Monetization
YouTube Monetization Requirements in 2026 — and What Changes in 2027
YouTube is changing the bar for new creators. From February 1, 2027, joining the Partner Program for ad revenue will take 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views — double today's thresholds. Here's exactly what's required now, what changes, and how to plan.
On this page
Key takeaways
- Today: 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours (12 months) or 10M Shorts views (90 days).
- From February 1, 2027, new applicants need 8,000 hours or 20M Shorts views.
- Fan funding and shopping stay at 500 subscribers; existing partners must accept the new terms by January 31, 2027.
January 31, 2027: deadline for existing members to accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio.
February 1, 2027: new thresholds take effect for new applicants.
Requirements today (until January 31, 2027)
YPP has two levels. The lower level unlocks fan funding and shopping features; the higher level adds a share of ad revenue and YouTube Premium revenue.
| Fan funding & shopping | Ad revenue sharing | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 500 | 1,000 |
| Watch path | 3,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months | 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months |
| Shorts path (alternative) | 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days | 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days |
| Recent activity | 3 public uploads in the last 90 days | — |
| What you can earn | Channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, YouTube Shopping | Everything on the left plus ads and YouTube Premium revenue |
You need to meet the watch-hours path or the Shorts path, not both. Shorts views in the Shorts feed don't count toward long-form watch hours. The lower level isn't available in every country; YouTube Studio shows which applies to you.
Requirements that apply to everyone
- Follow YouTube's channel monetization policies (which include the Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, copyright rules and AdSense program policies).
- Live in a country or region where YPP is available.
- Have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification for your Google Account.
- Have access to advanced features on YouTube.
- Have (or set up) an active AdSense for YouTube account linked to your channel. AdSense account holders must be 18 or older; younger creators can use a parent's or guardian's account.
What changes on February 1, 2027
YouTube announced on August 10, 2026 that it's raising the entry bar for ad revenue and restructuring some requirements. According to its Help Center:
| Change | Before | From Feb 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry for ads & Premium revenue (new applicants) | 1,000 subs + 4,000 watch hours (12 months) or 10M Shorts views (90 days) | 1,000 subs + 8,000 qualified watch hours (365 days) or 20M qualified Shorts views (90 days) |
| Entry for fan funding & shopping | 500 subs + 3,000 hours or 3M Shorts views | Unchanged |
| Earning from the Shorts Creator Pool | Based on being in YPP with Shorts monetization accepted | Must maintain 10M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days to earn Shorts revenue that month |
| Staying "active" in YPP | — | 1,000 qualified watch hours (365 days), or 1M qualified Shorts views (90 days), or 2 long-form videos or 5 Shorts uploaded every 90 days |
- Existing members aren't affected by the new entry thresholds. If you're already in YPP, you don't need 8,000 hours — but you must accept the new terms by January 31, 2027.
- Missing the 10M Shorts threshold doesn't remove you from YPP and doesn't affect your long-form earnings; it only pauses Shorts Creator Pool earnings until you're back above it.
- Channels that fall below the activity requirements get an extended 90-day window to get back on track before losing YPP status.
What this means if you're not monetized yet
If you're close to 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, timing matters: the higher entry thresholds apply to new applicants from February 1, 2027, so reaching the current thresholds and applying before then is worth prioritizing. The Earn section of YouTube Studio shows the rules that apply to your channel. If you're further away, plan for the new 8,000-hour target. That's about 22 hours of watch time a day on average over a year — for example, roughly 1,300 views a day on videos where people watch around a minute each.
The fan-funding tier remains at 500 subscribers, so memberships, Super Thanks and shopping stay a realistic first income source for small channels.
How to apply
- Open YouTube Studio → Earn. You'll see your progress toward each threshold, and you can ask to be notified when you're eligible.
- Review and accept the base terms (the Partner Program terms) once you meet the requirements.
- Set up or link AdSense for YouTube. If you already have an AdSense account, link that one — you should only have one.
- Wait for review. Once you've done both steps, your channel goes into a review queue. YouTube says reviews usually take about a month, though it can take longer.
- Get the decision by email. If you're approved, you can turn on ads and choose the modules (like Shorts monetization) you want to accept.
Why channels get rejected
Meeting the numbers doesn't guarantee approval. Human reviewers look at your channel's main theme, most-viewed videos, newest videos, the videos with the most watch time, and your metadata (titles, thumbnails, descriptions). The most common problems:
| Issue | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Reused content | A significant part of the channel is other people's content without meaningful original commentary, education or editing. | Add substantial original value, or remove the videos that consist mainly of reused material. |
| Inauthentic (mass-produced or repetitive) content | Videos look template-made or nearly identical, with little variation or original effort between uploads. | Make each video distinct and clearly made with effort for viewers. |
| Community Guidelines or copyright problems | Strikes, repeated claims or policy-violating videos. | Resolve strikes and remove violating videos before reapplying. |
| Misleading metadata | Titles or thumbnails that don't match the content. | Make packaging accurate. See our thumbnail guide. |
| Artificial traffic | Bought views, subscribers or watch hours. | Never buy engagement. It can also lead to termination. |
If you're rejected, you can appeal within 21 days if you think the decision was wrong. Otherwise you can reapply 30 days after a first rejection, or 90 days after later rejections. Use that time to fix the specific issue in the rejection email — reapplying with no changes rarely works.
After approval: a short checklist
- Turn on ads for your existing eligible videos, and review the advertiser-friendly content guidelines so you know what may get limited ads.
- For videos of 8 minutes or longer, check mid-roll ad placement.
- Complete your AdSense for YouTube details: tax information, address verification (a PIN is mailed once you reach the verification threshold) and payment method. Payments are made once your balance passes the payment threshold (US$100 for accounts paid in dollars).
- Keep meeting the activity requirements so your channel stays in YPP after February 2027.
Want to estimate what you could earn? Try the YouTube revenue calculator and read RPM vs. CPM explained.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need 8,000 watch hours if I'm already monetized?
No. The new 8,000-hour / 20M Shorts views entry thresholds apply to new applicants from February 1, 2027. Existing members need to accept the updated terms by January 31, 2027 and meet the ongoing activity requirements.
Do Shorts views count toward the 4,000 watch hours?
No. Watch time from Shorts in the Shorts feed doesn't count toward the long-form watch-hours path. Shorts have their own path based on Shorts views.
Can I get monetized at 500 subscribers?
You can join the lower level of YPP (in countries where it's available) for fan funding and shopping features, but not for ad revenue. Ad revenue requires the higher thresholds.
I'm under 18. Can I monetize?
Yes, but the AdSense account must belong to a parent or legal guardian who is 18 or older, and payments go to that adult.
Sources
- YouTube Help — YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility
- YouTube Help — Changes to the YouTube Partner Program
- YouTube Official Blog — New opportunities to earn and changes to the YouTube Partner Program (August 10, 2026)
- YouTube Help — YouTube channel monetization policies
- YouTube Help — My channel was rejected for monetization
- Google AdSense Help — Eligibility requirements for AdSense
Keep reading
MonetizationRPM vs. CPM explainedWhat each metric measures, why RPM is lower, a worked example, and how CTR fits in.Read guide 
MonetizationHow much does a 100K channel make?Transparent scenarios based on views and RPM — and why subscribers alone don't tell you much.Read guide ToolsRevenue CalculatorEstimate daily, monthly and yearly YouTube earnings from views and RPM, including Shorts.Open tool