YouTube Category Checker


Find the official category of any YouTube video or Shorts link. Discover assigned category names, numeric Category IDs, and localized labels across 100+ global regions for free.
Paste any standard YouTube video URL, Shorts link, or shortened youtu.be link.
Select a country for localized category names.
Video Title

Video Title

Assigned Category Entertainment
How to Check a YouTube Video Category?

  1. Copy the Video or Shorts Link

    Open YouTube in your browser or app, locate the video or Short you want to analyze, and copy its URL from the address bar or Share button.

  2. Paste the URL and Choose a Region

    Paste the link into the URL input box above. Optionally select a country region from the dropdown menu if you wish to see how the category is translated in different languages.

  3. Click "Find Category" and Copy the Result

    Click "Find Category". The tool fetches verified data directly from the YouTube Data API, displaying the official category name and video title with 1-click copy buttons.

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 a critical seed 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 show impressions to first. Selecting the same category used by top creators in your niche ensures your video is tested on relevant audiences.
  • Metadata Alignment: Search engines and AI recommendation systems cluster similar content. Aligning your category with your video topic helps YouTube understand whether a tutorial belongs under Education or Entertainment.
  • The CPM Myth: Changing your category alone will not artificially raise your ad revenue. Advertisers bid based on viewer intent, audience demographics, and retention rather than category labels. However, choosing the right category prevents misdirected impressions that lower click-through rates.
Official YouTube Category IDs and Names Reference

YouTube assigns a permanent numeric Category ID to every video upon upload. Developers using the YouTube Data API v3 and creators conducting competitive audits can reference the complete list of active category IDs below:

Category ID Category Name Ideal Content and Niche Examples
1 Film & Animation Short films, 2D/3D animation, movie trailers, CGI breakdowns, cinematic shorts.
2 Autos & Vehicles Car reviews, motorcycle maintenance, DIY automotive repairs, track racing footage.
10 Music Official music videos, acoustic covers, live concert performances, beat production.
15 Pets & Animals Dog training, wildlife documentaries, veterinarian care, pet adoption stories.
17 Sports Game highlights, workout routines, fitness guides, football analysis, esports leagues.
19 Travel & Events Travel vlogs, flight and hotel reviews, city guides, festival coverage, itineraries.
20 Gaming Gameplay walkthroughs, live streams, speedruns, esports matches, game reviews.
22 People & Blogs Personal vlogs, daily lifestyle videos, storytelling, community updates, opinion pieces.
23 Comedy Comedy sketches, stand-up clips, parodies, humorous commentary, meme reviews.
24 Entertainment Reaction videos, challenge videos, magic tricks, celebrity news, reality recaps.
25 News & Politics Current events, investigative reporting, political commentary, press conferences.
26 Howto & Style Makeup tutorials, fashion lookbooks, cooking recipes, home DIY woodworking.
27 Education Academic lectures, language learning, animated explainers, science lessons, study tips.
28 Science & Technology Coding tutorials, hardware benchmarks, gadget unboxings, AI tools, robotics experiments.
29 Nonprofits & Activism Charity fundraisers, community service, social awareness drives, environmental campaigns.
Which Category Should You Choose for Tricky Content?

Many creators struggle to pick between overlapping categories. Here is the recommended classification for common niches:

  • Coding and Software Tutorials: Choose Science & Technology (ID 28) if focusing on developer tools, software engineering, or tech news. Choose Education (ID 27) if the video is structured as a step-by-step academic course or coding lesson.
  • Video Essays and Commentary: Choose Entertainment (ID 24) or People & Blogs (ID 22) for casual cultural commentary. Choose Film & Animation (ID 1) for deep cinematic film analyses.
  • Gaming Lore and Game Development: Choose Gaming (ID 20) for gameplay and lore explainers. Choose Science & Technology (ID 28) or Education (ID 27) for game engine tutorials (Unity, Unreal Engine).
  • Cooking and Recipe Guides: Choose Howto & Style (ID 26) for practical step-by-step recipes. Choose Entertainment (ID 24) for high-energy food challenges or mukbangs.
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, go to Content.
  2. Check the boxes next to all videos you want to update (or check the top box to select all).
  3. Click Edit in the black action bar at the top of the table.
  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 > Advanced settings.
  3. Choose your default Category and click Save. All future uploads will automatically use this category.
How to Check YouTube Categories Manually via Page Source

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

  1. Open the YouTube video page in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari on desktop.
  2. Right-click anywhere on the blank area of the page and select View Page Source (or press Ctrl + U / Cmd + Option + U).
  3. Press Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F) and search for: "category": or itemprop="genre".
  4. The category name (e.g. "category":"Science & Technology") will be displayed in the code snippet.
Mobile Limitation: The page source method cannot be accessed on mobile web browsers or the official YouTube mobile app. Our online category checker tool resolves this by fetching official category metadata on all smartphones and tablets.
Related YouTube Tools

Explore our other free tools for content creators and developers:

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

    Paste any public YouTube video or Shorts link into our YouTube Category Checker search box above, optionally select a country region for localized naming, and click Find Category. The tool queries official YouTube API data to display the assigned category name and video title instantly.

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

    YouTube removed the visible category label from the standard desktop and mobile watch pages in recent interface updates to streamline the viewing experience. However, the category remains stored in the underlying video metadata and official YouTube Data API records.

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

    Changing a category will not automatically increase views or CPM. Advertisers bid based on your actual audience demographics, viewer intent, and watch retention rather than category labels alone. However, selecting the most accurate category helps YouTube seed your video to the right initial audience during upload.

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

    Yes. You can change a video category at any time in YouTube Studio by navigating to Content, selecting your video, clicking Details, scrolling down to Show More, choosing a new Category from the dropdown menu, and clicking Save.

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

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

  • Do YouTube Shorts have categories?

    Yes. YouTube Shorts have assigned categories just like standard long-form videos. Shorts inherit the category chosen during upload or default to your channel's upload defaults in YouTube Studio. You can check any Shorts category using this tool.

  • What are numeric YouTube Category IDs used for?

    YouTube Category IDs are numeric codes (such as 28 for Science & Technology or 20 for Gaming) assigned by YouTube's database. Developers and automated upload tools use these numeric IDs when uploading or updating videos via the YouTube Data API v3.

  • Do YouTube categories vary by country or language?

    The numeric Category ID remains identical worldwide, but category display titles are localized into different languages per region. Our tool allows you to select any country to view its official translated category name.