YouTube monetization requirements in 2026: two YPP tiers

Read the thresholds as separate benefit levels

In countries covered by the expanded program, the earlier route requires 500 subscribers and three valid public uploads in the previous 90 days. The channel must also record either 3,000 valid public watch hours in 12 months or 3 million valid public Shorts views in 90 days. It is an application threshold, not immediate feature access.

The ad-revenue route requires 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in 90 days. YouTube's current higher-tier criteria do not separately list the three-upload condition. The two performance paths are alternatives; creators do not need both.

Know what the 500-subscriber tier can provide

If YouTube approves the channel, the earlier tier can make memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, eligible Jewels and gifts, and selected Shopping features available. It does not provide a share of Watch Page ads, Shorts Feed ads, or YouTube Premium revenue.

Availability remains feature-specific. Age, country, channel type, Made for Kids settings, music status, and acceptance of the Commerce Product Module can affect access. The 500-subscriber route also exists only in the countries and regions on YouTube's expanded-YPP list, so check the Earn tab before planning around it.

Understand what changes at the higher tier

After the channel reaches 1,000 subscribers and the relevant viewing threshold, approval can add Watch Page ad revenue, Shorts Feed ad revenue, and YouTube Premium revenue. The creator must accept the applicable contract modules, and videos earning ads must satisfy advertiser-friendly content rules.

The higher threshold does not override product requirements. A creator generally must be at least 18 to manage ad payments or use an adult legal guardian through AdSense for YouTube. Earlier-tier features retain their own restrictions, and Shopping products from other brands can require eligibility beyond the standard ad threshold.

Count only eligible public activity

For the watch-hour path, YouTube counts valid watch time from public long-form videos. Hours from private, unlisted, or deleted videos, ad campaigns, Shorts, and livestreams that remain unlisted, are deleted, or are not converted to video on demand do not contribute.

For the Shorts path, the relevant measure is valid engaged views from public Shorts appearing in the Shorts Feed. Private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts, paid campaign views, and image Posts in the Shorts Feed are excluded. Shorts Feed watch time cannot be moved into the long-form watch-hour total.

• Track rolling 12-month long-form watch hours separately from rolling 90-day Shorts views.
• Do not add Shorts Feed watch time to the 3,000- or 4,000-hour totals.
• Treat deleted or newly private content as a possible change to application status.

Finish the account checklist before applying

Beyond audience numbers, the standard YPP checklist calls for a channel in an eligible location, compliance with monetization policies, no active Community Guidelines strikes, 2-Step Verification, and access to advanced YouTube features. Advanced access may come through channel history or an available identity-verification method.

Apply from the Earn area in YouTube Studio, accept the Base Terms, and link an active AdSense for YouTube account or create one there. Only one AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account is allowed under the same payee name, so creating a duplicate can delay or disable monetization.

• Confirm advanced access under YouTube Studio's feature eligibility settings.
• Turn on 2-Step Verification before the channel reaches the threshold.
• Use the existing AdSense account associated with the payee, if one exists.
• Create a new AdSense for YouTube account only through YouTube Studio.

Pass the review and protect access

Meeting a threshold sends the channel to review; it does not guarantee acceptance. YouTube uses automated systems and human reviewers to assess the channel as a whole. They may examine its main theme, newest and most-viewed videos, the content producing most watch time, metadata, and About section. YouTube says decisions typically take about one month, although delays are possible.

Current policy favors original, authentic work and can reject mass-produced, generic, repetitive, or minimally changed reused material. AI assistance is not automatically disqualifying, but the result still needs clear creative or educational value. Checks continue after approval, and YouTube may turn off monetization after six months without a video upload or Posts tab post.