You need 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days, along with 1,000 subscribers, to qualify for YouTube ad revenue through the Shorts path. The lower fan-funding tier has used a 3-million-Shorts-views threshold instead.
That 10 million figure is substantial, so many creators combine Shorts with long-form to reach the 4,000-watch-hour path instead. Valid Shorts views exclude private, deleted and spam-identified views. Because the window is 90 days, consistent posting is essential. Focus on Shorts that loop, hook instantly and fit a recognizable series to maximise views and subscribers at the same time.
Step-by-step plan
Track Shorts views over the rolling 90-day window.
Post Shorts consistently to keep the window full.
Use strong hooks and loops to maximise views.
Pair Shorts with long-form to build watch hours too.
Apply as soon as you meet either path.
Why this works
YouTube monetization runs through the YouTube Partner Program. The full ad-revenue tier has required 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days, with a lower fan-funding tier at 500 subscribers. Thresholds and eligible countries change, so confirm the live numbers in YouTube Studio's Earn tab. Reviewers also check that the channel is original, advertiser-friendly and policy-compliant.
Common mistake to avoid
Posting Shorts only in bursts. The 90-day window resets, so consistency matters.
Pro tip
Track Shorts views per week rather than per video. To reach 10 million in 90 days you need roughly 780,000 views a week, which shows quickly whether the Shorts path or the watch-hour path is realistic for your channel.
Check it before you post
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