How to Get Verified on YouTube: Eligibility and How to Apply

That small grey tick next to a channel name tells viewers they've found the real thing, not a copycat. If you run a business channel, it's natural to want one. The good news is that YouTube publishes exactly who can apply and how. The less good news is that there's a threshold you'll need to reach first. I'll take you through what YouTube's help centre says, step by step, so you know where you stand today.

What the YouTube verification badge means

YouTube's help page describes the verification badge as a sign that a channel is the official channel of a creator, artist, company or well-known person. Its job is to help people tell an official channel apart from others with similar names.

It's worth knowing what the badge isn't. YouTube says verified channels don't get any extra features, and the badge isn't an award or an endorsement from YouTube. It's about identity, nothing more.

YouTube verification eligibility rules

According to YouTube's verification badge help article, a channel needs all of the following before it can apply:

• 100,000 or more subscribers. This is the line YouTube draws before a channel can apply.
• 2-Step Verification switched on for the Google Account that owns the channel.
• A complete profile: a banner image, a profile picture, a channel description and at least one public video.
• An authentic, active channel: YouTube reviews whether the channel is public, has content and is active.

The same page notes that YouTube may sometimes verify well-known channels with fewer subscribers than the threshold. You can't apply for that route yourself, so for most of us the published threshold is the one that counts.

How to apply for a YouTube verified badge in Studio

Once you meet the rules, YouTube's help centre gives these steps on a computer:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. Click Settings, then Channel.
3. Open the Verified badge tab.
4. Click Apply.

If anything's missing, such as 2-Step Verification or part of your profile, YouTube prompts you to sort it before the application goes through. If you've only just passed the threshold, YouTube says it can take a few days for the option to appear.

If the YouTube Verified badge tab isn't showing

YouTube's help page is clear on this one: if you can't see the Verified badge tab in Studio settings, your channel doesn't yet meet the subscriber requirement. It isn't a fault, and there's no other form to fill in. Keep growing the channel and check back once you've reached the number.

Getting your YouTube channel ready before you're eligible

You can do most of the groundwork now, so that applying takes minutes later. Fill in your channel description, add a banner, and make sure you've chosen a clear profile picture. My guide on changing your YouTube profile picture walks through that part. Switch on 2-Step Verification for the account while you're at it, because it protects the channel whether or not you ever apply.

Then it's about growth. If you're starting out, my plan for reaching your first 1,000 YouTube subscribers is a sensible first milestone on the way there.

How YouTube reviews a verification application

Hitting the number doesn't guarantee the badge. YouTube's help page says it checks that a channel is authentic, complete, public, has content and is active. In plain terms, it wants to see a real channel that represents who it claims to be, with a full profile and recent uploads.

So before you click Apply, look at your channel the way a stranger would. Is the name the one your customers know you by? Does the description say what the business does? Is there a clear banner and picture? Are your latest videos public, not all hidden or unlisted? If you've let the channel go quiet for a while, posting again before you apply makes sense.

YouTube also notes that verification has changed over time, so you may notice that different channels show slightly different kinds of verified marks, particularly artists. That's why you'll sometimes see a tick on a channel that looks quite different from yours.

Changing your YouTube name can remove verification

This catches people out. YouTube's help page says your badge stays only while you keep the same channel name. If you rename a verified channel, it loses the badge and you'll need to apply again. Changing your handle doesn't remove the badge, though. If you're not sure which is which, I've explained the difference between a YouTube channel name and a handle.

YouTube also says it can remove verification, or terminate a channel, if the channel breaks its Community Guidelines or Terms of Service.

YouTube requirement	What you need	Where to check
Audience	100,000 or more subscribers	YouTube Studio dashboard
Account security	2-Step Verification on	Google Account security settings
Profile	Banner, picture, description, a public video	Studio Customization
Channel status	Public, active, authentic	Your channel page

Why a YouTube badge matters less than you'd think for small businesses

If you're a long way off the threshold, don't let it worry you. Viewers judge a business channel on whether its videos help them, and a consistent name, a clear picture and a tidy description do plenty to show you're the real deal. The badge is a nice extra once you get there.

Frequently asked questions

How many subscribers do you need to get verified on YouTube?

YouTube's help centre says a channel needs 100,000 or more subscribers to be eligible to apply for the verification badge.

Can you get verified on YouTube with fewer subscribers?

YouTube says it may occasionally verify well-known channels below the threshold, but there's no way to apply for that yourself.

Where do you apply for YouTube verification?

In YouTube Studio on a computer, go to Settings, then Channel, then the Verified badge tab, and click Apply.

Do you lose the YouTube verified badge if you change your name?

Yes. YouTube says a renamed channel loses the badge and has to reapply. Changing your handle doesn't remove it.

Do I need 2-Step Verification to get verified on YouTube?

Yes. YouTube's help page lists 2-Step Verification on the Google Account as one of the eligibility rules. If it's off, YouTube prompts you to turn it on when you apply.

Does the verified badge give extra features?

No. YouTube says verified channels get no extra features, and the badge isn't an endorsement.