A YouTube members-only video is one only paying channel members at the right level can watch. Anyone can find it, which is why they show up in your feed, but non-members see a note that it's for members and an offer to join. To watch, click Join on the channel, pick a membership level and pay.
If you've been seeing videos you can't open, that's by design. YouTube Help says members-only videos can surface for viewers who aren't members, in feeds, channel pages and search, so they can discover the membership. Here's how they work from both sides.
How to watch a members-only video
- Sign in to YouTube.
- Go to the creator's channel or one of their videos and check they've turned on memberships.
- Click Join.
- Choose a level, enter your payment details and click Buy.
Members can find members-only videos on the channel's Memberships, Content and Posts tabs, and they may also appear in Home and Subscriptions. Check the level, though: some videos are only for higher levels, and YouTube says each level's perks build on the ones below it.
Members-only vs members-first
| Type | Who can watch | What happens later |
|---|---|---|
| Members-only video | Members at the chosen levels | Stays members-only |
| Members-first (Members-only to public) | Members first | Turns public at a date and time the creator sets, and subscribers are notified |
| Members-only Short | Members | Stays members-only; appears in members' Shorts and Home feeds |
| Members-only live stream | Members at the right levels | Exclusive stream |
| Members-only live chat | Everyone can watch, only members can chat | Applies during that stream |
Members-first is the one that confuses people: you'll see it listed as members-only today, then it opens to everyone later. YouTube says it found that, on average, videos given to members first performed the same when they went public.
How creators make a video members-only
For a new upload, set Visibility to Members only during the upload. If you have more than one level, choose which levels can watch. For an existing video:
- Open YouTube Studio on a computer or in the Studio app.
- Select Content and find the video.
- Select Edit, then Visibility, then Members only, and save.
For early access instead, choose Members-only to public and pick when it goes public. One snag with Shorts: YouTube says if you record and upload a Short in one flow, the members-only option may not appear. Upload it as Unlisted, then change the visibility to members-only.
The music rule creators miss
YouTube says members-only videos must be fully original content. Videos with copyright claims, including claims from music partners, aren't allowed, and members-only Shorts can't use music owned by third parties, including tracks from the Shorts music library. If your usual Shorts rely on library music, plan different audio for members. How copyright strikes work explains why claimed music causes trouble.
What members get besides videos
- A channel badge next to your name in comments and live chat.
- Custom emoji, if the creator uploads them.
- Members-only posts on the channel's Posts tab.
- One Member Milestone Chat a month, from your second consecutive month.
- Freedom from slow mode in live chat, which doesn't apply to active members.
Joining also makes some things public: your channel name, profile picture, when you joined and your level. For the creator side of pricing and levels, see how YouTube channel memberships work, and for gifting, gifted memberships.
Notifications for members-only content
Once you join, YouTube says it uses notifications or email to tell you when the channel creates a members-only post, uploads a members-only video, starts a members-only live stream, or schedules one that begins in 30 minutes. If that's too much, you can opt out of notifications and emails for that channel, or turn off notifications altogether.
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Creators can point non-members at a members-only video too. YouTube suggests sharing its URL publicly on cards, posts and playlists, and non-members who click are shown ways to become a member.
Cancelling and refunds
You can cancel any time at youtube.com/paid_memberships. You keep your perks, including members-only videos, until the end of your billing cycle, but YouTube doesn't refund the time between cancelling and the end date. If you joined through Apple, refunds go through Apple's support.
My verdict
If a channel's members-only videos are the reason you want to join, check two things first: which level the videos are on, and whether they're members-first and will go public anyway. For creators, members-first is the low-risk way to start, since your public reach isn't hurt, and keep members-only uploads free of claimed music.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I see members-only videos if I'm not a member?
YouTube lets anyone find members-only videos so viewers can discover the membership. Only members at the right level can watch; others see a note and an option to join.
How do I watch members-only videos on YouTube?
Join the channel's membership: click Join on the channel or video, choose a level and pay. Make sure your level includes the video.
What's the difference between members-only and members-first on YouTube?
Members-only videos stay exclusive to members. Members-first videos are available to members first and then become public at a time the creator sets.
Can members-only Shorts use music from the Shorts library?
No. YouTube says members-only Shorts must be fully original and can't include music owned by third parties, including music from the Shorts music library.
