How to Verify Your YouTube Account (Phone and Advanced)

To verify your YouTube account, open YouTube Studio on a computer, go to Settings, then Channel, then Feature eligibility, and click VERIFY PHONE NUMBER under Intermediate features. Enter the code YouTube sends by text or voice call to unlock intermediate features.

Phone verification is only the first of two steps. Clickable links in your video descriptions, chapters, pinned comments and monetization all sit behind advanced features, which need either enough channel history or an ID or video check. The check mark next to a channel name is a third, unrelated thing. This page covers all three.

The three levels of YouTube features

YouTube sorts creator features into three levels. You can see where you stand in YouTube Studio under Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility, where anything you can use shows "Enabled."

YouTube's phone verification page also lists appealing copyright claims among the things verifying lets you do.

Verify your YouTube account by phone

1. On a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. Click Settings, then Channel.
3. Click Feature eligibility.
4. Under Intermediate features, click VERIFY PHONE NUMBER.
5. Choose to get the code by text message or voice call, and enter your phone number.
6. Type in the code YouTube sends you and submit it.

Once that is done, the intermediate features show "Enabled."

When the code doesn't arrive

• Request a new code, or switch to voice call. YouTube suggests the voice option if a text has not arrived after a few minutes. Text delays are more common in crowded areas or where carrier coverage is weak.
• Try a number on another carrier. Some carriers don't support messages from Google.
• "This phone number has already created the maximum number of accounts." Each phone number can be linked to no more than two channels per year, so you will need a different number.

Get advanced features: channel history, ID or video

Advanced features need phone verification plus one of three things.

Channel history. YouTube looks at your activity, such as uploads, live streams and audience engagement, along with account data like when the account was created and how often it is used. YouTube says most active channels already have enough channel history, in which case advanced features are simply on and there is nothing to do.

ID verification or video verification. If your channel is new or you want access now, you can verify your identity instead:

1. In YouTube Studio on a computer, go to Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility.
2. Under Advanced features, click ACCESS FEATURES.
3. Choose Use your ID or Use video verification.
4. Click Get email, open the email on your phone and tap Start verification.
5. For ID: agree to the data terms, take a photo of your ID and submit it. The birthdate on the ID must match the one on your Google Account.
6. For video: follow the prompts on your phone, such as following a dot or turning your head.

A few things to know before you start:

• Review usually takes about 24 hours, and YouTube emails you when video verification is approved.
• If your second attempt is rejected, you have to wait 30 days before trying either method again.
• ID and video verification are not available to every creator. If you don't see the options, channel history is your path.
• YouTube deletes your verification data automatically a few months after you build enough channel history, or after one year if you don't use advanced features.

Brand Accounts and managers

Only the primary owner of a channel can verify identity. On a Brand Account, everyone else who manages the channel gets the same features as the primary owner, based on that owner's status. If you are signed in as a manager who is not the primary owner, you will see "Advanced YouTube features aren't available for this account." Ask the primary owner to verify.

What advanced features unlock, including clickable links

Here is YouTube's full list of advanced features:

• Clickable links in long-form video descriptions and posts
• Clickable links to channel details on the watch page or posts
• Adding a related video to a Short
• Pinned comments on videos and posts
• Chapters
• Applying for monetization
• Content ID appeals
• Embedding live streams
• RSS upload
• Adding additional channels to your account
• A/B testing
• Multi-language features

The one most creators are after is links. Without advanced features, URLs in your long-form descriptions and comments do not turn into clickable links. YouTube's help center puts it directly: "To add clickable external links, you must enable your channel's access to advanced features." Even with access, links in Shorts descriptions and Shorts comments are not clickable, which YouTube says is to cut down on spam and scams. For where to put links that do work, see our guide to links in YouTube descriptions.

Keeping your access

You can lose advanced features for Community Guidelines strikes, copyright strikes, spam, repeatedly reposting content you don't own, scams, impersonation and similar violations. YouTube emails you if access is restricted. Active channels that follow the guidelines can usually rebuild their history in about two months, or you can restore access sooner with ID or video verification.

Verification badge vs. account verification

The check mark next to a channel name is the verification badge, and it has nothing to do with phone, ID or video verification. It tells viewers that YouTube has confirmed the channel is the official channel of a creator, artist, company or public figure.

To be eligible for the badge, your channel needs 100,000 subscribers, 2-Step Verification turned on for your Google Account, and a complete profile: a banner, a profile picture, a description and at least one public video. Then YouTube reviews whether the channel is authentic and complete. If the Verified badge tab doesn't appear in Settings, the channel has not reached the subscriber requirement. Meeting the bar makes you eligible to apply, not guaranteed. If you change your channel name after getting the badge, you lose it and have to reapply, although changing your handle does not remove it.

YouTube is clear that verified channels get no extra features, and the badge is not an endorsement.

Where Olaa fits

Once your channel has advanced features, the links you add to descriptions and your channel profile can all point to one place. Olaa gives you one short link, olaa.im/yourname, that opens a page with everything you want people to find: unlimited links, YouTube, Spotify and other players that play on the page, social icons and a QR code, all on the free plan. It takes a few minutes to set up and needs no code. People put it in their YouTube bio. See what's included, or for the bigger picture of where YouTube lets you place links, read our guide on how to add links to your YouTube channel.

FAQ

How long does YouTube verification take?

Phone verification unlocks intermediate features once you enter the code. ID and video verification for advanced features usually take about 24 hours to review. If you qualify through channel history, there is no waiting, because the features are already enabled.

Can I verify my YouTube account without a phone number?

No. Phone verification is required for intermediate features, and advanced features require it first as well. If your number is already linked to two channels this year, you need a different number.

Why are the links in my YouTube description not clickable?

Clickable external links in long-form descriptions and comments need advanced features. Check Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility in YouTube Studio and confirm advanced features show "Enabled." Links in Shorts descriptions and comments are not clickable for any channel.

Do I need 1,000 subscribers to get advanced features?

YouTube's feature pages set no subscriber count for advanced features. Access comes from phone verification plus channel history, or an ID or video check. Subscriber counts matter for the verification badge, which needs 100,000.

Does verifying my phone give me the check mark?

No. The check mark is the verification badge, which needs 100,000 subscribers, 2-Step Verification and a complete channel, and you apply for it separately under Settings, Channel, Verified badge. Phone verification only unlocks features.

Where do I find my channel link to share after verifying?

Verification does not change your channel address. Our guide to finding your YouTube channel URL shows where to copy it and how to share it.