Can you hit 4,000 watch hours before YouTube doubles it?
On 1 February 2027 the YouTube Partner Program requirement for new applicants goes from 4,000 public watch hours to 8,000, and from 10 million Shorts views to 20 million. Qualify before that date and you are in under the current bar permanently. Put your numbers in and see the daily pace it would take.
Your numbers
Both are on YouTube Studio → Analytics → Overview. Nothing is sent anywhere — this runs in your browser.
What changes, and what doesn't
| Requirement | Now | From 1 Feb 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000 | 1,000 — unchanged |
| Public watch hours (365 days) | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Shorts views (90 days) | 10 million | 20 million |
| Fan funding tier (500 subs) | 3,000 hrs / 3M views | Unchanged |
| Already in the Partner Program | — | Not affected |
Source: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program — YouTube Help
Common questions
What exactly changes on 1 February 2027?
New applicants to the YouTube Partner Program will need 8,000 public watch hours in the past 365 days instead of 4,000, or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days instead of 10 million. The 1,000-subscriber requirement is unchanged.
Does it affect channels already in the Partner Program?
No. YouTube's documentation states that if you are already in YPP your status is not impacted. You do not re-qualify under the higher thresholds. Everyone in YPP does need to accept updated terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027 to keep earning from the affected features.
What happens to the 500-subscriber fan funding tier?
It is unchanged. You can still access fan funding — channel memberships, Super Thanks, Super Chat — at 500 subscribers with either 3,000 watch hours in the past year or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days.
So qualifying before the deadline is permanent?
Yes. If you are accepted into the Partner Program before 1 February 2027 you are in under the current thresholds and the higher ones never apply to you. That is why the date matters: the same channel that qualifies in January needs twice the watch hours in February.
Where do I find my watch hours?
YouTube Studio → Analytics → Overview. The figure YPP counts is public watch hours from the last 365 days on long-form video. Private, unlisted and deleted videos do not count, and Shorts views are tracked separately against the Shorts route.
The pace only matters if you hold it
Kingfinity connects to your channel, tracks the real number against the deadline every day, and tells you which of your videos is actually moving it. Free to start, no card.
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