YouTube Verification Badge: 100,000 Subscribers and More

You want the check mark next to your channel name, or the music note that artists have. You have heard the 100,000 figure, you have seen offers online, and you are not sure what YouTube actually requires or whether the badge is worth chasing.

This guide follows YouTube's own help pages. It sets out the two badge types, the channel verification requirements, the application steps, what a rename or handle change does, and the separate Official Artist Channel route. We are not YouTube, we cannot verify a channel, and we do not sell or fake verification.

Last checked: 26 October 2026. Subscriber figures and criteria on YouTube's pages can change, so check the pages linked below before you rely on a number.

#What Are the Two Kinds of Badge?

They are separate programmes with separate rules. YouTube's pages give each one its own rules, so do not mix up the requirements.

#What Are the Channel Verification Requirements?

YouTube's Verification badges on channels page says that to be eligible to request channel verification, you must meet three conditions:

• You must have 100,000 subscribers.
• Your Google account must have 2-step verification turned on.
• You must have a complete profile, including a banner image, profile picture, description and at least one public video.

The page also says only the channel owners or managers can submit the application. It adds that the review looks for channels that are authentic, meaning the channel represents the real creator, brand or entity it claims to be, and complete, meaning it is public with a banner, description and profile picture, and has content and is active. For authenticity, YouTube says it checks factors such as the age of the channel and may ask for more information or documentation.

The page says YouTube may also proactively verify channels with fewer than 100,000 subscribers that are well known outside YouTube. That is YouTube's choice. It is not something you can apply for.

#How Do I Apply for Channel Verification?

The page gives these steps:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer.
2. Click Settings, then Channel, then Verified badge.
3. Click Apply.

If the Verified badge tab does not appear, the page says you are not eligible, based on the 100,000 subscriber requirement. If you have 100,000 subscribers but lack 2-step verification or a complete profile, you will see the option to turn on 2-step verification or edit your profile. When those are met, the Apply option appears.

The page also says that sometimes its systems take a few days to update. If you recently reached 100,000 subscribers or turned on 2-step verification but cannot open the form, check back in a few days, and make sure you are signed in with the email address for the eligible channel.

#What Happens to the Badge If I Rename or Change My Handle?

This is where creators lose a badge by accident. The Verification badges page says that a verified channel stays verified unless you change the channel name. If you change it, the renamed channel is not verified and you must reapply. YouTube's Manage your YouTube channel's profile page repeats the point next to the name steps: changing your name will remove your verification badge.

The Verification badges page also says that changing your handle will not remove your verification badge. YouTube's Learn about YouTube handles page explains that a handle starts with the @ symbol and is distinct from the channel name, and that each channel can only have one. The profile page says you can change your channel name twice within a 14-day period, and the same for the handle. Check those pages for the current limits.

#What Do Verified Channels Get?

No extra tools. The page says verified channels do not get extra features on YouTube, and that the badge does not represent awards, milestones or endorsement from YouTube. It describes the badge as a way to tell official channels from others with similar names. So the value is trust, not tools. If your problem is a copycat channel, the page also says that if someone is impersonating you or your channel, you can report it to YouTube.

#How Does the Official Artist Channel Work?

YouTube's Introduction to Official Artist Channels page says an Official Artist Channel brings together all your subscribers and content from different channels into one place. When you get one, YouTube merges subscribers from your topic channel, Vevo channel if available, and your existing channel into the new channel. It says the subscribe button and subscriber count will no longer be displayed on your existing channel or topic channel. It also notes that if you become eligible, you may lose access to some features available only to non-artist channels, such as Ask Studio.

To be eligible, the page says you must:

• Own and operate a single artist's or band's YouTube channel focused on the artist's or band's music.
• Have at least one official music release on YouTube delivered and distributed by a music distributor or label.
• Have a channel that complies with all YouTube policies, including Community Guidelines, Terms of Service and Copyright policies.
• Meet at least one more condition: work with a YouTube Partner Manager, be part of the YouTube Partner Program, be part of a label network that works with a YouTube Partner Manager, or have your music distributed by a music partner in the YouTube Services Directory.

On how to apply, the page says to contact your label or distributor. If you have none, it says to reach out to a music service partner that can request an Official Artist Channel on your behalf as part of delivering your music. It also says to have at least one public video on the artist channel, as requests for channels with no public videos may be rejected or need extra verification. And an Official Artist Channel is suspended and becomes a standard channel if it gets a Community Guidelines strike or has content with limited features. It is restored automatically when the strikes or limits are gone and the other criteria are met.

#What the Pages Do Not Say

The pages we read do not say how long the review takes, and they do not say how many applications succeed. They do not say why a particular channel was refused, and they do not promise that meeting the requirements gets you the badge. They do not say that anyone outside YouTube can obtain a badge for you. We do not know how your application will end, and we will not guess.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

Some creators apply alone, and the official route comes first. The risks are plain. YouTube's page says a rename removes the badge, so a casual branding change can cost you a check mark you worked for. Because the badge needs your Google account to have 2-step verification and a complete profile, a poorly secured account is a risk in itself. Offers to sell, rent or fake a badge are a red flag, since the pages describe YouTube Studio and your label or distributor as the only routes, and no one needs your password. Our guide to spotting fake recovery services lists the signs.

If you are unsure about any step, or the channel matters for your income or business, handing the case to an experienced team such as AwareXone is the safer choice. We can help you check eligibility against the pages, tidy your profile and plan any rename so the badge is not lost. We never ask for your password. See our social media verification help page, and use the Apply for Case Review button at the end of this guide.

#When a Case Review Makes Sense

If the Verified badge tab is missing and you think it should show, an impersonator is using your name, or a rename is planned for a verified channel, a review can help you plan the next step. SocialSafe by AwareXone is a Malaysia-based service, independent of YouTube, that helps you use the official routes. We never ask for your password or login codes, and we cannot change YouTube's decisions. See how we work on our trust page. For verification on other platforms, see our guide on getting verified on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

#Frequently Asked Questions