10M vs 20M Shorts views, explained
Checked against YouTube Help and the YouTube Blog on . Unofficial; YouTube decides what counts.
Two numbers, two different rules. 20 million is about getting into the YouTube Partner Program; 10 million is about earning from Shorts once you're in. Here is which one applies to you.
The short answer
20M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days is one way for a new creator to join YPP from 1 February 2027 (with 1,000 subscribers). The other way is 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days.[YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program]
10M qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days is what a YPP channel needs, from 1 February 2027, to earn from the Shorts Creator Pool for a month.[YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program]
| Number | What it's for | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 20M Shorts views / 90 days | Join YPP (ads & Premium), from 1 Feb 2027 | New applicants |
| 10M Shorts views / 90 days | Earn from the Shorts Creator Pool each month, from 1 Feb 2027 | Channels in YPP |
| 10M Shorts views / 90 days | Join YPP today, until 31 Jan 2027 | New applicants |
| 3M Shorts views / 90 days | Fan funding, Shopping, Creator Partnerships (unchanged) | Channels with 500+ subscribers |
| 1M Shorts views / 90 days | One way to count as active in YPP, from 1 Feb 2027 | Channels in YPP |
Source:[YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program][YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility]
Why people mix them up
Until 31 January 2027 the Shorts path into YPP is 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, the same number as the new monthly earnings bar.[YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility]
From 1 February 2027 the entry number doubles to 20M, while 10M becomes a monthly requirement for channels already in the program.[YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program]
If you're already in YPP
The 20M entry bar doesn't apply to you: if you are already in YPP, your status is not impacted.[YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program]
The 10M bar does: below it you stay in YPP and keep your other YPP earnings, including long-form, but don't earn from the Shorts Creator Pool for that month. Shorts revenue sharing resumes automatically once you're back above 10M.[YouTube Help: Changes to the YouTube Partner Program][YouTube Blog, 10 Aug 2026: New opportunities to earn and changes to the YouTube Partner Program]
If you're not in YPP yet
Joining by 31 January 2027 means the current bar: 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 hours in 12 months or 10M Shorts views in 90 days.[YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility]
Our math / readingYouTube hasn't said how applications still under review on 1 February 2027 are handled, so don't leave it to the last day.
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Open the 10M trackerFAQ
Is it 10 million or 20 million Shorts views?
Both, for different things. From 1 February 2027, 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days (plus 1,000 subscribers) is one way to join YPP, and 10 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days is what a YPP channel needs to earn from the Shorts Creator Pool each month.
Do existing YPP members need 20M Shorts views?
No. YouTube says channels already in YPP are not affected by the new entry thresholds. They do need 10M qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days to earn from the Shorts Creator Pool each month.
What happens if my channel is between 10M and 20M?
If you're already in YPP, you'd meet the 10M Creator Pool bar. If you're applying from 1 February 2027, the Shorts path needs 20M, so you'd need more views or 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days instead.