How to Get Monetized on YouTube with these Essential Steps
Published on 22.03.2026 by TF
Learning how to get monetized on YouTube is one of the biggest milestones for any creator who wants to turn content into a real income stream. For creators in the United States, the process is more structured than many beginners expect. YouTube does not simply start paying once a channel posts a few videos or reaches a random view count. A creator has to meet eligibility thresholds, follow platform policies, link an AdSense for YouTube account, and pass YouTube’s review process before revenue sharing begins.
For that reason, understanding how to get monetized on YouTube is not only about hitting numbers. It is about building a channel that YouTube sees as original, policy-compliant, and valuable to viewers. Once monetization is active, creators can earn through ad revenue, YouTube Premium revenue, memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, gifts, and shopping tools, depending on eligibility and feature availability.
Importance of monetization for creators
Monetization gives creators a way to turn consistency into a business model. It can support better equipment, better editing, stronger branding, and a more sustainable publishing schedule. YouTube’s own creator economy materials explain that the platform shares a large portion of revenue with partners, and creators can also earn from more than just ads. More importantly, monetization changes how creators think about content strategy. Once revenue data becomes visible in YouTube Analytics and YouTube Studio, creators can see what formats hold attention, what videos attract Premium viewers, and which uploads deserve more focus. That insight is a major part of how to get monetized on YouTube and then stay monetized over time.
Understanding YouTube's Partner Program
The first step in how to get monetized on YouTube is understanding that YouTube now has two important entry points. The earlier access level is for creators who reach 500 subscribers, have 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. That tier can unlock fan funding and shopping features in eligible countries, including the United States. The higher level is the one most creators care about because it unlocks revenue sharing from ads and YouTube Premium. For that, a channel needs 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. YouTube also requires no active Community Guidelines strikes, 2-Step Verification, advanced features access, and an active AdSense for YouTube account linked to the channel.
Requirements for joining the Partner Program
If someone asks, how many subscribers are needed to get paid on YouTube, the clearest answer is this: 500 subscribers can open limited monetization tools in the expanded Partner Program, but 1,000 subscribers are required for ad revenue sharing and YouTube Premium revenue at the higher level. That distinction is crucial because many articles oversimplify the answer. Creators also need to remember that valid public watch hours and valid public Shorts views do not include everything. Shorts views in the Shorts Feed do not count toward the 4,000 watch-hour threshold, and watch hours from private, unlisted, deleted, or ad-promoted content do not count toward YPP thresholds.
Needed watch hours and views
For long-form creators, the most direct route is usually 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 valid public watch hours. For Shorts-focused channels, the alternative path is 1,000 subscribers plus 10 million valid public Shorts views in 90 days. If the goal is early access to fan funding, the lower 500-subscriber route is possible with 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views, but that does not mean full ad revenue is active yet.
What happens once you're in the Partner Program?
Once approved, a creator can begin turning on monetization modules and features inside YouTube Studio. At the higher threshold, creators can earn from Watch Page ads, Shorts Feed ads, and YouTube Premium revenue. At the earlier tier, they may access memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, gifts, and shopping features if eligible. YouTube reviews every channel before approval, and meeting the thresholds does not guarantee automatic entry. The review process checks the channel as a whole for policy compliance, and YouTube says decisions typically take about one month, though delays can happen.
Creating Engaging Content
The second step in how to get monetized on YouTube is creating content people actually want to watch all the way through. Metrics unlock monetization, but strong content is what drives those metrics. Videos that solve problems, teach clear skills, review products honestly, entertain consistently, or cover niche interests in a recognizable style often perform better over time because they attract repeat viewers. This is especially important when a creator is trying to build the watch hours or Shorts views needed for eligibility.
A common question is how to make money reviewing YouTube videos or making review-style content. The answer is that review channels can monetize just like other channels, but they must still follow YouTube’s monetization policies and offer original value. Simply reusing clips or adding minimal commentary is risky. YouTube’s monetization policies specifically warn against deceptive practices and artificial inflation, and channels must comply with copyright, advertiser-friendly, and channel monetization rules.
Can you make money from YouTube Shorts?
Yes, can you make money from YouTube Shorts is no longer a confusing question. Shorts can absolutely be monetized, but the creator still has to qualify for YPP and accept the Shorts monetization module. After that, eligible Shorts can share revenue from ads shown between videos in the Shorts Feed and can also generate YouTube Premium revenue. That said, creators should not assume every Short will earn equally. Shorts have their own monetization rules, and claimed or otherwise ineligible content can be blocked from monetization. YouTube also notes that some Shorts with copyrighted material may not qualify, and Shorts over one minute that contain claimed content are blocked and not eligible for monetization under the Shorts monetization policies. Read here blog how YouTube monetization was done previous years.
Importance of quality and consistency
Quality matters because monetization is not just a numbers game. YouTube reviews the channel as a whole. Consistency matters because those thresholds are measured over recent time windows, such as the last 12 months for watch hours and the last 90 days for Shorts views. A channel that uploads regularly has a far better chance of staying inside those windows and maintaining momentum toward approval.
Setting Up Monetization Settings
Another key part of how to get monetized on YouTube is the actual setup inside YouTube Studio. Once a creator becomes eligible, they can go to the Earn section, accept the relevant YPP terms, and link an active AdSense for YouTube account. YouTube says channels must complete all signup steps before review begins. If someone is wondering how to monetize videos on YouTube, the practical answer is that after joining YPP, monetization settings are controlled in YouTube Studio. Creators can choose ad formats, turn monetization on for individual videos, and for videos longer than 8 minutes they can choose whether to enable mid-roll ads. This part cannot be ignored. YouTube channel monetization policies apply to anyone in or applying to YPP. The platform also says creators must not artificially inflate views, subscribers, likes, watch time, or ad impressions. If a channel violates monetization rules, YouTube can suspend or permanently disable monetization.
For creators focused on short-form content, youtube short monetization depends on accepting the Shorts module and publishing eligible Shorts. Revenue can come from Shorts Feed ads and YouTube Premium. In reporting, YouTube distinguishes Shorts Feed ad revenue from Watch Page ad revenue, which helps creators understand where their income is actually coming from.
Track Your Earnings and Adjust Strategies
The final step in how to get monetized on YouTube is knowing what happens after approval. Many creators ask, when do you start making YouTube money or when do you get paid from YouTube. Revenue starts accruing once monetization is active and the proper modules are accepted, but payment itself follows the AdSense payment cycle. AdSense says estimated earnings build during the month, are finalized at the beginning of the next month, and if the payment threshold is met and there are no holds, payment is usually issued between the 21st and 26th of the month. Creators should also watch revenue data closely in YouTube Analytics. YouTube provides reports for estimated revenue, Watch Page ad revenue, Shorts Feed ad revenue, memberships revenue, and YouTube Premium revenue. That data shows which formats deserve more investment.
A frequent beginner question is how much does YouTube pay for shorts. There is no fixed universal rate. Shorts earnings depend on factors such as eligible engaged views, overall pool dynamics, geography, audience behavior, and monetization eligibility. The better approach is to use Shorts as part of a broader content strategy instead of expecting a flat payout per thousand views. YouTube itself emphasizes revenue reporting and policy eligibility rather than promising a standard pay rate.