To monetize YouTube videos, join the YouTube Partner Program, link AdSense for YouTube, accept the relevant monetization agreements, and turn on ads for eligible videos. Long-form videos and Shorts use separate agreements. Your channel must meet the advertising eligibility requirements before it can earn ad or YouTube Premium revenue.
The short version
- Advertising eligibility: You need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days.
- Application: Open YouTube Studio and select Earn to apply and connect AdSense for YouTube.
- Separate agreements: Activate the Watch Page Monetization Module for long-form content and the Shorts Monetization Module for Shorts.
- Video controls: Enable monetization on eligible uploads and complete ad suitability ratings when required.
- Payments: Submit your tax information and add a payment method when your account reaches the payment-method selection threshold.
| Earning option | Eligible content or channel | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Page ads and Premium revenue | Long-form videos, live streams, and embedded YouTube players | Studio > Earn > Watch Page Monetization Module |
| Shorts ads and Premium revenue | Eligible Shorts on ads-eligible YPP channels | Studio > Earn > Shorts Monetization Module |
| Live-stream ad controls | Eligible monetized streams in Live Control Room | Studio > Create > Go live |
| Channel memberships | Channels meeting membership-specific requirements | Studio > Earn > Memberships |
| Super Chat and Super Stickers | Eligible live chats and Premieres | Studio > Earn > Supers |
| Super Thanks | Eligible uploaded videos and Shorts | Studio > Earn > Supers |
| Connected store | Shopping-eligible channels using supported stores | Studio > Earn > Shopping |
| Cover-song revenue sharing | YPP cover performances with eligible publisher claims | Studio > Content > Sharing ad earnings |
| Creator Music revenue sharing | Qualifying long-form videos by U.S. YPP creators with access | Studio > Creator Music |
Check your channel eligibility
For advertising and YouTube Premium revenue, your channel needs 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days. You also need to live in an eligible country, follow YouTube’s monetization policies, and have no active Community Guidelines strikes. Your account must have 2-Step Verification, advanced-feature access, and a linked AdSense for YouTube account.
Expanded YPP offers earlier access to fan funding and Shopping in eligible countries. You need 500 subscribers, three valid public uploads in the past 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months or 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. That entry tier does not itself qualify your channel for ads or Premium revenue. Open YouTube Studio and select Earn; if you are ineligible, select Get notified.
Sign in only through Google’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you. To enable the required security setting, open your Google Account, select Security & sign-in, then under How you sign in to Google, select Turn on 2-Step Verification. Complete the account-specific setup. If you use a work or school account, you may need your administrator’s assistance.
Check advanced-feature access on desktop in YouTube Studio under Settings > Channel > Feature eligibility. Access depends on sufficient channel history or available ID or video verification. Your eligibility determines which verification options you can use.
Apply and connect AdSense for YouTube
On the YouTube desktop website, select your profile picture, open YouTube Studio, then select Earn > Apply Now. Select Start under Accept Base terms and complete the agreement. Next, select Start to create or link your AdSense for YouTube account.
During AdSense setup, reauthenticate and choose the appropriate Google Account. For a new account, provide your contact information and submit the application; for an existing account, select Accept Association. Create a new YouTube payment account through Studio, rather than the AdSense homepage.
You can have only one AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account per payee, and an existing account can serve multiple channels. If you need to return to setup, open Earn, find Sign-up for AdSense for YouTube, and select START. After you complete the application steps, Get Reviewed changes to In Progress.
Activate the monetization modules you need
Once your channel qualifies for advertising and is accepted into YPP, open Studio and select Earn. For long-form videos, live streams, and embedded YouTube players, select Get started for the Watch Page Monetization Module and complete the agreement. To earn Premium revenue on eligible long-form content watched by Premium subscribers, activate this module and enable ads.
For Shorts, select Get started for the Shorts Monetization Module and complete its agreement. Shorts advertising revenue starts accruing upon acceptance. This module also enables Premium revenue on eligible Shorts watched by Premium subscribers.
Turn on ads for existing videos
On desktop, open Studio and select Content. Beside an eligible video, select Monetization, choose On, and select Save. If your channel uses Self-Certification, complete the ad suitability rating when enabling ads on a previously unmonetized upload.
To enable monetization for several videos together, select their thumbnail checkboxes in Content. Choose Edit > Monetization > On, then select Update videos. Check I understand the implications of this action, then select Update videos again.
To manage videos on your phone or tablet, install the official YouTube Studio app for Android or iPhone and iPad. In either app, open Content, select the video, then choose Edit > Monetization > ON. Select Back, then Save. You can also activate monetization modules through Earn > Get started.
Enable monetization during an upload
In the desktop Studio upload workflow for channels using Self-Certification, select Monetization > On > Done > Next. Complete Advanced settings, then select Next. Answer the questions under Ad suitability accurately, and check None of the above only when it applies.
Select Submit Rating, then Next. Review Checks, select Next, choose the visibility, and select Done. If an automated ad suitability decision is incorrect, select Request review in the rating-status interface or upload Checks workflow. After a human decision, open View feedback.
For new long-form uploads, enable video monetization and YouTube selects the pre-roll, post-roll, skippable, and non-skippable ad formats. Older videos retain their previous format choices until you change their monetization settings.
Add mid roll ads to longer videos
You can enable mid-roll ads on monetized long-form videos longer than eight minutes. For an existing upload on desktop, open Studio > Content, select the video, and open Monetization. Enable monetization, check Show mid-roll ads during my video, then select Continue > Save.
For a new upload on desktop, select CREATE > Upload videos and select your file. Open Monetization > Ads & YouTube Premium, choose ON, then check Show mid-roll ads during my video.
To place breaks yourself, open the video’s Monetization settings and select MANAGE AD SLOTS > INSERT AD SLOT. Enter a timestamp or drag the placement. You can combine manual and automatic placements, or uncheck Automatic ad slots for manual-only placement. Select Continue, then Save.
For future eligible uploads, open desktop Studio > Settings > Upload defaults > Monetization > Ad preferences. Check Show mid-roll ads during my videos, then select Save. On mobile, you can turn mid-rolls on or off; use desktop Studio to edit their placement.
To change several eligible existing videos, open desktop Studio > Content, select the videos, then choose Edit > Ad settings. Check Place ads during video (mid-roll) and choose whether automatic placements apply to all selected videos or those without breaks. Select Update videos, check I understand the implications of this action, then select Update videos again.
Add eligible fan funding features
Your channel must meet membership-specific age, country, and content requirements, and memberships may need an additional review after YPP admission. To start on desktop, open Studio > Earn > Memberships > Get started. Complete the Commerce Product Module agreement, then configure your membership levels and perks.
For eligible live chats and Premieres, open desktop Studio > Earn > Supers > Get started. Complete the Commerce Product Module agreement and turn on Super Chat, Super Stickers, or both. If your channel is eligible, use the same starting path to enable Super Thanks, which applies to eligible existing and future long-form uploads and Shorts.
In the Studio mobile app, open Earn > Supers. If the card is absent, select Get started in Supers, then select Turn on. Complete the Commerce Product Module agreement to enable the available Supers products.
If a participating network manages your channel, its administrator must open desktop Studio > Settings > Agreements and complete the Commerce Product Module agreement. You can then enable memberships or Supers if your individual channel is eligible. Independent channels do not need this network setup.
Complete your payment setup
You must supply tax information through AdSense for YouTube wherever you are based. Open Payments > Payments info > Manage settings > Payments profile. Select the edit control beside United States tax info, choose Manage tax info, and complete the applicable guided form.
Once your account reaches the payment-method selection threshold, open Payments > Payments info > Manage payment methods > Add payment method. Enter the requested account information, select Set as primary payment method if desired, then select Save. Available payment methods vary by country.
Review updated agreements for an existing channel
If you are already a partner and receive updated agreements, open the terms notification on your Studio dashboard or go to Earn on desktop or mobile. Select Review for each updated module, complete its acceptance screen, then select Next. After completing all relevant modules, select Submit.
YouTube requires acceptance by January 31, 2027, with associated earning changes beginning February 1, 2027. If you still use the older Commerce Product Addendum, use this updated-agreement workflow to move to the Commerce Product Module.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you turn on monetization for a live stream?
For an eligible monetized stream in YouTube Studio, select Create > Go live, choose Stream or Manage, then open Edit > Monetization > On. Choose Automatic (recommended), Scheduled, or Manual ads. Automatic frequency options are Low, Medium, and High; scheduled intervals are 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 minutes. An external embedded player using automatic playback does not receive live-stream ads.
Can you monetize a cover song on YouTube?
You can share advertising revenue on some cover performances with eligible music-publisher Content ID claims. In Studio > Content, look for a cover displaying Sharing ad earnings and set its Monetization to On, either from the list or its monetization details. You must be in YPP, and not every cover qualifies.
How do you connect a store to your YouTube channel?
If your channel is Shopping-eligible, open desktop Studio > Earn > Shopping > Get Started. Choose a supported retailer or platform and complete its connection workflow. To add another store, select Connect new store.
Can you share revenue when using music from Creator Music?
If you are a U.S. YPP creator with Creator Music access, choose a revenue-sharing-eligible track in Studio > Creator Music and make a qualifying long-form video. During upload Checks, recognition of the eligible track activates revenue sharing when no incompatible copyright claims exist. Rights-holder terms apply, and this option does not cover Shorts or live streams.