You can apply to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) at either of two levels: an expanded-access tier for eligible channels, or the higher threshold for Watch Page ads, Shorts Feed ads and YouTube Premium revenue sharing. Meeting the numbers lets you apply; it does not guarantee approval. YouTube reviews the channel and its policy compliance before accepting it.
Which YouTube Partner Program threshold do you need?
YouTube has two main eligibility thresholds. The lower, expanded YPP tier can unlock certain fan-funding and Shopping features in supported countries and regions. The higher tier is required for ad revenue sharing and YouTube Premium revenue. YouTube’s official eligibility pages, checked October 3, 2026, set out these criteria:
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| Route | Subscribers | Qualifying activity | Valid public uploads | What it can unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP | 500 | Either 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days | At least 3 in the last 90 days | Eligible fan-funding and Shopping features, subject to their additional rules |
| Higher YPP ad-revenue threshold | 1,000 | Either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days | No separate upload count stated for this threshold | Watch Page ads, Shorts Feed ads and YouTube Premium revenue sharing |
The expanded tier is not the same as qualifying for ad revenue sharing. It is available only in supported countries and regions. Check YouTube’s expanded YPP overview and the Earn section in YouTube Studio for current availability and your channel’s status. The higher threshold is described in YouTube’s YPP eligibility requirements.
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Qualified public watch hours
The 3,000- and 4,000-hour routes use qualified watch hours from public long-form videos within the stated 12-month window. Your channel’s total Analytics watch time is not necessarily the same as the qualifying total.
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- Watch time from private, unlisted or deleted videos does not count.
- Watch time from Shorts and ad campaigns does not count toward this route.
- Livestream watch time does not count if the stream is unlisted, deleted or not converted to video on demand.
These exclusions are listed in YouTube’s YPP eligibility guidance.
Qualified public Shorts views
The Shorts route counts qualified views of public Shorts shown in the Shorts Feed during the relevant 90-day period. Private, unlisted or deleted Shorts and ad-campaign views are excluded. A channel’s total views should not be treated as its YPP-qualifying Shorts total.
YouTube also distinguishes paid promotion from qualifying organic follow-on views: paid promotion views do not count toward the thresholds, apart from qualifying organic follow-on views described in its guidance. See the expanded YPP overview for the applicable details.
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How to apply for YPP
Before applying, check both the numerical threshold and the account requirements. YouTube’s YPP eligibility page says a channel must:
- Be based in a country or region where YPP is available.
- Follow YouTube’s channel monetization policies.
- Have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- Have 2-Step Verification turned on.
- Have access to advanced features.
- Link one active AdSense for YouTube account, or set one up through YouTube Studio.
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Earn.
- Check which eligibility route is available to your channel and whether you have met its qualifying totals.
- Complete the signup steps shown there, including accepting the applicable base terms and linking AdSense for YouTube.
- Wait for YouTube’s channel review. YouTube says it uses automated systems and human reviewers to assess the channel as a whole.
Reaching the threshold is permission to apply, not automatic acceptance. YouTube continues to check channels after acceptance, and policy violations can result in monetization being removed regardless of subscriber or view totals.
What can YPP creators earn from?
YPP offers several monetization routes, but each has its own eligibility rules and terms. The options described by YouTube include:
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| Revenue route | How it works | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Page ads | Ads shown on eligible videos watched on YouTube’s Watch Page | Requires the higher ad-revenue eligibility level and the relevant terms |
| Shorts Feed ads | Revenue sharing associated with ads shown between Shorts | Requires the higher eligibility level; reused, non-original, artificial or advertiser-ineligible Shorts views can be excluded |
| YouTube Premium | Revenue when Premium subscribers watch your content | Eligibility and applicable monetization terms still apply |
| Channel memberships | Recurring fan payments in exchange for creator-provided perks | Feature availability and channel rules apply; YouTube describes a 70% share of net revenue for memberships under its terms |
| Super Chat and Super Stickers | Viewer payments highlighted during eligible live chats | Feature availability and channel rules apply; YouTube describes a 70% share of net revenue for Supers under its terms |
| Super Thanks | One-off viewer support on eligible videos and Shorts | Feature availability and content eligibility rules apply |
| Shopping | Promote your own merchandise; eligible creators may also feature products from other brands | Availability and additional eligibility rules apply |
| YouTube Shopping affiliate program | Eligible creators may earn commission when viewers buy featured third-party products | Not available to every creator; confirm current eligibility and terms in YouTube Studio |
YouTube describes the Shorts Creator Pool mechanism as allocating revenue to creators, with creators receiving 45% of the revenue allocated to them under the applicable terms. This is a revenue-share rule, not an estimate of what an individual channel will earn. For current feature descriptions and terms, see How to earn money on YouTube, Choose how you want to monetize and the YouTube partner earnings overview.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchExtra rules for fan-funding features
YouTube generally requires creators using fan-funding features to be at least 18, live where the feature is available, join YPP and accept the Commerce Product Module. An individual feature can have extra restrictions, including rules about channel type or content eligibility. Check YouTube’s monetization feature guidance and the feature’s terms in Studio before relying on it.
Policies that can affect approval and earnings
YPP review is about the channel as a whole, not just its numbers. YouTube’s channel monetization policies require creators to follow monetization policies, Community Guidelines, copyright rules, advertiser-friendly content guidelines for ads, and relevant module or commerce terms.
- Reused or non-original material: Meeting the view threshold does not make reused content eligible. YouTube may exclude reused, non-original, artificial or advertiser-ineligible Shorts views from Shorts revenue sharing.
- Copyright and advertiser suitability: Content can face limits or lose monetization even after a channel joins YPP if it does not meet the relevant rules.
- Ongoing activity: YouTube says it may turn off monetization for channels that have not uploaded a video or posted to the Posts tab for six months or more.
- Ads before YPP ad eligibility: YouTube may show ads on content from channels that have not reached the higher ad-revenue eligibility level. The creator does not receive a share merely because ads appear.
For Shorts-specific rules, consult YouTube’s Shorts monetization policies.
Does joining YPP guarantee income?
No. YouTube’s earnings overview says the partner agreement does not guarantee how much a creator will earn—or that the creator will be paid at all. Eligibility and revenue-sharing terms are not an earnings forecast. Income depends on actual monetized activity and applicable program terms; YouTube does not promise an individual outcome.
Upcoming YPP terms date
YouTube’s YPP overview lists updated terms beginning February 1, 2027, and says creators should review and accept them in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027, to continue fully monetizing. These are scheduled future dates, so check the current YPP overview and Studio Earn page as the deadline approaches. YouTube’s Shorts monetization policy also describes a future change to the Shorts revenue-sharing eligibility calculation from February 1, 2027; confirm its current wording before making plans around it.
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