"Getting verified" on YouTube means two completely different things, and people constantly mix them up. One is a setting anyone can do today; the other is a checkmark that takes 100,000 subscribers. Here's the difference and how to get each.
Account verification (anyone can do this)
This is the one you can do right now, and it's not about the checkmark. Verifying your account means confirming your phone number, which unlocks important creator features:
- Custom thumbnails for your videos.
- Uploading videos longer than 15 minutes.
- Live streaming and other features.
To do it: go to youtube.com/verify (or Studio → Settings → Channel → Feature eligibility), enter your phone number, and type in the code YouTube texts or calls you. Do this early — custom thumbnails alone are worth it, since thumbnails drive clicks.
The verified badge (the checkmark)
The checkmark next to a channel's name is channel verification. It confirms the channel is the official presence of a creator, brand, or organization. The standard requirement:
- 100,000 subscribers to be eligible.
- An application through YouTube once you qualify.
- Your channel must be complete and authentic (real, active, compliant with policies).
YouTube occasionally verifies notable channels under 100k at its own discretion (well-known public figures or brands), but for the vast majority of creators, 100,000 subscribers is the gate.
How to apply once you hit 100k
- Confirm you've crossed 100,000 subscribers.
- Make sure your channel is complete: picture, banner, description, and an upload history.
- Visit YouTube's channel verification application page and submit.
- Wait for review — approval isn't instant and isn't guaranteed.
Don't fall for verification scams
A common scam is an email claiming to 'verify' your channel via a link. YouTube never asks you to verify through a random email link. Verification happens inside YouTube's own pages — ignore and report anything else.
Focus on the path to 100k
The badge is a byproduct of growth, not a growth strategy. Put your energy into subscribers and watch time: start with how to get your first 1,000 subscribers and how to get more subscribers on YouTube. The checkmark will follow.
Grow toward the checkmark
Tubely's free tools help you package videos for clicks and manage your channels in one place — the work that actually gets you to 100k.