Understand your channel URLs

Your channel can have multiple URLs that direct your audience to your channel homepage. These URLs can look different from one another, but all point your audience to the same place - your channel.

ID-based URL

Example: youtube.com/channel/UCUZHFZ9jIKrLroW8LcyJEQQ

This is the standard URL that all YouTube channels use. It uses your unique channel ID, which are the numbers and letters at the end of the URL.

Custom URL

Example: youtube.com/c/YouTubeCreators

A custom URL is a shorter, easy-to-remember URL that you can share with your audience. Custom URLs are assigned to qualifying channels and can be based on your current display name, your legacy username, or your linked, verified web domain. Learn how to get a custom URL for your channel.

If you enter your custom URL in an abbreviated format (like youtube.com/YouTubeCreators vs. the full URL youtube.com/c/YouTubeCreators), the URL will immediately resolve to your ID-based URL or your legacy username URL, if you have one (since YouTube treats legacy username URLs as your primary channel URL).

You can check if you've claimed a custom URL in your advanced account settings.

Legacy username URL

Example: youtube.com/user/partnersupport

Depending on when your channel was created, it may have a username. Usernames are no longer required for channels today, but you can still use this URL to direct to your channel — even if your channel name has changed since you chose your username. Existing usernames can't be changed.