YouTube Partner Program requirements, explained simply

What you need to earn from ads, the smaller fan-funding tier, and the higher thresholds that apply from February 2027.

Full monetization (ad revenue)

You need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. You only need one of the two paths, not both.

Change ahead: YouTube announced that from 1 February 2027 new channels need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. The 1,000-subscriber requirement stays. If you are close to the current threshold, it pays to get there before that date.

The earlier tier (fan funding)

From 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days, you can unlock features like memberships, Super Thanks and Super Chat in many countries. Ad revenue still needs the full tier.

What else YouTube checks

• You follow the community guidelines and have no active strikes.
• Your content follows the monetization policies, including the rules on inauthentic, mass-produced content.
• A linked AdSense account and 2-step verification.

Numbers and rules can change. Always double-check in YouTube Studio under Earn before you plan around them.

Checklist

• Pick your path: watch hours (long-form) or Shorts views
• Track progress weekly in YouTube Studio → Earn
• Turn on 2-step verification and prepare AdSense
• Read the monetization policies before you apply

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