YouTube Partner Program (ads and revenue share)
YouTube's main monetization program. Current entry numbers on the help page: 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. For new applicants starting February 1, 2027, YouTube says the entry numbers change to 1,000 subscribers with 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views.
Requirements as stated on the source
- Get 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months, or
- Get 1,000 subscribers with 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days.
- Starting February 1, 2027, for new creators (YouTube Help, 'Changes to the YouTube Partner Program'): 1,000 subscribers with 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 1,000 subscribers with 20M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. If you are already in YPP, YouTube says your status is not impacted by this update.
- Follow the YouTube channel monetization policies; live in a country/region where YPP is available; have no active Community Guidelines strikes; have 2-Step Verification on; have advanced features access; have one active AdSense for YouTube account linked (or be ready to set one up in YouTube Studio).
Process
Review decision is 'typically in about 1 month' per the page. If the first application is not successful: appeal within 21 days, or re-apply after 30 days; after a repeat rejection, re-apply after 90 days.
Notes and caveats
- The page says meeting a threshold is not automatic acceptance: every channel that meets it goes through a standard review.
- Watch hours from Shorts in the Shorts feed do not count toward the 4,000-hour path.
- Notice on the page: starting February 1, 2027 YouTube is introducing updates to YPP; to keep fully monetizing, review and accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027.
- YouTube's help page 'Changes to the YouTube Partner Program' says: "Starting Feb. 1, 2027, YPP entry thresholds for new creators are changing to 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, in addition to still needing 1k subscribers. If you are already in YPP, your status is not impacted by this update."
- YouTube's blog post dated August 10, 2026 says: "New creators applying for YPP will need 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days." and "This update won't impact creators already in YPP." The blog post does not repeat the 1,000-subscriber figure; the help page does.
- Until February 1, 2027 the numbers quoted from the main source above (4,000 hours or 10 million Shorts views) are the ones shown on YouTube's help page. The checker on the home page models those current numbers, not the February 1, 2027 numbers.
- YouTube's help page 'Changes to the YouTube Partner Program' says: "There are no changes to the eligibility requirements for fan funding, YouTube Creator Partnerships, or YouTube Shopping. These products will continue to help creators to start their earning journeys even earlier when they reach 500 subscribers and either 3,000 qualified watch hours in the last year or 3M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days." Those 500-subscriber numbers are the ones in the next entry (from YouTube's Creators page). The same help page puts the 1,000-subscriber numbers in its section 'Updating YPP ads & Premium entry thresholds'. Check YouTube Studio > Earn for what applies to your channel.
Sources
- https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72851 (main source)
- https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/12843009
- https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-partner-program-updates-2027-new-opportunities-earn/
Related programs
How we read it: official page read in full by us (also read in full: the 'Changes to the YouTube Partner Program' help page and the YouTube blog post of August 10, 2026). Rules change; confirm on the program's own page. Links on this page may be affiliate or sponsored links; any commission or paid relationship is disclosed where it appears.