YouTube Category Checker

How to Check YouTube Video and Channel Categories

You can check any individual video, YouTube Short, entire playlist, or complete YouTube channel using the steps below:

1. Copy the Video, Playlist, or Channel Link

   On YouTube, copy the link of the video, Short, playlist, or channel you want to inspect. For channels, you can paste the channel URL, custom URL, @handle (for example, @username), or the 24-character Channel ID.

2. Select Your Tab and Options

   Choose the Video / Shorts, Playlist, or Channel tab above. If you are analyzing a channel, you can choose to analyze all uploads, regular videos only, Shorts only, or live streams. You can also select a country region from the dropdown menu to see how the category name is translated in that location.

3. Click the Button to View Results

   Click Find Category or Analyze Channel. For single videos, the tool displays the assigned category name, numeric Category ID, and title. For channels and playlists, it shows the primary category, category consistency score, distribution breakdown, and an exportable video table.

How to Check a YouTube Channel Category (And Why Channels Have Multiple Categories)

A common question creators ask is how to check what category a YouTube channel belongs to. In reality, YouTube does not assign a single category badge to a channel. Instead, categories are assigned at the video level during upload. Many channels upload content across different categories over time, such as mixing Gaming videos with Entertainment Shorts or Science & Technology live streams.

To determine a YouTube channel's true niche, our tool examines up to 4,500 of the channel's recent uploads. It groups every video by its assigned category and gives you:

• Primary Channel Category: The main category the creator uploads to most frequently.
• Category Consistency Score: A percentage rating that measures how focused the channel is on its primary category compared to other categories.
• Category Distribution Breakdown: A visual breakdown showing the percentage and number of videos published in each category.
• Format Filters: The option to inspect long videos, YouTube Shorts, or live streams separately to see if the creator uses different categories for different video formats.
• Data Export: Download all analyzed video titles, links, publish dates, and categories into CSV, Excel (.xlsx), or JSON files for competitor research.

How to Check YouTube Categories Manually via Page Source

If you are on a desktop computer, you can inspect the raw HTML page source of any YouTube video to find its category without external tools:

1. Open the YouTube video page in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari on desktop.
2. Right-click on an empty area of the page and select View Page Source (or press Ctrl + U on Windows, Cmd + Option + U on Mac).
3. Press Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F) and search for: "category": or itemprop="genre".
4. The assigned category name (such as "category":"Science & Technology") will be displayed in the code.

Official YouTube Category IDs and Names Reference

YouTube assigns a permanent numeric Category ID to every video upon upload. For example, Category ID 28 is the official code for Science & Technology, Category ID 20 represents Gaming, and Category ID 27 represents Education. Creators, developers, and researchers can reference the complete list of active category IDs below:

Why YouTube Video Categories Matter for SEO and Recommendations

When you publish a video on YouTube, the recommendation system relies on metadata to establish initial context before viewer retention data accumulates. The category serves as an important signal:

• Initial Seed Audience: When a new video is published with zero views, YouTube uses the category, title, description, and tags to decide which viewers to test impressions on first. Selecting the same category used by top creators in your niche helps YouTube show your video to viewers with matching watch history.
• Topic Clustering: Search engines and recommendation systems group similar content together. Choosing an accurate category helps YouTube understand whether a tutorial belongs under Education or Entertainment.
• The CPM and RPM Reality: Changing your category alone will not artificially raise your ad revenue. Advertisers bid based on viewer demographics, viewer purchase intent, and watch retention rather than category labels alone. However, choosing the right category prevents misdirected impressions that lower click-through rates.

Which Category Should You Choose for Overlapping Content?

Many creators wonder which category to pick when their content fits more than one topic. Here is practical advice for common niches:

• Coding and Software Guides: Choose Science & Technology (ID 28) if your video focuses on developer tools, software engineering, tech news, or gadget teardowns. Choose Education (ID 27) if the video is structured as a step-by-step academic lesson or classroom tutorial.
• Video Essays and Commentary: Choose Entertainment (ID 24) or People & Blogs (ID 22) for casual cultural commentary. Choose Film & Animation (ID 1) for deep cinema analysis or animation breakdowns.
• Gaming Lore and Game Development: Choose Gaming (ID 20) for gameplay, walkthroughs, and gaming news. Choose Science & Technology (ID 28) or Education (ID 27) for game engine tutorials in Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Cooking and Recipe Guides: Choose Howto & Style (ID 26) for practical step-by-step recipes. Choose Entertainment (ID 24) for food challenges or eating shows.

How to Change Video Categories in YouTube Studio

You can update video categories anytime without losing views, likes, or comments:

Method A: Update a Single Video

1. Log in to YouTube Studio.
2. Click Content in the left sidebar and select the video you want to edit.
3. On the Video Details page, scroll to the bottom and click Show More.
4. Scroll down to the Category dropdown, select your preferred category, and click Save.

Method B: Bulk Edit Categories for Multiple Videos

1. In YouTube Studio, click Content in the left menu.
2. Check the boxes next to all videos you want to update (or check the top box to select all videos).
3. Click Edit in the top action bar above the video list.
4. Select Category from the dropdown list, choose your new category, and click Update Videos.

Method C: Set Channel-Wide Upload Defaults

1. In YouTube Studio, click Settings in the bottom-left sidebar.
2. Select Upload defaults, then click Advanced settings.
3. Choose your default Category and click Save. All future uploads will automatically use this category.

Related YouTube Tools

Explore our other free tools for content creators and researchers:

• YouTube Channel Keywords Extractor: Extract hidden SEO keywords and branding tags from any channel.
• YouTube Tag Extractor: Extract hidden video tags and description hashtags from any video or Short.
• YouTube Description Extractor: Copy, download, and export descriptions, links, and emails from videos, playlists, or channels.
• YouTube Channel ID Finder: Look up permanent 24-character UC Channel IDs by handle, URL, or video link.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I check the category of a YouTube video or Short?

  Paste any public YouTube video or Shorts link into the Video / Shorts tab above, choose an optional country region for localized names, and click Find Category. The tool looks up official YouTube database records to display the assigned category name, Category ID, and video title instantly.

• How do I check the category of a YouTube channel?

  Paste any YouTube channel link, handle (such as @channelname), or channel ID into the Channel tab above. Choose whether to analyze all videos, regular videos only, Shorts only, or live streams, and click Analyze Channel. The tool checks the channel's uploads and shows its primary category, category consistency percentage, and full category breakdown.

• Can I check another YouTube channel's category for free?

  Yes. You can check any public YouTube creator's channel by entering their channel link or handle into the Channel tab. No login, API key, or sign-up is required.

• How can I find a video category using view page source?

  Open the YouTube video on a desktop browser, right-click on the page, and select View Page Source (or press Ctrl + U on Windows, Cmd + Option + U on Mac). Press Ctrl + F to open search and look for "category": or itemprop="genre". The assigned category name appears right next to it. Note that view source only works on desktop, while our online tool works on mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

• Why doesn't YouTube show the video category on the watch page?

  YouTube removed visible category labels from the watch page in interface updates to simplify the layout. However, the category is still stored in the video metadata and official YouTube database records.

• What is YouTube category ID 28?

  YouTube Category ID 28 is the official numeric ID for Science & Technology. It is used for coding tutorials, software guides, tech reviews, hardware benchmarks, and gadget videos.

• Does changing my YouTube video category increase views or CPM?

  Changing your category will not automatically increase views or CPM. Advertisers place bids based on viewer demographics, viewer intent, and watch retention rather than category labels alone. However, choosing the correct category helps YouTube suggest your video to the right initial audience when you publish.

• Can I change the category of a YouTube video after uploading?

  Yes. You can change a video category at any time in YouTube Studio. Go to Content, click Details on your video, scroll down to Show More, pick a new category from the Category dropdown, and click Save.

• How do I change categories for multiple YouTube videos in bulk?

  Sign in to YouTube Studio, click Content in the left menu, select the checkboxes next to the videos you want to update (or select all), click Edit in the top bar, choose Category, select your new category, and click Update Videos.

• Do YouTube Shorts have categories?

  Yes. YouTube Shorts have assigned categories just like regular videos. Shorts inherit the category selected during upload or default to your channel's upload defaults in YouTube Studio. You can check any Shorts category using our tool.

• Can I check the category of an entire YouTube playlist?

  Yes. Paste any public playlist link into the Playlist tab and click Analyze Playlist. The tool scans the videos in the playlist, determines the primary category, and shows a distribution breakdown of all categories included in the playlist.

• What are numeric YouTube Category IDs used for?

  Numeric Category IDs are internal codes assigned by YouTube to organize categories across the platform (such as 28 for Science & Technology or 20 for Gaming). They are used by developers, automated tools, and content management systems to categorize uploads.

• Do YouTube categories vary by country or language?

  The numeric Category ID stays the same worldwide, but category display names are translated into local languages per country. Our tool lets you choose any country from the dropdown to see its official translated category name.

• Can I download or export the category analysis data?

  Yes. After analyzing a YouTube channel or playlist, you can download the complete list of videos with their titles, URLs, publish dates, category names, and Category IDs as CSV, Excel (.xlsx), or JSON files.

• Is this YouTube category checker tool free to use?

  Yes. This tool is 100% free to use with no limits, no registration, and no software installation required.