If you are searching for “how to verify my YouTube channel,” then you have come to the right place. As a YouTube creator, you must be looking for ways to build your brand. When you have a verified channel, it elevates your credibility. It also distinguishes you from other channels with similar names on YouTube.
A verified account provides you access to various features that help you grow your channel on YouTube. So, let’s start with understanding the need for YouTube verification and its importance.
The Importance of a Verified YouTube Account
YouTube account verification grants you official recognition to a channel owner and confirms your authenticity. When you have a verified account, a grey check mark appears next to the name of the channel in the search results.
With YouTube channel verification, you get to gain the following advantage:
- Enhanced Authenticity and Credibility: A verified channel establishes the fact that YouTube has authenticated your account. This means YouTube has checked that you are an actual human with a real phone number. It also helps in establishing that an automated bot does not run the channel. The verification also adds to the uniqueness of your channel’s content and creates trust among your viewers.
- Secured Identity: A verified account on YouTube safeguards your channel from impersonation by preventing fake account owners who are trying to imitate your content.
- Special Permissions and Privileges: A major benefit of having verified channels is that you get access to diverse features on YouTube. For instance, you can customise your channel layout and perform Live streaming. You can also upload videos over 15 minutes and even monetise your channel through Partner Program.
Remember that you can apply for YouTube verification when your channel has 100K subscribers. If you want to know how to get verified on YouTube without 100k subs, then the answer is there is no sure-shot way to achieve this. But you need to maintain consistency and create high-quality and relevant videos on your channel. Increase your credibility and brand awareness to reach the desired subscriber goal.
As a beginner with your YouTube channel, you might get confused about YouTube verification and verification badge. You need to know that these two are different things. Whereas the first helps in proving your authenticity, the latter helps you stand out as an established first.
We will focus more on the verification badge later. Let’s dive deep into understanding how to verify your YouTube account using the desktop and mobile app.
How to Verify Your YouTube Channel Using Desktop
Step 1: Go to YouTube.com log in and Select Settings
To verify your account, the first step is to open YouTube.com verify from your desktop. Then from the left sidebar, go to the settings option.
Step 2: Click on Additional Settings
Once you have opened settings, scroll down and click on Additional Features. You can find a section “Your Channel” once the settings window opens. Here, you can get access to the distinct features, and view your copyright and community guideline status. Click on the heading titled “Status and Features” from this section.
Step 3: Click on Verify YouTube Channel Button
After you click on “Status and Features,” you will get to see your channel name and picture under this heading. Now you can begin with the verification process for your YouTube channel. Click on the Verify button located just below the name of your channel.
Step 4: Get YouTube Verification Code
You need to perform two additional steps for the verification YouTube channel process. Verify your phone number to ensure you are a real YouTuber and not a bot. You can choose to either receive a text or an automated phone call for the verification process.
You have the option to change the default language setting from English (US) as per your preference. Then select your country and enter your valid phone number and press get code to proceed with the verification process.
Step 5: Confirm the Code
Type the six-digit code into the box and press submit. After this step, you will get a pop-up message of successful verification of your channel.
Now, let’s check out how to verify the YouTube channel using its mobile application.
Steps to Verify Your Channel Using Mobile App
Step 1: Open the YouTube App
The first step is to open the YouTube app from your Android or iOS device. Tap on your profile picture in the top right-hand corner. Your channel will load and come up on the screen. Then tap the camera icon at the top which you can find next to the search icon.
Step 2: Select Go Live
Upon selecting the camera icon, it will present you with two options- Record or Go Live. Choose Go Live.
Don’t worry since clicking this option will not take you live since you have not verified your account yet. Go to the next page which states- Before you go live, we need to verify our phone number. It may take 24 hours to access this feature.
Tap on Get Started.
Step 3: Start the Channel Verification Application
Now you will get the option to choose your country and add your phone number. Similarly, you can choose to receive either a text or a phone call. Fill in both options and click on Send Code.
Step 4: Proceed with the Code for Verification
Fill in the six-digit verification code and submit it. You will receive a pop-up that your account has been verified. It may take up to 24 hours for YouTube to verify your channel. Once done, you will receive a notification from YouTube to access all the features.
Apart from the above process, check out the other methods to verify an account easily.
Alternative Process of Channel Verification
Step 1: Go to YouTube.verify
Go to your YouTube website or YouTube.com/verify and log into your account. After this, it will direct you to the account homepage.
Step 3: Select Settings
Click on the profile icon in the top-right corner and navigate to the Settings tab.
Step 3: Open the Channel Status and Features Tab
Now select Account where you will find three options under the “Your Channel” section. Click on the “Channel status and features.”
Step 4: Verify YouTube Account
A pop-up will appear on your screen. You will find three tabs. Click on the third tab titled Feature eligibility. You will find the first section comprising standard features is already enabled. Select the second option from the drop-down list titled Intermediate features. Now click on Verify Phone Number.
You will get redirected to the option of inputting your country and phone number and receiving the code. Submit the code to complete the successful verification process for your YouTube channel.
The above process talks about unlocking the Intermediate features. You can take this one step further and enable advanced features as well. You can either upload a photo of your ID proof or perform a video verification which can take up to 2 months to YouTube verify.
Read on to learn how you can do video verification with no hassle.
Unlock Advanced Features by Video Verification
Step 1: Go to Channel Status and Features
From the Account tab in Settings, select the Channel status and features tab.
Step 2: Select Use Video Verification Option
Click the third option on the third tab from the drop-down list titled Advanced features. Select Access features and you will further get three options for the verification process. Now, you can opt for the Use video verification option and click Get Mail.
Step 3: Get the Verification Link
You will receive a verification link to your email address registered to your YouTube account. Alternatively, you can also choose the Scan QR code option.
Step 4: Agree to Terms and Conditions
After this, you will get a page containing terms and conditions. Read and click “I agree” to these to continue with the verification process.
Step 5: Verify Account via Video
In this step, you will see tips for recording a proper video. When you click next, your camera will activate. Simply follow the on-screen prompts to verify the account.
Step 6: Wait for YouTube Account Verify Process
Lastly, you will be taken to the confirmation page. You may have to wait up to 24 hours for your account to be verified. Once done, you will get access to the advanced features of your YouTube account.
What Happens After the Account is Verified
YouTube verification helps in verifying your channel as authentic and not a spam channel. Now you can monetise your channel and utilise the unlocked features to get maximum benefits. Here are some advantages you get once you have a verified channel:
- Add Your Personalised Thumbnail
With a verified YouTube channel, you get the chance to add custom thumbnails. Thumbnails play a crucial role in your video content as they provide a preview of your video. You can choose a thumbnail that best describes your video to attract the right audience. A default thumbnail may not always attract users to click your video which can cause a fall in views and engagement.
- Increase in Video Duration
If you do not have a verified channel, then you can upload a video with a duration of 15 minutes. But when you possess a verified channel, there is no restriction and you can create long-form and valuable content on YouTube.
- Increase in Upload Limit
A verified channel allows you to increase your daily limit of video uploads from 10 to 30. You can also post more shorts and live streams you couldn’t do before.
- Live Stream Content
Live streams help in increasing the engagement rate of your YouTube channel and improve your credibility. So, when you have a verified account, you get access to the Live stream feature that can help with YouTube’s algorithm and boost your brand reach. You can also embed live streams on your channel and give access to more videos to your audience.
- Appeal for Content ID Claims
You can appeal for content ID claims and raise a dispute when you have a verified channel. YouTube usually gives you a time frame of 30 days to respond. If you feel the claim is wrong, you can restrict it or remove that part from the video using the YouTube in-build editor. Doing this is not possible if you do not have a verified channel.
How to Not Lose Your Channel Verification
You can be surprised to know that you can lose access to your verified channel if you do not follow certain rules and regulations established by YouTube. To keep enjoying the advanced features that come with a verified account, make sure you abide by:
- Do Not Violate YouTube’s Terms and Conditions
When you are using YouTube, make sure to thoroughly read its terms and conditions. Create your videos by adhering to the guidelines to ensure you do not lose the verified status.
- Do Not Change Your YouTube Channel Verified Name
Changing your channel name or mobile number can affect your channel. You will need to validate the new credentials once again. If you keep doing this consistently, YouTube will put a limit on your updates. After this, you cannot update your channel name or phone number again. If you have a verification badge, you can lose access to that as well.
- Do Not Manipulate Your Numbers
YouTube works consistently to remove any unfair activities like using bots to increase likes and comments or adding fake subscribers. This goes against the YouTube guidelines and if you are caught using these unfair practices, chances are your verification will be dismissed.
Now that you know how to verify your channel along with the rules you need to follow, let’s talk about the verification badge and its importance.
What is a YouTube Verification Badge?
The verification badge is a key factor that establishes your channel as a brand. It acts as a visual indicator of trust and can help you gain people’s attention. To get this badge, you need to fulfil certain criteria such as:
- Upload valuable content consistently and make sure your content represents you authentically.
- Have a complete description of your channel, a high-quality profile picture and a channel banner.
- Have at least 100,000 subscribers to your channel.
In rare cases, you can get a verification badge with 100,000 subs. But that is only possible when you have an established online presence on other social media platforms.
Without further ado, follow the below steps to know how you can get this badge.
How to get Apply for a Verification Badge on YouTube
Step 1: Go to Google Support and Open YouTube Support
Go to Google Support to get redirected to the support homepage. Click on the YouTube logo to go to YouTube support.
Step 2: Select Manage Your Account and Settings
Click on the “Manage your account and settings” tab. You will get a drop-down list. From there, open “Manage account settings.”
Step 3: Go to the Verification Badge Page
You will see three columns. Scroll down until you see the option that states “Verification badges in channels” under the second column titled Manage settings for your channel. Click this to go to the application page.
Step 4: Apply for the Badge
The next screen will let you know if you are eligible to apply for this badge or not. If you are not eligible, you will see a message “You can submit a request for a channel verification once you have 100,000 subscribers. It looks like your channel isn’t eligible yet.”
However, if you meet the required criteria, go ahead with the application form to complete the process and get the verification badge
Wrapping Up
By following the step-by-step process mentioned in this blog, you can easily verify your channel using the desktop or mobile application. Similarly, you can also apply for a verification badge and improve your channel’s credibility. Make sure to follow YouTube’s guidelines and maintain consistency and quality in your videos to gain more followers and increase your engagement.
You can also read about Top Searches on Youtube article.