YouTube

Here are some questions we're often asked about the YouTube Partner Program, how to sign up and begin monetizing your videos with ads, and how to associate AdSense in order to be paid.

What's the YouTube Partner Program?

The YouTube Partner Program provides content creators with tools and programs to improve their skills, build their audiences, and monetize their videos.

How do I become a partner?

To become a partner, you must opt in your account and have at least one video enabled for advertising. If you've opted your account in to monetization but haven't enabled any videos for monetization, please refer to our Getting Started Guide for more information.

Wait, tell me what “monetize” means again?

If you “monetize” your content, it means that your videos will display ads. To earn money and receive payments from these advertisements, you must first associate an AdSense account with your YouTube account.

How do I receive payments?

To receive payments, you must:

1. Monetize one or more of your videos
2. Provide your payment information using AdSense, and associate AdSense with your YouTube account
3. Reach your local AdSense payment threshold

What is AdSense?

AdSense allows YouTube partners to get paid for monetizing their videos.

Do I need AdSense now?

Not necessarily - we’ll remind you when it’s a good time to associate an AdSense account. After associating an AdSense account with your YouTube account, YouTube may deposit a bonus into your AdSense account as a thank-you for your video monetization contribution before you associated an AdSense account.

If you like, however, you can associate an AdSense account at any time.

When do I get paid?

Once you’ve associated an AdSense account with your YouTube account, you can be paid when your earnings reach your local payment threshold, as long as there are no holds on your account and you're in compliance with our AdSense program policies.

I just created a video that is suddenly popular, what should I do?

We understand that some videos suddenly become popular and viral. To help you earn more money, we suggest partners opt in their account and eligible videos for monetization before the video becomes viral. Remember that in order to receive a payment, you must also associate AdSense with your YouTube account. For partners who associate AdSense with their YouTube account at a later time, we may provide bonus payments as long as your videos are enabled for advertisements. .