How to Add Links to Your YouTube Channel (Studio and App)

If you run a business, your YouTube channel should point somewhere. A website, a booking page, a newsletter sign up, your other social profiles. YouTube gives every channel a Links section for exactly that, and it's one of the quickest wins on the whole platform. I'll show you the steps on a computer and in the Studio app, what the limits are, and one thing that surprises people: according to YouTube's help, the banner isn't where clickable links go.

Where links on your YouTube channel go

YouTube's help centre says channel links are managed in YouTube Studio under Customization, then Profile. You can add up to 14 links, they must follow YouTube's external links policy, and the first one is shown prominently next to the Subscribe button. The rest appear when viewers choose to see more links.

Some older guides call this tab Basic info. Menus vary by version, so if you see Basic info, it's the same area, but today's help centre uses the name Profile.

Add links to your YouTube channel on a computer

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio with the channel you want to change.
2. Select Customization from the left menu, then open the Profile tab.
3. Find the Links section and choose to add a link.
4. Enter a title (the words viewers see) and the address it points to.
5. Click Publish.

The help page's general instruction is to make your change in Profile and click Publish. The exact button wording in the Links section can differ slightly, so follow the labels on your screen. Before you start, check you're on the right channel. If you manage several, see switching accounts on YouTube.

Add links to your YouTube channel in the Studio app

YouTube's help gives these steps for Android:

1. Open the YouTube Studio app.
2. Tap your profile picture at the top right.
3. Next to your channel description, tap Edit.
4. Under Links, tap Edit.
5. Tap Add, then enter a title and the address of your site.
6. Tap Done, then Save.

I couldn't read a separate iPhone list for links, so look for the same Edit options in the app's profile area. Menus vary by app version.

Choose the first link on your YouTube channel with care

Because the first link appears next to the Subscribe button, it's the most visible thing on your channel. Put your best destination there. For most small businesses, that's one page with a clear next step, not your home page with ten choices.

• First link: the page you most want a viewer to visit.
• Next links: your other channels or profiles, and a contact page.
• Titles: write what the viewer gets, in a few plain words.
• Order: check how the list looks after you publish.

What YouTube's help says about links in the channel banner

This is the bit worth knowing before you spend time designing. The channel branding article describes the banner as an image that sits across the top of your channel page, and it covers sizes and safe areas for text and logos. It doesn't mention making parts of the banner clickable. So use the banner to show your brand and your name, and use the Links section for anything people should click.

If you want to change the image itself, I've covered the related profile picture steps in changing your YouTube profile picture.

Add a contact email to your YouTube channel too

The same Profile page lets you add an email address so people can reach you about business questions, according to YouTube's help. For a consultant or small company, it's worth doing next to your links. Use an address you check, and expect it to be seen by whoever opens your channel.

Keep your YouTube channel links within the rules

The help centre says links have to follow YouTube's external links policy. I haven't summarised that policy here, so read it before you add anything unusual. As a rule of thumb, send people to pages you own or run, and make sure the title says what's there.

Write link titles for your YouTube channel that get clicked

The title is what viewers read, so treat it like a tiny headline. Plain wording works best. Say what the person gets, such as the name of your free guide or your booking page, rather than a vague word like Website. Keep it short enough to read at a glance on a phone.

It also helps to look at your channel as a visitor would. Open it from a different account or a private window, and see whether the first link makes sense next to your name, picture and Subscribe button. If it doesn't, change it in Profile and publish again. Little edits like this are free to make and easy to repeat whenever your priorities change.

If your YouTube channel links won't save

• You've reached the limit. YouTube's help says you can add up to 14 links, so remove one first.
• You forgot to publish. On a computer, changes in Profile need the Publish button.
• You're on the wrong channel. Check your profile picture in Studio.
• A link was rejected. It may break the external links policy.

Changes can also take a little time to show across YouTube, so check again later before you assume something failed.

Other channel profile details worth updating alongside your links

While you're in Profile, look at your name, handle and description. I've written about how a channel name differs from a handle, and if you'd like to add pronouns, there's a guide to adding pronouns to your channel. A tidy profile makes the links look more trustworthy.

Frequently asked questions

How many links can I add to my YouTube channel?

YouTube's help centre says you can add up to 14 links.

Where do the links appear on my channel?

According to YouTube's help, the first link appears prominently near the Subscribe button, and the rest appear when viewers choose to see more links.

Can I put clickable links in my YouTube banner?

YouTube's help describes the banner as a background image and doesn't mention clickable links on it. Use the Links section in your Profile settings.

Why can't I find the Links section?

Open YouTube Studio, then Customization, then Profile. Some older guides call this area Basic info. Menus vary by version.

Do I need to publish after adding links?

On a computer, YouTube's help says to make your change in Profile and click Publish. In the Studio app, tap Done, then Save.