Set your channel guidelines

Channel guidelines are currently available to creators with access to intermediate and advanced features on YouTube. Learn how to get access.

Note: For viewers, guidelines for comments and Community posts can be viewed only on a mobile device. Guidelines for live chat can be viewed on desktop and mobile.

Channel guidelines communicate the types of conversations that you want to have on your channel.

Viewers will be able to refer to your channel guidelines before leaving a comment on your video, a post on your Community or during your live chat.

To get started:

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, click Settings.
  3. Select Community moderation and then Channel guidelines.
  4. Enter a welcome message and your first channel guideline. You can add up to three.
  5. Click ADD GUIDELINE to add up to two more guidelines.
  6. Click SAVE.

Your custom guidelines won't cause comments, posts or live chat messages to be automatically hidden or removed. Instead, they'll help you to set expectations for viewer interactions that may get held by you or your channel moderators.

While YouTube won't automatically enforce any of your custom guidelines, we will continue to automatically enforce our Community Guidelines.

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Learn more about channel guidelines

What should I say in my welcome message and channel guidelines?

First-time viewers might not be familiar with your channel when they comment on your videos, make a post or participate in live chats. Write a welcome message that greets your audience and encourages them to follow your guidelines. For example, you could write: 'Welcome to my channel! Please follow my channel guidelines when you join the conversation.'

Your guidelines tell viewers how to communicate on your channel. Write guidelines that promote the kinds of conversations that you want to have on your channel. Some examples of good rules include:

  • Be civil and respectful
  • Stick to the topic
  • Questions welcome
  • No self-promotion or spam
  • Challenge the argument, not the person

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