YouTube Monetization [YEAR]: Complete Requirements Guide

YouTube monetization has become more accessible in [YEAR], but the requirements are still strict enough to filter out low-quality channels. Here's everything you need to know about the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and how to qualify.

YouTube Partner Program Requirements ([YEAR])

To monetize your YouTube channel, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

Core Requirements:

1. Subscriber Count: 1,000 subscribers

• Must be legitimate subscribers (not bought or sub4sub)
• Inactive subscribers count toward this number
• Public subscriber count (not hidden)

2. Watch Time: 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months

• Only public videos count (not private, unlisted, deleted)
• Watch time from YouTube Shorts does NOT count toward this requirement
• OR: 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days (alternative path)

3. Location: Available in your country Currently available in 100+ countries. Not available in:

• Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and a few others
• Check YouTube's official list for current availability

4. Two-Step Verification: Enabled on your Google Account

• Required for security
• Easy to set up in Google Account settings

5. AdSense Account: Linked to your channel

• Must be in good standing
• One AdSense account per YouTube channel
• Can take 1-2 weeks for approval

6. Community Guidelines: No active strikes

• No Community Guidelines strikes
• No copyright strikes
• Channel must follow YouTube's monetization policies

7. Content Guidelines: Advertiser-Friendly Content Your channel must primarily create content that:

• Follows YouTube's monetization policies
• Is suitable for advertisers
• Is original (not reused content)
• Adds value

The Two Paths to Monetization ([YEAR])

YouTube now offers two distinct paths:

Path 1: Long-Form Video Monetization

Requirements:

• 1,000 subscribers
• 4,000 watch hours in past 12 months
• From long-form videos (over 60 seconds)

Monetization Features:

• Ad revenue
• YouTube Premium revenue
• Channel memberships (at 30K subs)
• Super Chat & Super Stickers
• Super Thanks
• Shopping

Path 2: Shorts Monetization

Requirements:

• 1,000 subscribers
• 10 million Shorts views in past 90 days

Monetization Features:

• Shorts ad revenue (45% revenue share)
• YouTube Premium revenue
• Super Chat & Super Thanks (in Shorts)

Important: Shorts views do NOT count toward the 4,000 hours requirement. You must choose which path to pursue first.

The Application Process (Step-by-Step)

Before You Apply:

1. Double-check requirements using YouTube Studio Analytics
2. Review your content for policy violations
3. Link AdSense account (or create one)
4. Enable 2-step verification on Google Account

Step 1: Apply for YPP

Once you meet requirements:

1. Go to YouTube Studio
2. Click "Monetization" in left sidebar
3. Click "Apply" or "Start" under YouTube Partner Program
4. Follow the on-screen steps

Step 2: Accept the Terms

• Read and accept YouTube Partner Program Terms
• These cover monetization policies, copyright, community guidelines

Step 3: Sign Up for Google AdSense

• If you don't have an AdSense account, create one
• Link it to your YouTube channel
• Verify your payment information

Step 4: Set Monetization Preferences

• Choose which videos to monetize
• Select ad types (skippable, non-skippable, overlay, etc.)
• Set default preferences for future uploads

Step 5: Wait for Review

YouTube reviews your channel for:

• Compliance with policies
• Original content
• Main content focus
• Consistent uploads

Review Timeline: Typically 30 days, but can take longer

What YouTube Checks During Review

Content Originality:

• Is your content original or reused?
• Do you have rights to all content (video, music, images)?
• Are you adding significant value?

Red flags:

• Compilation videos without commentary
• Reposted content from other channels
• Stock footage videos with minimal editing

Channel Focus:

• What is your channel primarily about?
• Do you have a clear niche or topic?
• Is your content consistent?

Red flags:

• Random mix of unrelated topics
• Primarily music uploads (cover songs, music videos)
• Lots of deleted or private videos

Advertiser-Friendliness:

• Is your content suitable for advertisers?
• Do you follow monetization policies?
• Any controversial or sensitive content?

Red flags:

• Excessive profanity or adult content
• Violence or graphic imagery
• Controversial or inflammatory topics without context

Engagement Quality:

• Are your views, likes, and comments legitimate?
• Do you have active, engaged viewers?
• Is your subscriber growth organic?

Red flags:

• Sudden spikes in subscribers (bought subscribers)
• Low engagement relative to views
• Spam comments

Monetization Policies You Must Follow

Content That's NOT Eligible for Monetization:

1. Reused Content

• Compilations of others' content
• Unedited clips from TV shows, movies
• AI-generated content without significant editing

2. Inappropriate Content

• Sexually suggestive content
• Violence or dangerous acts
• Hateful or discriminatory content
• Harmful or dangerous content

3. Controversial Issues

• Sensitive events (wars, tragedies, pandemics)
• Must be discussed responsibly with context
• Cannot capitalize on tragedy

4. Copyright Violations

• Using others' music, videos, or images without permission
• Cover songs without proper licensing
• Screen recordings of games/movies

Content That IS Eligible:

• Original commentary and analysis
• Educational content
• Reviews and critiques
• Original music and performances
• Vlogs and personal content
• How-to and tutorial content
• Gaming content with original commentary

After Approval: Setting Up Monetization

Ad Types You Can Enable:

1. Display Ads

• Appear next to video (desktop only)
• Low impact on viewer experience

2. Overlay Ads

• Semi-transparent ads on lower portion of video
• Desktop only

3. Skippable Video Ads

• Can be skipped after 5 seconds
• Most common ad type
• Good balance of revenue and viewer experience

4. Non-Skippable Video Ads

• 15-20 seconds, must be watched
• Higher revenue per view
• Can hurt watch time if overused

5. Bumper Ads

• 6 seconds, non-skippable
• Quick, less intrusive

6. Mid-Roll Ads

• Ads in the middle of videos (8+ minutes only)
• Highest revenue potential
• Place strategically to minimize disruption

Recommended Ad Settings for New Monetizers:

For videos under 8 minutes:

• Enable: Skippable video ads, display ads, overlay ads
• Consider: Bumper ads
• Avoid: Non-skippable ads (until you build loyal audience)

For videos 8+ minutes:

• Enable: Mid-roll ads (1 every 4-5 minutes)
• Enable: Skippable video ads
• Enable: Display and overlay ads
• Consider: Non-skippable ads sparingly

Estimated Earnings (What to Expect)

Average Revenue by Niche:

High CPM Niches ($15-30 per 1000 views):

• Finance and investing
• Technology and software
• Real estate
• Insurance
• Business and marketing

Medium CPM Niches ($5-15 per 1000 views):

• Health and fitness
• Education
• Gaming
• DIY and crafts
• Personal development

Lower CPM Niches ($2-5 per 1000 views):

• Entertainment and comedy
• Vlogs
• Pranks and challenges
• Music covers
• General lifestyle

First Month Expectations:

At 1,000 subs and 4,000 watch hours:

• Typical monthly views: 10,000-30,000
• Estimated earnings: $20-$150
• Depends heavily on niche and audience location

Don't expect to quit your job immediately. Monetization is a long-term game.

Common Rejection Reasons (And How to Fix Them)

Rejection: "Reused Content"

What it means: Your content isn't original enough.

How to fix:

• Add significant commentary or analysis
• Create original content from scratch
• Don't rely on compilations or reposts

Rejection: "Not Enough Original Content"

What it means: Too many videos use others' content.

How to fix:

• Remove or private videos that aren't original
• Upload 5-10 new, fully original videos
• Wait 30 days and reapply

Rejection: "Doesn't Meet Advertiser-Friendly Guidelines"

What it means: Your content has policy violations.

How to fix:

• Review monetization policies
• Remove videos with profanity, violence, or controversial content
• Upload several advertiser-friendly videos
• Reapply after 30 days

Rejection: "Not Available in Your Country"

What it means: YPP isn't available in your location.

Unfortunately: No workaround. YouTube decides country availability.

How to Reapply After Rejection

If rejected, you can reapply after 30 days.

Before reapplying:

1. Fix the issues mentioned in rejection email
2. Upload new, policy-compliant content (5-10 videos)
3. Remove problematic videos that caused rejection
4. Wait the full 30 days (applying early = automatic rejection)
5. Review your entire catalog for policy violations

Beyond Ad Revenue: Other Monetization Features

Channel Memberships (30,000 subscribers required)

• Viewers pay monthly fee ($4.99-$24.99)
• Access to exclusive perks (badges, emojis, content)
• Revenue: $2-$15 per member per month (after YouTube's cut)

Super Chat & Super Stickers

• Viewers pay to highlight their messages in live chat
• Available once monetized
• Revenue: Varies widely, $0-$500+ per stream

Super Thanks

• Viewers pay to leave highlighted comment on videos
• Available once monetized
• Revenue: $1-$50 per video typical

Shopping (when eligible)

• Tag products in your videos
• Earn commissions on sales
• Requires linking to Shopify or other platforms

YouTube Premium Revenue

• Earn a share when Premium members watch your content
• Based on watch time
• Typically 10-15% of total revenue

Maintaining Monetization

Once approved, you must maintain:

• No Community Guidelines strikes
• No copyright strikes
• Follow monetization policies on all videos
• Maintain watch time (if it drops below 4K hours, you risk demonetization)
• Keep content advertiser-friendly

If you violate: YouTube can disable monetization or remove you from YPP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I monetize old videos after approval? A: Yes! All eligible videos can be monetized immediately. Go to YouTube Studio → Content → Select videos → Monetization.

Q: Do I need 1,000 active subscribers? A: No. All subscribers count, even inactive ones. Only requirement is 1,000 total.

Q: Can I delete old videos after reaching 4,000 hours? A: Yes, but watch hours are rolling (past 12 months). If you delete videos, your watch time might drop below 4,000 hours.

Q: How long until I get paid? A: You'll get paid once you reach $100 in earnings. YouTube pays between the 21st-26th of each month for previous month's earnings.

Q: Can I monetize videos with copyrighted music? A: Only if you have permission or license. Use YouTube Audio Library or royalty-free music to be safe.

Your Monetization Checklist

Before applying:

• [ ] 1,000 subscribers achieved
• [ ] 4,000 watch hours in last 12 months (or 10M Shorts views)
• [ ] 2-step verification enabled
• [ ] AdSense account created and linked
• [ ] Content reviewed for policy compliance
• [ ] No active strikes on channel
• [ ] Original content uploaded consistently

After applying:

• [ ] Wait patiently (30 days typical)
• [ ] Don't upload policy-violating content during review
• [ ] Continue consistent uploads
• [ ] Monitor email for YouTube updates

After approval:

• [ ] Set ad preferences on all videos
• [ ] Enable monetization on new uploads by default
• [ ] Track earnings in YouTube Studio
• [ ] Maintain policy compliance
• [ ] Explore other monetization features

Reaching monetization eligibility is just the beginning. The real work is building a sustainable, growing channel that generates meaningful income.

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Last Updated: [DATE] Track your progress toward monetization with our free Monetization Tracker tool