How to Monetize YouTube Shorts: Eligibility

Looking to turn your YouTube Shorts into a revenue stream? Understanding the eligibility rules is your first step. This guide breaks down the exact requirements you need to meet to start monetizing your Shorts, covering everything from subscriber counts and view thresholds to the final application review.

Understanding the Two Paths to YouTube Monetization

Every creator who earns money on YouTube does so through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). For years, the only way into this program was by accumulating watch time on traditional, long-form videos. But with the incredible rise of short-form content, YouTube introduced a dedicated path for Shorts creators. Now, you have two distinct options to qualify for the YPP.

Think of it as choosing your lane. You can either focus on getting a high volume of watch hours on your longer videos or focus on generating massive views on your Shorts. Both roads lead to the same destination - the YPP - but they require different content strategies. We’ll break down both, with a special focus on the Shorts route.

The Core YPP Requirements: Your Starting Point

Before you even think about subscribers or views, every channel must meet a set of foundational requirements to be considered for the YPP. These are non-negotiable and apply to everyone, regardless of whether you're a Shorts creator or a long-form enthusiast.

1. Follow YouTube's Policies

This is the big one. Your channel must be in "good standing" with YouTube, which means you have no active Community Guideline strikes. You’re also expected to follow all YouTube channel monetization policies, which include:

• Community Guidelines: These are the rules of the road for what's allowed on YouTube (no spam, hate speech, etc.).
• Terms of Service: The legal agreement you make with YouTube when using their platform.
• Copyright: You have to own the rights to the content you upload. Using copyrighted music outside of YouTube's provided Shorts library can get your content flagged and make you ineligible.
• Google AdSense program policies: This includes avoiding things like invalid click activity.

2. Have a Linked AdSense Account

YouTube pays creators through its Google AdSense program. You can only have one AdSense account under your name, and you'll need to set one up and link it to your channel when you apply. This is how the money actually gets to you, so it's a vital step.

3. Live in an Eligible Country/Region

The YouTube Partner Program isn't available everywhere in the world. You must live in a country where the YPP is active. YouTube maintains an official list, so it’s always a good idea to check if your location qualifies before you start grinding for those views.

4. Enable 2-Step Verification

To protect your channel and your potential earnings, YouTube requires you to have 2-Step Verification enabled for the Google account associated with your YouTube channel. It adds an extra layer of security and is a simple but important requirement.

Meeting the Threshold: Subscribers and Views

Once you’ve got those foundational requirements covered, it’s time to focus on the numbers. This is where you choose your path. To become eligible, you must hit the subscriber milestone PLUS ONE OF the following view or watch-hour milestones.

Option 1: The Classic Long-Form Video Route

This is the traditional path that has been around for years. Ideal for creators who focus on vlogs, tutorials, documentaries, and other longer content formats.

• Requirement #1: 1,000 Subscribers
• Requirement #2: 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months

The key phrase here is "valid public watch hours." This means that watch time from private videos, unlisted videos, deleted videos, ad campaigns, and YouTube Shorts does not count toward this total. The time has to come from people watching your public, long-form videos.

Option 2: The YouTube Shorts Route

This path was created specifically for the new generation of creators who thrive on short, engaging, vertical video.

• Requirement #1: 1,000 Subscribers
• Requirement #2: 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days

Again, "valid public Shorts views" is the term to know. These views must come from your public Shorts videos being watched in the Shorts feed or on a Shorts watch page. If someone watches your Short by embedding it on their website, that view may not count. Like the long-form path, views from private, unlisted, or deleted Shorts won't count.

Wait, 90 Days? Not 12 Months?

This is a common point of confusion, but it’s actually a huge advantage for Shorts creators. The 10 million view count is based on a rolling 90-day window. This means YouTube looks back at the past 90 days from the current date - not the last three calendar months.

For example, if you're checking your progress on November 15th, YouTube is counting all your valid Shorts views from August 17th to November 15th. It’s a constantly updating window. This rewards viral moments and consistent posting while filtering out old, irrelevant stats.

How to Check Your Eligibility Progress

Thankfully, YouTube makes it very easy to track how close you are to hitting your monetization goals. You don't need any third-party tools or complex spreadsheets.

1. Sign in to your YouTube account and go to YouTube Studio.
2. In the left-hand navigation menu, click on the "Earn" tab.
3. On this screen, you’ll see neat progress bars tracking your subscriber count, public watch hours, and public Shorts views.

This dashboard shows you a live look at where you stand. You can even click a button to ask YouTube to email you once you’ve met all the requirements, so you don't have to check back every single day.

You're Eligible! What Happens Next?

Crossing that finish line feels amazing, but it's not the end of the process. Once you meet the minimums, you can officially apply to the YPP.

Step 1: Applying to the YPP

Head back to the "Earn" tab in YouTube Studio, and the option to "Apply Now" will be available. The application process involves two main parts:

1. Review and Accept the Terms: You'll start by accepting what YouTube calls the "Base Terms," which are the fundamental rules of the YPP.
2. Choose Your Monetization Modules: You’ll then accept specific "modules," like the "Watch Page Monetization Module" for long-form ad revenue and the "Shorts Monetization Module" for Shorts revenue. Accepting the Shorts module is what enables you to earn from the Shorts ad revenue sharing program.

Step 2: The Channel Review

Once your application is submitted, it goes to YouTube's team of human reviewers. They don’t just look at your numbers, they conduct a holistic review of your channel to make sure it complies with their policies and provides value.

They review things like:

• Your channel's main theme or topic.
• Your most-viewed videos and newest videos.
• The videos that contributed most to your watch time or Shorts views.
• Video metadata (titles, descriptions, thumbnails) to check for misleading information.
• Originality. This is extremely important for Shorts. If your channel is just re-uploading clips from other creators, movies, or TV shows without significant original commentary, edits, or narrative, you will likely be rejected for "reused content." Adding your voice, face, or unique perspective is critical.

This process typically takes about a month, but it can be faster or slower depending on the volume of applications.

Step 3: Getting Approved and Turning on Ads

If you pass the review, congratulations! You're officially a YouTube Partner. You can then head into your monetization settings to turn on ads for your existing and future videos and Shorts. Just remember, Shorts monetization works differently - instead of direct ads on your video, revenue comes from a shared pool of ad money that's distributed based on your share of the total Shorts views on the platform.

Tips for Meeting the Shorts View Requirement

Getting to 10 million views in 90 days sounds tough, but with the right strategy, it's absolutely achievable.

Consistency is Everything

The Shorts algorithm rewards consistency. Unlike long-form where one video a week might be enough, successful Shorts channels often post one or even multiple times per day. The more you post, the more data you give the algorithm and the more chances you have for a video to take off.

Ride the Trends (But Make Them Your Own)

Pay attention to trending audio, formats, and challenges. Using a popular sound can give your video an initial boost, but don't just copy what everyone else is doing. Add a unique twist that connects the trend to your niche. This combination of familiarity and novelty is gold.

Hook Viewers in the First Second

You have less than a second to stop someone from scrolling. Your opening frame or spoken line needs to create immediate curiosity. Ask a question, show a shocking result, or state a bold opinion. Don't waste time with slow logos or introductions.

Focus on a Niche

When you focus on a specific topic - whether it's baking tutorials, tech reviews, or comedy sketches - you do two things. First, you build a loyal audience that knows what to expect from you. Second, you teach the YouTube algorithm exactly who to show your content to, which increases the likelihood of your Shorts landing in front of the right viewers and going viral.

Final Thoughts

Earning a spot in the YouTube Partner Program through Shorts requires hitting 1,000 subscribers and generating 10 million valid views within a 90-day window, all while staying in line with YouTube’s policies. While the numbers can seem big, the Shorts eligibility path has created a huge opportunity for creative, consistent creators to build a business on the platform.

Hitting those big view numbers often comes down to one thing: a consistent content schedule. We built our tool, Postbase, specifically because we know how tough it is to stay on top of daily posting, especially with video. You can use it to map out all of your Shorts on a visual calendar and schedule them in advance, so you never miss an opportunity to feed the algorithm and get closer to your monetization goal.