Guide · Updated October 2026

YouTube monetization requirements 2026

To receive ad revenue from YouTube, a channel must join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Below are the thresholds a channel must reach, the application steps, the review wait time, and the reasons channels get rejected — plus how to check whether any channel has monetization enabled.

Free monetization channel check

Thresholds to reach

Thresholds are published by YouTube and may change — check them in YouTube Studio › Earn before planning.

Tier	Subscribers	Watch time / views	What you get
Ad revenue sharing (full)	1.000	4,000 valid public watch hours in 12 months, OR 10 million valid public Shorts views in 90 days	Ad revenue from long-form videos + Shorts, plus viewer support features
Lower tier (in countries where YouTube has opened it)	500	3 public videos in 90 days + 3,000 watch hours in 12 months, OR 3 million Shorts views in 90 days	Memberships, Super Thanks, Super Chat, YouTube Shopping — no ad revenue yet

Additional requirements

Live in a country / region where the YouTube Partner Program is available (Vietnam is included).
Comply with monetization policies and Community Guidelines; have no active Community Guidelines strikes.
Turn on 2-step verification for your Google account.
Have (or create) an AdSense account to get paid.

Application steps

Go to YouTube Studio › Earn and click Apply once your channel reaches the thresholds.
Agree to the main program terms.
Link or create an AdSense account.
Wait for review — YouTube says it usually takes about 1 month, sometimes longer.
If rejected: fix the issues mentioned, wait out the waiting period, then reapply.

Why channels often get rejected

AI-made channels can still be monetized if each video has its own value and synthetic content is disclosed when visuals / voices look realistic.

Repetitive, mass-produced content with little difference between videos.
Re-reading / compiling other people’s content without adding your own value.
Using copyrighted music, films, or images.
Most watch hours come from deleted videos, unlisted videos, or invalid views (bought views).

Reach the thresholds faster with data

Channels that reach 4,000 hours quickly usually pick a niche with real demand and few strong channels. Use Dig in DeepNiche to see the Niche Score and small channels with breakout views in the niche before you make anything, and Channel check (free) to see whether channels in the same niche have monetization enabled and roughly how much they earn.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to enable YouTube monetization?

After you apply, YouTube usually reviews within about 1 month. How long it takes your channel to reach the thresholds depends on the niche and posting frequency — many channels take 3–12 months.

Can YouTube Shorts be monetized?

Yes. Channels with 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid Shorts views in 90 days can apply; Shorts revenue is split from a shared ad pool, so it is usually lower per view than long-form videos.

How can I tell if someone else’s channel has monetization enabled?

YouTube does not publish this. DeepNiche’s Channel Check tool reads ad signals on public videos to reach a conclusion with a confidence level, for free.

Can I enable monetization on my phone?

Yes: open the YouTube Studio app or YouTube › Earn. The AdSense linking step may need to be done in a browser.

See real data for your niche

Try a dig right on the homepage — no card, no subscription.