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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo qualify for full YouTube Partner Program (YPP) ad revenue sharing under YouTube’s guidance current on October 3, 2026, a channel needs 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days. Meeting a threshold lets you apply; YouTube still reviews the channel, and acceptance is not automatic. Eligible regions also have an earlier YPP tier for certain fan-funding and Shopping features, with lower thresholds but no ad-revenue sharing.
How to Become a YouTube Partner: Tips to Qualify
Start by deciding which YPP benefits you want. The expanded YPP tier can make certain fan-funding and Shopping features available sooner in supported regions. Full ad revenue sharing—including Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads and YouTube Premium revenue—has higher eligibility thresholds. These are separate tiers, not interchangeable descriptions of the same qualification.
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YouTube’s thresholds are qualified metrics, not simply totals shown on a channel’s public pages. The figures below reflect YouTube Help guidance accessed October 3, 2026; use the channel’s Earn tab for its current progress and eligibility.
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| Goal | Subscribers and uploads | One qualifying viewing route | What it may unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP early access | 500 subscribers and 3 valid public uploads in the preceding 90 days | 3,000 valid public watch hours in the preceding 12 months, or 3 million valid public Shorts views in the preceding 90 days | Eligible fan-funding and Shopping features, subject to their individual rules |
| Full ad revenue sharing | 1,000 subscribers | 4,000 valid public watch hours in the preceding 12 months, or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the preceding 90 days | Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads and YouTube Premium revenue, subject to applicable terms and requirements |
The expanded-tier figures and qualification details are in YouTube’s overview of the expanded YPP. The full-revenue thresholds are listed in YouTube’s YPP overview and eligibility guidance. Regional availability and feature-specific rules apply to both tiers.
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Choose one viewing route within your tier
For either tier, the watch-hour and Shorts-view figures are alternatives: you do not need to meet both. You still need the subscriber count for that tier, and the expanded tier also requires its recent public uploads. Watch time from the Shorts Feed cannot be used to reach a long-form watch-hour threshold.
Early access is not ad revenue sharing
Reaching expanded YPP eligibility does not by itself unlock Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads or YouTube Premium revenue. It can provide access to eligible fan-funding and Shopping features when their separate requirements are met. Check YouTube’s feature-by-feature monetization guidance for the features offered to your channel.
Check the non-metric requirements
Subscriber and viewing totals are only part of the application. YouTube’s full YPP overview lists these channel and account conditions:
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- The channel follows YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
- The channel is based in a country or region where YPP is available.
- The channel has no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- 2-Step Verification is turned on for the Google Account.
- The account has access to YouTube advanced features.
- The channel links one active AdSense for YouTube account, or sets one up in YouTube Studio.
The expanded YPP overview also specifies regional availability and account and policy conditions. Requirements can differ by feature, so confirm the current checklist in Studio and the relevant official guidance: full YPP eligibility and expanded YPP eligibility.
Individual features may add requirements such as minimum age, regional availability, acceptance of a feature module or content suitability. For example, some fan-funding features require the creator to be at least 18 and in a location where the feature is available. Ad revenue also requires compliance with advertiser-friendly content guidelines and acceptance of the applicable contract modules. See YouTube’s monetization feature requirements and how to earn money on YouTube.
Know which views and watch hours count
For the public watch-hour route
Qualifying watch time comes from public long-form videos. The following do not count toward the public watch-hour threshold:
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- Watch time from private, unlisted or deleted videos.
- Watch time from ad campaigns.
- Watch time from Shorts.
- Watch time from livestreams that are unlisted, deleted or not converted to video on demand.
A public livestream that is retained as a video on demand may contribute eligible watch time under YouTube’s stated rules; do not assume every live view will count. Check the format’s status and the Earn tab. Shorts Feed watch time remains separate from the long-form hours route. YouTube’s full definitions are on its eligibility page.
For the Shorts-view route
Eligible Shorts views are from public Shorts appearing in the Shorts Feed. Private, unlisted or deleted Shorts and views from ad campaigns do not qualify under the stated criteria. YouTube also excludes certain other formats. Its feature guidance distinguishes organic follow-on views after promoted content from views generated by paid ad campaigns; paid campaign views and watch time do not count toward the listed thresholds. See YouTube’s monetization feature guidance.
Track progress in Studio, not by guessing
Open YouTube Studio and select Earn in the left menu. Use the progress shown there to see which tier and route the channel is approaching. Do not buy subscribers or views: purchased totals are not a qualification strategy, and YouTube reviews channels against its monetization policies.
Apply through YouTube Studio
- Sign in to YouTube and open YouTube Studio.
- Select Earn from the left menu.
- When the channel is eligible, select Apply Now.
- Review and accept the base terms.
- Set up an AdSense for YouTube account in Studio or link an existing active account.
- Return to the Earn tab to check the application’s review status.
After signup is complete, YouTube places the channel in a review queue. Its automated systems and human reviewers assess the channel as a whole against its monetization policies and guidelines. Meeting the numeric threshold does not guarantee approval. YouTube’s answer to “If I meet the threshold, do I automatically get into YPP?” is no; every qualifying channel goes through a standard review. See YouTube Partner Program overview and eligibility.
If subscriber or watch-hour figures fall after the channel has reached the threshold and applied, YouTube says the channel will still be reviewed. However, changing videos’ privacy settings or deleting them may affect the application. Avoid making major library changes while a review is pending unless necessary.
Make content and channel decisions that support a review
There is no camera, microphone, editing tool or upload schedule that substitutes for qualified subscribers and viewing metrics. Focus instead on publishing work that viewers choose to watch and that complies with YouTube’s rules. Review YouTube’s channel monetization policies, which apply to Shorts, long-form videos and livestreams.
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- Build a consistent library of public videos that gives viewers a reason to return.
- Use titles and thumbnails that accurately represent each video; misleading packaging does not create durable audience trust.
- Track whether your format is generating qualified long-form watch time or Shorts Feed views, rather than mixing those metrics.
- Do not try to accelerate progress with paid campaign views, bought engagement or artificial subscriber activity.
- Keep the channel active after joining: YouTube may turn off monetization for channels with no video upload or Posts-tab activity for six months or more.
Policy compliance is ongoing, not just an application formality. A channel can lose monetization for policy violations even if it retains its subscriber and viewing totals.
Keep the February 2027 threshold announcement in context
As of October 3, 2026, the full-revenue thresholds described above are YouTube’s current stated thresholds. YouTube has announced that new creators seeking full ad and Premium revenue eligibility will face higher thresholds beginning February 1, 2027: 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the prior 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the prior 90 days. The announcement says the change will not affect the status of current YPP members and also describes future activity requirements. These are announced future rules, not the current October 2026 thresholds. Check YouTube’s announcement on YPP changes and the channel’s Earn tab when applying, particularly on or after the effective date.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a separate operational option for keeping a YouTube livestream running from uploaded videos; it does not qualify a channel for YPP, increase eligible metrics by itself or guarantee that livestream watch time will count. YouTube’s public availability, VOD and policy rules still apply. If a public livestream and retained VOD fit your channel’s plan, the process is to upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It supports uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free without a card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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