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If you are earning money on YouTube, associate an approved AdSense for YouTube account to earn money and get paid.
Create and link an AdSense for YouTube account
You get paid on YouTube through the AdSense for YouTube account linked to your channel. Note that if you’re already in the YouTube Partner Program, you can change your linked AdSense for YouTube account if you need to. You can also monetize more than one YouTube channel using the same AdSense for YouTube account.
You can create a new AdSense for YouTube account and link it to your channel:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, select the Earn tab.
- Click START on the Sign-up for AdSense for YouTube card.
- When you're asked to, enter your YouTube account password and re-authenticate when required.
- Choose which Google account you would like to use for AdSense for YouTube.
- Note: if you already use AdSense for other reasons outside of YouTube, sign in with the Google account used with your existing AdSense account.
- You’re now in AdSense for YouTube. Once here, verify that the email address is correct at the top of the page. If it’s the wrong one, click Use a different account to switch accounts.
- Continue setting up your account. Provide your contact info and submit your AdSense for YouTube account application.
After following the above steps, you’ll be taken back to YouTube Studio, where you’ll see a message verifying receipt of your AdSense for YouTube account application. We will inform you via email once your account has been approved, which can take up to several days. Once approved, you’ll see confirmation within YouTube Studio in the Sign up for AdSense for YouTube card that your AdSense for YouTube account is approved and active.
I don’t know if I already have an AdSense or an Adsense for YouTube account
- Sign in to your YouTube account and go to https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC/monetization
- Click Start on the “Sign up for AdSense for YouTube” card.
- You’ll need to enter your YouTube account password and re-authenticate. Learn how to re-authenticate your YouTube account.
- Choose the Google account you want to use to sign in to AdSense for YouTube. If you already have an AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account, you must sign in with the Google account that you use to access your existing account. This account may be different from the sign in credentials you use to sign in to YouTube.
- You'll be directed to an AdSense for YouTube sign-up page. Verify that the correct email is at the top of the page. If the account that's showing is the wrong one, click "Use a different account" to change accounts.
- Click Accept Association.
- You'll be redirected back to the Earn page in YouTube Studio.
- Once you’ve connected your AdSense for YouTube account, we’ll mark this step with a green “Done” sign on the “Sign up for AdSense for YouTube account” card.
Set up AdSense for YouTube using a Content Manager account
- Sign into your Content Manager account.
- Go to Settings.
- Under the Overview section, you’ll see AdSense for YouTube (you may need to scroll to see it).
- Click Edit.
- Click Continue to AdSense for YouTube.
- You’ll need to enter your YouTube account password and re-authenticate. Learn how to re-authenticate your YouTube account.
- Choose the Google Account you want to use to sign in to AdSense for YouTube. If you already have an AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account, you must sign in with the Google Account that you use to access your existing account.
- When asked, enter the password for your AdSense for YouTube account. This info may be different from the credentials you use to sign in to YouTube.
- Confirm the YouTube channel you're associating the AdSense for YouTube account with, and choose the primary language for the channel. Although you select one YouTube channel to complete the AdSense for YouTube association, YouTube will serve ads on all channels linked to your Content Manager.
- Click Accept Association and add your billing info, if asked.
Common issues
Use the below info to troubleshoot common issues when trying to link an AdSense for YouTube account to your channel.
I created a new AdSense for YouTube account, but it’s disapproved because I already have an existing AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account
You can only have one AdSense or Adsense for YouTube account under the same payee name per AdSense's Terms and Conditionsor AdSense for YouTube Terms of Service, as applicable. If you’re found to have a duplicate account, your newly created AdSense for YouTube account will be disapproved.
Search your email inboxes for an email with the subject “You already have an existing AdSense account or AdSense for YouTube account”. This message will contain info about your existing AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account. With this info, you have two choices to fix the issue:
Use the existing (older) account
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and click Change Association.
- In the account selection menu, select the Google Account that uses your existing (older) AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account.
- Click Accept Association.
You’ll be redirected back to YouTube Studio, where you can see the account linked to your channel.
Use the new account you just created
First, you’ll need to close the exiting (older) account
- Sign in to your existing AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account, as applicable.
- Follow the steps here to close your account.
Once closed, sign in to your new AdSense for YouTube account to confirm you’ve closed the older one.
Issues with Address (PIN) Verification
Completing address (PIN) verification in your AdSense for YouTube account is required to maintain channel monetization and receive payments.
If you’ve linked a new AdSense for YouTube account to your channel, a PIN verification card will be mailed to your physical address once you reach a $10 balance. This PIN verification card will include a PIN code for you to enter in your account to verify your address.
If you’ve linked to an existing AdSense or AdSense for YouTube account, you may need to wait at least 3 weeks for the PIN verification card to arrive in the mail. If you haven’t got it after 3 weeks, you can request a replacement PIN verification card.
Make sure that the address on file in your AdSense for YouTube account matches the address recognized by your local post office. Having the correct address helps the local post office deliver your mail. If they are different, you need to change the payment address in your account so they are the same.
If you need help with address (PIN) verification, refer to these Help resources:
What happens if I don’t verify my address?
If you don’t verify your address within 4 months, monetization will be paused for your channel. This includes pausing access to features like:
- Channel memberships
- Super Chat, and more
Monetization will resume on your channel once you verify your address.
Other issues
“Oops, something went wrong” is shown to me in YouTube Studio
This error message may appear when trying to make changes with emails that aren’t recognized by YouTube Studio. To solve these issues, try the following:
- When linking an AdSense for YouTube account, YouTube Studio will ask you to Verify It’s You. Make sure you do this using the email address you use to sign in to YouTube.
- You’ll then be asked to select a Google Account to continue to AdSense for YouTube with. In this instance, you may select a different email address than the one you use to sign in to YouTube Studio.
- If your channel is linked to a Brand Account, you should sign in using the email address that originally created your channel. If you can’t sign in using that email address, recover your account by following our tips to complete account recovery steps.
AdSense for YouTube is asking me for a website URL to sign up
When linking a new AdSense for YouTube account to your YouTube channel, don’t go and create one on google.com/adsense or adsense.com for this purpose. If you do, your account will be disapproved and monetization will be disabled for your channel. Instead, create the AdSense for YouTube account from within YouTube Studio directly.
Other errors
If you’re experiencing other technical errors not outlined on this page, try the following:
- Close all browser tabs.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies.
- Use a private or incognito window (to make sure no other Google accounts are signed in).