YouTube Doubles YPP Watch-Time Requirement for New Creators From 2027

What is changing?

From February 1, 2027, new creators will need to meet two requirements to qualify for YPP ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.

They must have:

• 1,000 subscribers
• Either 8,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 365 days
• Or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days

The 1,000-subscriber requirement is staying exactly the same. The major change is the second part of the eligibility criteria. Long-form creators will now need twice as much qualifying watch time, while Shorts creators will need twice as many views. The change effectively makes the path to ad monetisation significantly harder for creators who are just starting out.

Existing YPP creators will not be affected

Creators who are already enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program will not be affected by these new entry thresholds. They will not have to suddenly reach 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views to remain in YPP.

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Fan Funding and Shopping thresholds remain unchanged

Not every YouTube monetisation route is getting a stricter threshold. The entry requirements for Fan Funding and Shopping products will remain unchanged. Thus, the new 8,000-hour and 20-million-Shorts-view requirements are focused on eligibility for ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing, rather than all of YouTube‘s creator monetisation features. For this reason, creators can therefore still have access to other earning opportunities depending on their eligibility and the features available to their channel.

YouTube is introducing more ways for creators to earn

Alongside the new thresholds, YouTube says it is working on new incentive programs aimed at creators who may not yet qualify for certain revenue-sharing opportunities. The company plans to introduce new ways for creators to earn based on growth, engagement and trends, rather than relying entirely on advertising revenue. These opportunities include potential incentives connected to YouTube Shopping, brand deals and creators who help start and grow trends.

YouTube’s new thresholds, explained

Under the current requirements, creators seeking YPP ad revenue need 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. From February 1, 2027, those figures will become 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 watch hours in 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. The change does not affect creators who are already in YPP, and YouTube’s Fan Funding and Shopping entry thresholds will remain unchanged. However, the separate 10-million qualified Shorts views in 90 days requirement for Shorts ads and subscription revenue sharing adds another hurdle for creators who want to monetise their Shorts content. For upcoming creators, the message is clear: getting into YouTube’s ad-revenue ecosystem is about to require significantly more audience engagement. Therefore, the updated YPP terms will take effect on February 1, 2027, giving new creators time to prepare for the higher thresholds.