Introduction: The “Passport Number” of Your Channel
You are likely here because you hit a wall. Maybe you are trying to connect your channel to a third-party analytics tool like Social Blade. Maybe you are setting up a sponsorship contract, applying for the YouTube Partner Program, or trying to recover a hacked account. Suddenly, a form asks for your YouTube Channel ID, and you stare at your URL bar, confused.
“Isn’t my channel ID just my name?”
No. In the modern YouTube ecosystem (2026), your “Handle” (e.g., @YourName) and your “Channel ID” are two completely different things. Think of your Handle as your nickname—it’s easy to remember and fun to say. Think of your Channel ID as your Passport Number—it is a long, ugly string of random characters that never changes, no matter how many times you rebrand.
Finding this ID can be surprisingly difficult because YouTube tucks it away deep in the settings menu, favoring the cleaner “Handle” URLs for user experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through exactly how to locate your User ID and Channel ID on both desktop and mobile. We will also dive deep into why this string of code is the most important asset for your channel’s technical security and growth.
Part 1: The Anatomy of a YouTube URL (What Are We Looking For?)
Before we click any buttons, you need to know what you are hunting for. YouTube has gone through several eras of URL structures, and this causes massive confusion for new creators.
1. The Handle URL (The Modern Standard)
Format: youtube.com/@TheTechGuy
What it is: This is your vanity URL. You can change this twice every 14 days. It is for humans, not computers.
2. The Legacy Username URL (The Old School)
Format: youtube.com/user/TechGuyVideos
What it is: If you created your channel before 2014, you might have this. It is a relic. Do not use this for API integrations.
3. The Channel ID (The Gold Standard)
Format: UC-rK7wS9_8c1-7z3 (Always starts with “UC”)
What it is: This is the permanent, immutable database key for your channel. Even if you change your name, your handle, and your profile picture, this ID remains the same forever. This is what we need to find.
Part 2: Method 1 – The Desktop Browser (The Correct Way)
This is the most reliable method. If you have access to a computer (PC or Mac), do this.
Step 1: Sign In
Go to YouTube.com and ensure you are signed into the correct account. If you have multiple channels (Brand Accounts) under one email, click your profile picture in the top right and select “Switch Account” to ensure you are active on the target channel.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings
Click your profile picture in the top right corner. In the dropdown menu, scroll down and click Settings (Look for the gear icon).
Note: Do not go to “YouTube Studio.” You want the general YouTube settings.
Step 3: Advanced Settings
On the left-hand sidebar of the Settings page, look at the very bottom. You will see a tab labeled Advanced settings. Click it.
Step 4: Copy the ID
You will now see a screen with two critical pieces of information:
- User ID: Usually needed for specific API calls.
- Channel ID: This is the “UC...” string.
YouTube provides a handy “Copy” button next to each. Click it.
Pro Tip: Paste this immediately into a secure note on your phone or computer labeled “YouTube API Keys.” You will need it again.
Part 3: Method 2 – The Mobile App Workaround
YouTube hates showing technical details on the mobile app. If you go to settings in the app, you won’t find the “Advanced” tab. However, there is a loophole.
The “Share Link” Trick:
- Open the YouTube app on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right (or top right, depending on your OS version) to go to your channel page.
- Look for the Pencil Icon (Edit Channel) or the Three Dots menu in the top right corner.
- Select Share → Copy Link.
The Clean-Up Phase:
Paste that link into a notes app or browser address bar.
If the link looks like youtube.com/@YourName, you have a problem. The app gave you the Handle URL.
The Fix: You must open a browser (Chrome/Safari) on your phone. Type studio.youtube.com and force the browser to “Request Desktop Site” (via the “AA” or three-dots menu). Then follow the Desktop steps from Part 2.
Part 4: Method 3 – The “Source Code” Hack (For Any Channel)
What if you need to find the Channel ID of someone else’s channel? Maybe a competitor, or a channel you want to run an audit on? You can’t log into their settings.
Here is the “Hacker” method (it’s completely legal):
- Go to the channel page of the creator (e.g., youtube.com/@MrBeast).
- Right-click anywhere on the white background of the page.
- Select View Page Source.
- A scary-looking wall of code will open. Don’t panic.
- Press CTRL + F (Windows) or CMD + F (Mac) to open the search bar.
- Type: channelId
The browser will highlight the text. Next to “key”: “channelId”, you will see the string starting with “UC...”. That is their ID.
Part 5: Brand Accounts vs. Personal Accounts (The Confusion)
This is where 90% of creators get stuck.
The Scenario:
You log in, you copy your User ID, and you plug it into a third-party tool. The tool says “Error: User Not Found.”
The Reason:
You are likely using a Brand Account. When you create a Brand Account (which allows multiple people to manage the channel), Google creates a “dummy” User ID that links to the Brand. The third-party tool is often looking for the Channel ID of the Brand, not the User ID of the Google Account managing it.
The Solution:
Always prioritize the Channel ID (starts with UC) over the User ID. The Channel ID is the public-facing entity. The User ID is the private admin entity. In 99% of integration cases (Streamlabs, TubeBuddy, Social Blade), the tool wants the Channel ID.
Part 6: Why Do You Actually Need This? (5 Critical Use Cases)
You might be thinking, “This seems like a lot of work for a string of text.” Here is why this ID is your lifeline.
1. Recovering a Hacked Account
If your channel gets hacked, the attacker will often change your Handle (@HackerName) immediately. If you contact YouTube Support and say, “My channel is youtube.com/@MyName,” they will say, “That channel doesn’t exist.”
You need the Channel ID. It is the only thing the hacker cannot change. If you have this ID saved, YouTube can locate the ghost of your channel and restore it.
2. Setting Up RSS Feeds
If you want to create an automated website that updates every time you post a video, or if you want to turn your YouTube channel into a Podcast feed, most RSS generators require the specific Channel ID format to ping the YouTube API.
3. Google Takeout (Data Backup)
Want to download a backup of every video you have ever uploaded? When using Google Takeout, specifically for large accounts, verifying the exact Channel ID ensures you are downloading the data for your Brand Account, not just your personal watch history.
4. Monetization & AdSense Setup
When applying for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), Google AdSense needs to bind to a specific entity. While the integration is mostly automated now, bugs happen. Having your Channel ID allows AdSense support to manually link your accounts if the automatic binding fails.
5. Allow-listing for Copyright
If you use licensed music (e.g., from Epidemic Sound or Artlist), you often need to “Allow-list” your channel to prevent copyright strikes. These services require the Channel ID to track your usage accurately.
Conclusion: Save It Somewhere Safe
The YouTube Channel ID is not just a technicality; it is the DNA of your online existence. In an era where handles can be changed and account names can be spoofed, the Channel ID is the only source of truth.
Your Action Plan:
- Follow “Method 1” right now.
- Copy your Channel ID.
- Save it in a password manager (like 1Password or LastPass) or a physical notebook.
Do not wait until you are locked out of your account or fighting a copyright claim to go looking for it. In the world of digital content, your ID is your identity. Guard it, keep it, and use it to build your empire.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I change my YouTube Channel ID?
No. Your Channel ID is permanent. It is generated when the channel is created and cannot be edited, customized, or deleted. You can change your Display Name and your Handle (@name), but the underlying “UC” ID is yours forever.
Q: Is it safe to share my Channel ID publicly?
Yes. Your Channel ID is public information. It is embedded in the source code of every video page you upload. Sharing it does not give anyone access to log into your account (they would need your email and password for that). It is safe to give to sponsors, tools, or support teams.
Q: Why does my URL look like youtube.com/c/name?
That is a “Custom URL,” a feature from the pre-2022 era. YouTube has largely replaced these with Handles (@name), but old Custom URLs still redirect to your channel. Neither of these is your Channel ID.
Q: I have 0 subscribers. Do I still have a Channel ID?
Yes. The moment a YouTube account is created, a Channel ID is assigned, even if you have never uploaded a video or gained a subscriber.
Q: My Channel ID starts with “HC” instead of “UC”. What does that mean?
This is extremely rare and usually applies to ancient, legacy accounts that were migrated from Google Video or very early YouTube iterations. For all intents and purposes, it functions the same way, but some modern API tools might reject it. You may need to contact YouTube support if this causes integration issues.