Do I need 10 million views on YouTube Shorts?

Do You Need 10 Million YouTube Shorts Views to Get Paid?

It sounds almost unreal: 10 million views on YouTube Shorts just to qualify for monetization. But yes, that’s actually one of the paths YouTube offers. If you’re building a presence on the platform and dreaming of earning from your content, here’s what you need to know.

To join the YouTube Partner Program and start making money, most creators aim for 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time on long-form videos within the past year. That’s the traditional route. But YouTube introduced an alternative—especially friendly to Shorts creators—where instead of long-form watch hours, you can qualify with 10 million aggregate views on Shorts over 90 days.

Yes, it’s a big number. And yes, it’s kind of crazy. But it reflects how YouTube is trying to adapt to the short-form content boom. For many creators, especially those just starting or focusing purely on quick, engaging clips, hitting 4,000 hours of long-form watch time might be nearly impossible. The 10 million Shorts views option opens the door—though it’s still a high bar.

Once you cross that threshold, you’re in. That means you can start earning ad revenue, access more features, and build a sustainable channel. But keep in mind: views alone aren’t enough. Your content still needs to follow YouTube’s policies, and you’ll need to complete identity verification and meet other basic requirements.

So, do you *need* 10 million Shorts views? Only if you’re not taking the 4,000-hour route. But for many fast-rising creators, those viral moments add up—and suddenly, that impossible number doesn’t seem so far away.