This month, YouTube announced new criteria for how channels gain eligibility in the YouTube Partner Program and shared new ongoing minimum view requirements for Shorts monetization. These changes take effect Feb. 1, 2027, which adds urgency for channels to join YPP before the bar is raised.
Learn about these changes and what they mean for your YouTube channel.
What YouTube Is Changing About YPP Eligibility and Earning
YouTube offers limited YPP access beginning at 500 channel subscribers, but the higher YPP threshold discussed here unlocks the tier of benefits most relevant to tech companies.
Currently, channels can gain full YPP access once they reach 1,000 subscribers and either:
- 4,000 qualified public watch hours on long-form videos (past 365 days), OR
- 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days
In February, these engagement thresholds will rise to:
- 8,000 qualified watch hours (past 365 days), OR
- 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days
The 1,000-subscriber minimum remains in place, per YouTube’s announcement.
Also, even after joining YPP, channels must maintain 10 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days to stay eligible to receive revenue sharing for Shorts content. Below that threshold, you can continue earning on long-form videos, but you won’t earn on Shorts videos until you cross that mark again.
YouTube channels that are already in YPP are grandfathered into the program, so you don’t need to re-apply if your engagement metrics fail to qualify under the new rules. But you will need to review and accept YouTube’s updated terms by Jan. 31, 2027. Also, the new Shorts revenue-sharing policy will apply to all channels, even existing YPP members.
What These YouTube Changes Mean For Tech Companies
Doubling the current engagement thresholds could significantly lengthen the path for tech companies to gain full YPP eligibility.
Why this matters is less about the ability to monetize video content and more about the benefits available to YPP channels, including (but not limited to):
- Blocking competitors’ ads from Watch Page ads on your channel
- Keeping sensitive ad categories off Watch Page ads on your channel
- Controlling your channel’s ad experience
- Uploading custom thumbnails for Shorts
- Organizing your videos into shows, seasons, and episodes
- Accessing the Copyright Match Tool to block unauthorized re-uploads of your content*
- Gaining direct access to YouTube’s Partner Support team via email and live chat*
*These are also available at the lower YPP tier
If your company’s YouTube channel is within striking distance of the current thresholds, the next several months are worth treating differently. Increase your publishing cadence, optimize your thumbnails, experiment with new storytelling concepts, arrange content collaborations, and cross-promote your videos to drive engagement.
If you’re not sure where to begin, contact us for a YouTube channel audit.
Other Resources
For more information related to YouTube, video strategy, etc., see below:
