What is the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)?

In short: YouTube's program that lets creators earn money from ads, memberships, Super Thanks and Shopping.

The YouTube Partner Program is how creators get paid on YouTube. There are two levels. The lower one unlocks fan funding, such as channel memberships and Super Thanks. The higher one adds a share of ad revenue, including Shorts revenue sharing.

For ad revenue you currently need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. YouTube has announced higher thresholds for new applicants from February 1, 2027. Every channel is also reviewed for policies like reused content.

Example

Say your channel has 1,200 subscribers, 2,500 public watch hours from long videos in the last 12 months, 6 million Shorts views in the last 90 days, and regular uploads (hypothetical numbers). You clear the lower tier, which needs 500 subscribers, 3 uploads in 90 days, and 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views, so fan funding and Shopping open up where available. For ad revenue you still need 4,000 hours or 10 million Shorts views. You meet one route or the other, and the two don't add together.

Tips for creators

• Turn on 2-Step Verification for your Google Account and link one AdSense for YouTube account before you apply. YouTube requires both.
• Write an About section that says what the channel covers and how you make videos. Reviewers may look at it along with your newest and most-viewed uploads.
• If you are close to the current thresholds, applying before February 1, 2027 means you are judged on the lower bar. Creators already in the program are not affected by the change.

Common questions

What happens if my YPP application is rejected?

You can appeal within 21 days with an unlisted video under 5 minutes that shows how you make your content, or fix the channel and reapply after 30 days. After a later rejection, the wait to reapply is 90 days. YouTube says its teams respond to appeals within 14 days.

Do Shorts watch hours count toward the 4,000 hours?

No. Watch time from the Shorts feed does not count toward the 4,000 long-form watch hours. Shorts have their own route instead: 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, alongside 1,000 subscribers.

Go deeper

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All 29 glossary terms · Reviewed on 2026-11-05.