is eligible, select Apply Now.
- Accept YouTube’s base terms.
- Link an active AdSense for YouTube account, or set one up through Studio.
- Check the application’s status in the review step. YouTube says the channel is reviewed as a whole using automated systems and human reviewers.
Reaching a threshold does not guarantee approval. Reviewers assess whether the channel meets applicable policies, not just whether its counts are high enough. If YouTube rejects an application, the overview page says you may appeal within 21 days or continue publishing original content and reapply after 30 days. Check the current rejection notice and YouTube’s guidance for the applicable route and timing.
What happens after you are accepted?
Acceptance does not automatically turn on every earning feature. In YouTube Studio, choose the eligible options you want and accept the related module terms. Feature availability and requirements vary.
- Watch Page Ads: ads on eligible long-form or live content watched on the Watch Page.
- Shorts Feed Ads: revenue sharing for eligible Shorts views after accepting the Shorts Monetization Module.
- Memberships and Supers: fan-funding options such as channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks, where available and where the channel meets feature requirements.
- Shopping: access depends on region and feature-specific eligibility.
- YouTube Premium: eligible partners can receive revenue sharing associated with Premium viewing.
How YouTube describes published revenue shares
YouTube’s earnings overview publishes these shares for specific modules. They describe the revenue-sharing arrangements, not a prediction of what an individual creator will earn.
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| Module or feature | Published share | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Page ads | 55% of net revenue | For partners who accept the Watch Page Monetization Module |
| Shorts Feed ads | 45% of the revenue allocated to a creator | Based on the creator’s share of views from the Shorts Creator Pool |
| Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks | 70% of net revenue | Under the Commerce Product Module |
YouTube does not guarantee how much, or whether, a partner will be paid. Payment depends on revenue generated and eligibility.
Shorts monetization: module acceptance and a future rule
A partner must accept the Shorts Monetization Module before Shorts views are eligible for Shorts ad-revenue sharing. Views from before acceptance are not eligible under that module. YouTube says calculations use eligible engaged views; examples of ineligible views include non-original uploads, artificial or fake views, and content inconsistent with advertiser-friendly guidance.
As of October 3, 2026, YouTube’s Shorts help page announces a change beginning February 1, 2027: creators will need at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days for the specified monthly share of Shorts ad revenue from the Creator Pool and YouTube Premium revenue. This is a future-dated announced rule, not a rule already in force on October 3, 2026. Recheck YouTube’s current policy before relying on it.
How to improve your application readiness
- Build for one of the two paths. If your audience primarily watches long-form videos, track qualified public watch hours; if you focus on Shorts, track qualified Shorts views. The formats use different measurement windows and eligibility counts.
- Keep uploads public and eligible. Private, unlisted, deleted, and ad-campaign content can be excluded from relevant counts. Review the Earn page for the figures YouTube recognizes.
- Make the channel’s original value clear. YouTube reviews the channel as a whole for policy compliance. A threshold is not a substitute for meeting monetization policies.
- Finish account security and setup early. Turn on 2-Step Verification, make sure advanced features are available, and prepare to link or create AdSense for YouTube through Studio.
- Check regional and feature access. YPP and individual features are not available everywhere. Use your own Studio Earn page instead of assuming another creator’s location or feature list applies to you.
- Keep the channel active. YouTube continuously checks policy compliance and reserves the right to turn off monetization for channels that have not uploaded a video or posted to the Posts tab for six months or more.
Common eligibility misunderstandings
“I have 500 subscribers, so I can earn ad revenue.”
Not necessarily. The 500-subscriber level is the earlier expanded-YPP threshold, with additional upload and watch-hours or Shorts-view requirements. It may provide access to certain fan-funding and Shopping features in eligible regions; the higher threshold is the one that adds eligibility for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.
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“Shorts watch time counts toward 4,000 hours.”
It does not. Shorts-feed watch time is excluded from the long-form watch-hours path. Shorts have their own qualified-view route.
“I met the numbers, so approval is automatic.”
No. YouTube reviews the channel as a whole and checks policy compliance. Eligibility counts allow you to apply; they do not guarantee acceptance.
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Keep a YouTube live stream running while you grow
A live stream is not a shortcut to YPP: certain livestream watch time may not count toward qualified public watch hours, and YPP still requires eligible audience counts and policy compliance. If you do run a continuous stream of your own eligible content, keep the rights and monetization policies in mind. YouTube’s official guidance says: “We won’t tell you what you can create on YouTube, but we do have a responsibility to do right by our viewers, creators and advertisers.”
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Official YouTube guidance
- YouTube Partner Program overview and eligibility
- Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Program
- YouTube channel monetization policies
- YouTube Shorts monetization policies
- YouTube partner earnings overview
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.
