The Tool Desk
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Which YouTube Partner Program level are you aiming for?
YouTube publishes two distinct eligibility levels. At each level, the long-form watch-hour route and the Shorts-view route are alternatives, not requirements you must meet together. The figures below are YouTube’s published thresholds as of October 3, 2026; availability and feature-specific requirements vary by country or region and by feature.
| Level | Audience threshold | Long-form route | Shorts route | Potential feature access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP, earlier access | 500 subscribers and 3 valid public uploads in the previous 90 days | 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months | 3 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days | In eligible locations, may include channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, and Shopping, subject to feature-specific eligibility. |
| Higher threshold, ad-revenue eligibility | 1,000 subscribers | 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 12 months | 10 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days | Eligibility for Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, and YouTube Premium revenue sharing, alongside lower-level features that are available to the channel. |
These are eligibility thresholds, not promises of acceptance or earnings. YPP and expanded YPP availability depend on your country or region. Check the Earn area in your own YouTube Studio account for the options available to you; do not assume the expanded level is offered everywhere. YouTube’s YPP overview and eligibility guidance and expanded YPP overview list current program details and location qualifications.
What counts toward the watch-hour and Shorts-view paths?
Long-form public watch hours
The watch-hour route uses qualified public watch hours accumulated during the applicable 12-month window. Shorts-feed watch time does not count toward the 4,000-hour requirement. YouTube also excludes, among other things, watch time from private, unlisted, and deleted videos, ad-campaign videos, Shorts, and certain livestreams. Check YouTube Studio’s Earn area for the count YouTube applies to your channel rather than relying on a total watch-time figure from another Analytics view.
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Qualified Shorts views
The Shorts route uses qualified views in the applicable 90-day window. YouTube excludes, among other things, views on private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts, ad-campaign views, and image posts appearing in the Shorts Feed. A Shorts-view total is not interchangeable with public watch hours; choose the route that matches the format and audience your channel actually has.
Meet the account and policy prerequisites
Subscriber and viewing totals are only part of the application. YouTube lists these additional requirements:
Rank #2
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- Your channel must follow YouTube’s channel monetization policies and be in a country or region where YPP is available.
- Your channel must have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- You must enable 2-Step Verification for your Google Account and have access to YouTube’s advanced features.
- You need one active AdSense for YouTube account linked to the channel, or you must be ready to set one up through YouTube Studio. If you need a new account, YouTube instructs creators to create it in Studio.
For gaming channels, review the monetization policies across the whole channel, not just the newest upload. Gameplay, commentary, music, cutscenes, and reused material can raise different policy or rights questions; meeting a numerical threshold does not establish that every video complies. YouTube states its approach plainly: “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.” The statement appears in YouTube’s partner earnings overview; it is not a promise that any particular format will be accepted.
How to apply in YouTube Studio
- Open YouTube Studio and select Earn in the left menu. Check which level and route Studio says your channel has reached, and review the local availability shown there.
- When the option appears, select Apply Now.
- Accept the base terms shown in the application.
- Link an active AdSense for YouTube account or follow the Studio flow to create one.
- Check the review step in Studio. Once the application is in progress, YouTube reviews the channel as a whole using automated systems and human reviewers.
Passing the count is not approval: YouTube assesses channel-wide policy compliance. If an application is rejected, the overview page says a creator may appeal within 21 days or continue publishing original content and reapply after 30 days. The applicable option and timing can depend on the rejection path, so follow the current notice in Studio and the official overview.
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.
What happens after acceptance?
Acceptance does not automatically turn on every way to earn. In YouTube Studio, choose the monetization options your channel is eligible for and accept the relevant module terms. Options can include Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, memberships and Supers, Shopping, and YouTube Premium revenue sharing; feature availability and eligibility differ.
YouTube publishes these revenue-share arrangements for specific modules. They describe how eligible revenue is allocated, not what a creator will earn:
Rank #4
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| Module or revenue type | 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 their share of views from the Shorts Creator Pool | Subject to Shorts module terms and eligible views. |
| Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks | 70% of net revenue | Under the Commerce Product Module. |
The percentages are YouTube’s published terms, not income estimates. YouTube does not guarantee how much a partner will earn—or that a partner will be paid; earnings depend on revenue generated and eligibility. See YouTube’s partner earnings overview for the applicable context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Shorts monetization: accept the module and note the announced 2027 change
A partner must accept the Shorts Monetization Module before Shorts views become eligible for Shorts ad-revenue sharing. Views accrued before acceptance are not eligible under that module. YouTube describes eligible engaged views as the basis for payment calculations and identifies non-original uploads, artificial or fake views, and content inconsistent with advertiser-friendly guidance as examples of ineligible views. Review the Shorts monetization policies and module terms in Studio.
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- 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.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
As of October 3, 2026, YouTube’s Shorts help page announces a change beginning February 1, 2027: for the specified monthly share of Shorts ad revenue from the Creator Pool and YouTube Premium revenue, a creator will need at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. This is a future-dated announced rule as of the date above, not a rule already in force on October 3, 2026. Check the official page again before relying on it.
Tips for improving your chances and keeping monetization
- Build toward the route your channel can sustain. Long-form watch hours and Shorts views are separate paths with different windows. Use Studio’s Earn area to track the counts relevant to each rather than treating them as interchangeable.
- Make originality and rights clear. Keep your own contribution evident, especially when a gaming video includes gameplay, trailers, cutscenes, music, or other material you did not create. The policy review applies to the channel as a whole.
- Check eligibility before planning around a feature. Country or region, channel status, and feature-specific rules affect what is available. Studio is the place to check your channel’s own options.
- Keep publishing and stay compliant. YouTube continually checks channels for monetization-policy compliance. It also reserves the right to turn off monetization for channels with no video upload or Posts-tab activity for six months or more.
- Separate monetization eligibility from production equipment. A microphone can help with recording, but it is not a YPP requirement and does not demonstrate policy compliance or improve acceptance odds.
Or let a YouTube gaming stream run in the cloud
If your channel uses pre-recorded gaming videos in a 24/7 YouTube livestream, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; the uploaded video loops from the cloud, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. Your upload streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; the first day is free with no card. This is a way to keep that stream running, not a YPP shortcut or a substitute for meeting monetization policies.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YouTube notify me when my channel reaches a threshold?
Use the Earn area in YouTube Studio to check your channel’s eligibility and any “Get notified” option available to you.
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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.
