How to Check YouTube Monetization Status — Your Own Channel and Others (2026)

Quick answer: To check if your own YouTube channel is monetised, go to YouTube Studio → Monetization. Your status shows as "Not eligible," "In review," "Monetisation on," or "Disabled." To check if another channel is monetised, look for ads on their videos — there is no public tool that confirms YPP membership directly.

How to Check Your Own YouTube Monetization Status

Checking your own channel's monetization status takes three steps. Open YouTube Studio analytics (studio.youtube.com), click "Monetization" in the left sidebar, and read your current status. YouTube displays one of four states: Not eligible, In review, Monetisation on, or Disabled.

Not eligible

Below YPP thresholds

Under 1,000 subs or 4,000 hrs

In review

Applied, awaiting approval

Typically 1 month wait

Monetisation on

Fully approved

Ads running, AdSense earning

YouTube Partner Program Eligibility Requirements (2026)

To apply for the YouTube Partner Program and enable ad monetization, your channel must meet one of two threshold sets. The long-form path requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months. The Shorts path requires 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days. Once approved, use the YouTube estimated earnings dashboard to monitor your revenue in real time.

Long-form path: 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 public watch hours (12 months)
Shorts path: 1,000 subscribers + 10 million public Shorts views (90 days)
Both paths: AdSense account linked, monetization policies accepted, 2-step verification enabled
Additional requirements: no active Community Guidelines strikes, no active copyright strikes

Watch hours from private or unlisted videos do not count toward the 4,000-hour threshold. Only valid public watch hours accumulate. Deleted videos retain their watch hours for up to 48 hours after deletion before being removed from the count.

How Long YouTube Monetization Review Takes

After applying for the YouTube Partner Program, YouTube manually reviews your channel. In 2026, the typical review period is 2–4 weeks. YouTube checks that your content complies with advertiser-friendly guidelines, that your channel was not created specifically for monetization with minimal original content, and that your watch hours are authentic. During review, your channel status shows "In review" in the Monetization tab.

If your application is rejected, YouTube sends a notification explaining which policy area caused the rejection. You can re-apply 30 days after rejection. The most common rejection reasons are: insufficient original content, content that advertises are unlikely to want to run against (graphic, political, or controversial topics), and channels with a history of community guidelines issues.

How to Check if Another YouTube Channel is Monetized

YouTube does not publish YPP membership status publicly. There is no API, no badge, and no official tool that shows whether a specific channel has been approved for monetization. The best indirect method is to watch one of their recent videos. If ads play — pre-roll, mid-roll, or overlay — the channel is monetized. If you watch multiple videos with no ads at all (and you are not using an ad blocker), the channel is likely not in the Partner Program.

Ads playing on videos: strongest indicator of monetization (turn off your ad blocker first)
YouTube channel memberships visible: channel is in YPP at minimum
Super Thanks or Super Chat enabled on live streams: YPP member
Merch shelf visible below videos: YPP member
No ads on any video despite high view counts: likely not monetized, or monetization disabled

Why Some Large Channels Are Not Monetized

View count and subscriber count do not guarantee monetization. Some large channels are not in the YouTube Partner Program because their content violates advertiser guidelines — topics like politics, graphic news coverage, or adult humor frequently fail YPP review. Other channels have been removed from YPP for repeated community guidelines violations. A channel with millions of views and no ads is almost always in one of these categories.

What Happens to Earnings After Monetization is Approved

Once YouTube approves your monetization application, ad revenue begins accumulating in your AdSense account. YouTube pays out when your balance reaches $100 through Google AdSense. For most new creators, this means waiting 3–6 months before receiving a first payment, depending on monthly view volume and niche RPM. To forecast how long that takes, see what 1,000 YouTube views earns in your content category.

New to monetization and want to know what your first month of earnings might look like? Enter your monthly view count and niche below for a realistic AdSense estimate.

Estimate Your YouTube Earnings

Now that you understand monetization status, see what your channel could earn once approved. Enter your monthly views and niche for a niche-adjusted estimate.

Use the YouTube Earnings Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my YouTube channel is monetized?▾

Go to YouTube Studio → Monetization. Your status shows as Not eligible, In review, Monetisation on, or Disabled. If it shows "Monetisation on" with a green icon, ads are running on your videos and you are earning AdSense revenue.

Can I check if another channel is monetized?▾

Not directly — YouTube does not publish YPP status publicly. The most reliable indirect method is watching their videos with your ad blocker disabled. If ads play, the channel is monetized. You can also look for channel memberships, Super Thanks, or a merch shelf, all of which require YPP membership.

How long does YouTube monetization review take?▾

YouTube monetization review typically takes 2–4 weeks in 2026. If you have not heard back after 30 days, you can check your Monetization tab for updates or contact YouTube support. Rejected applicants must wait 30 days before re-applying.

Why am I not eligible for YouTube monetization?▾

The most common reason is not yet meeting the threshold: 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours (long-form path) or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. Check YouTube Studio → Monetization for your current progress bar. Private or unlisted video watch hours do not count.

What is the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)?▾

The YouTube Partner Program is the monetization tier that allows creators to earn from ads, channel memberships, Super Thanks, and the Shorts revenue fund. Acceptance requires meeting view/subscriber thresholds and passing a manual content review. Once approved, you earn 55% of ad revenue from long-form videos.