What is a YouTube Channel ID?

A YouTube Channel ID is a permanent, 24-character alphanumeric identifier starting with the prefix 'UC' (e.g., UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA). YouTube assigns this ID automatically when a channel is created. Unlike channel names and @handles, the Channel ID can never be changed or transferred.

How do I find a YouTube Channel ID from a handle or video link?

Enter any YouTube @handle (e.g., @MrBeast), standard channel URL, custom URL, or a direct link to any video uploaded by that channel into our YouTube Channel ID Finder. Click 'Find Channel ID' to resolve and copy the underlying 24-character UC-style Channel ID instantly.

What is the difference between a Channel ID, a Handle, and a Username?

A Channel ID is a permanent, unique 24-character code starting with 'UC' used by YouTube's databases and APIs. A Handle is a customizable public identifier starting with '@' used for mentions and clean URLs. A Username or Display Name is the channel title shown across YouTube, which does not need to be unique and can be updated anytime.

How do I find my own YouTube Channel ID in YouTube Studio?

Log in to your YouTube account, go to YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com), click Settings in the bottom-left sidebar, select Channel > Advanced settings, and click 'View advanced settings'. Both your Channel ID and User ID will be displayed there with a Copy button.

How do I create a YouTube RSS feed URL with a Channel ID?

To create a direct XML RSS feed for any YouTube channel, append its Channel ID to the official feed URL format: https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=YOUR_CHANNEL_ID. This feed works in any standard RSS reader, Discord webhook, or Zapier automation.

Can I find a Channel ID from an unlisted or private video?

If you have the direct link to an Unlisted video, the tool can resolve the parent channel's ID. However, Private or deleted videos cannot be resolved because their metadata is not accessible through the public YouTube Data API.

Do I need to sign in or share Google account permissions to use this tool?

No. Our YouTube Channel ID Finder is 100% free, runs without authentication, and never asks for Google account access or OAuth permissions. All lookups are performed directly through official public YouTube endpoints.

Why do WordPress plugins and Discord bots require a Channel ID instead of a handle?

Handles can be changed by channel owners at any time, which would break external connections. Software integrations, Discord bot alerts, and WordPress video widgets require the immutable 24-character Channel ID to ensure continuous, uninterrupted data syncing.

YouTube Channel ID Finder

Find any YouTube channel ID instantly with our free YouTube Channel ID Finder tool. Get the permanent 24-character UC ID by handle (@name), channel URL, or video link.

YouTube Channel URL, Handle, or Video Link

Paste any YouTube channel link, handle (@name), legacy URL (/user/, /c/), or video link.

How to Find a YouTube Channel ID?

Copy the Channel URL, Handle, or Video Link

Go to YouTube and navigate to the channel you want to look up. Copy its handle (e.g. @MrBeast), full channel URL (https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast), or even the link of any public video uploaded by that channel.
Paste into the Search Box and Click "Find Channel ID"

Paste the copied URL or handle into the input box above and click the "Find Channel ID" button. The tool queries official YouTube Data API endpoints in real time.
Copy the Verified 24-Character Channel ID

The resolved result displays the verified channel name, handle, country, profile avatar, and permanent UC... ID. Click "Copy ID" to copy it directly to your clipboard.

Why Do You Need a YouTube Channel ID?

When YouTube introduced handles (such as @mkbhd), the permanent UC... Channel ID was removed from browser address bars. While handles look clean for viewers, software applications and developer tools require the immutable 24-character Channel ID for:

YouTube Data API v3: Querying channel playlists, video lists, statistics, and subscriber counts.
YouTube RSS Feeds: Setting up instant video alerts in feed readers (Feedly, Inoreader), Discord alert bots (MonitoRSS), Slack channels, and Zapier/Make automations.
Website & CMS Widgets: Embedding YouTube gallery plugins on WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, or Squarespace.
Permanent Tracking: Monitoring creators on analytics platforms where links won't break if the creator rebrands or changes their handle.

YouTube Channel ID vs Handle vs Username

YouTube has used multiple naming formats over the years. Here is how they compare:

Identifier Type	Example	Permanent?	Primary Purpose
Channel ID	`UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA`	Permanent	System database key, Data API endpoints, RSS feeds, and webhook integrations.
Handle	`@MrBeast`	Changeable	Public profile URL, comment tagging, creator mentions, and branding.
Legacy Custom URL	`youtube.com/c/CreatorName`	Deprecated	Older custom URL format (now automatically redirects to the handle).
Legacy Username	`youtube.com/user/username`	Deprecated	Pre-2014 YouTube account username format (persists for vintage accounts).
Display Name	`MrBeast`	Changeable	Visible channel title shown on search results and video watch pages.

How to Use a YouTube Channel ID (RSS Feeds & APIs)

1. Direct YouTube RSS Feed URL

YouTube provides native XML feeds for all public channels without requiring API keys. Replace YOUR_CHANNEL_ID with the 24-character UC... ID:

        https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA
      

Paste this feed URL into RSS readers (Feedly, Inoreader), Discord alert bots, or Slack webhooks to receive automatic notifications whenever the creator uploads a new video.

2. YouTube Data API v3 Query

When requesting channel information from Google Cloud's YouTube Data API v3, use the id query parameter:

        GET https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet,contentDetails,statistics&id=UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA&key=YOUR_API_KEY
      

3. The "UC" to "UU" Uploads Playlist Trick

Every channel has an uploads playlist containing all public videos. You can find it by taking the Channel ID (e.g. UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA) and replacing the first two letters UC with UU (e.g. UUX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA). You can export and analyze this playlist directly using our YouTube Channel Export or YouTube Playlist Export tool.

How to Find a YouTube Channel ID Manually (Without Tools)

If you prefer to find a Channel ID manually without using any online tool, you can use these two browser methods:

Method A: Find Your Own Channel ID in YouTube Studio

Log in to YouTube Studio on your computer.
Click Settings in the left sidebar.
Select Channel > Advanced settings.
Scroll down and click View advanced settings (or visit youtube.com/account_advanced directly).
Your Channel ID and User ID are displayed with copy buttons.

Method B: Find Any Channel's ID via Page Source

Open the YouTube channel page in your web browser.
Right-click on the page and select View Page Source (or press Ctrl + U / Cmd + Option + U).
Press Ctrl + F and search for itemprop="channelId" or "browseId".
The 24-character string starting with UC following that tag is the Channel ID.

Related YouTube Tools

Explore our other free tools for content creators and developers:

YouTube Channel Keywords Extractor: Extract hidden SEO keywords and branding tags from any channel.
YouTube Channel Banner & Logo Downloader: Download high-resolution 4K banners and profile logos.
YouTube Channel to Playlist Converter: Convert any channel URL into a playlist for Videos, Shorts, or Streams.
YouTube Subscribe Link Generator: Generate 1-click auto-subscribe confirmation URLs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a YouTube Channel ID?
A YouTube Channel ID is a permanent, 24-character alphanumeric identifier starting with the prefix 'UC' (e.g., UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA). YouTube assigns this ID automatically when a channel is created. Unlike channel names and @handles, the Channel ID can never be changed or transferred.
How do I find a YouTube Channel ID from a handle or video link?
Enter any YouTube @handle (e.g., @MrBeast), standard channel URL, custom URL, or a direct link to any video uploaded by that channel into our YouTube Channel ID Finder. Click 'Find Channel ID' to resolve and copy the underlying 24-character UC-style Channel ID instantly.
What is the difference between a Channel ID, a Handle, and a Username?
A Channel ID is a permanent, unique 24-character code starting with 'UC' used by YouTube's databases and APIs. A Handle is a customizable public identifier starting with '@' used for mentions and clean URLs. A Username or Display Name is the channel title shown across YouTube, which does not need to be unique and can be updated anytime.
How do I find my own YouTube Channel ID in YouTube Studio?
Log in to your YouTube account, go to YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com), click Settings in the bottom-left sidebar, select Channel > Advanced settings, and click 'View advanced settings'. Both your Channel ID and User ID will be displayed there with a Copy button.
How do I create a YouTube RSS feed URL with a Channel ID?
To create a direct XML RSS feed for any YouTube channel, append its Channel ID to the official feed URL format: https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=YOUR_CHANNEL_ID. This feed works in any standard RSS reader, Discord webhook, or Zapier automation.
Can I find a Channel ID from an unlisted or private video?
If you have the direct link to an Unlisted video, the tool can resolve the parent channel's ID. However, Private or deleted videos cannot be resolved because their metadata is not accessible through the public YouTube Data API.
Do I need to sign in or share Google account permissions to use this tool?
No. Our YouTube Channel ID Finder is 100% free, runs without authentication, and never asks for Google account access or OAuth permissions. All lookups are performed directly through official public YouTube endpoints.
Why do WordPress plugins and Discord bots require a Channel ID instead of a handle?
Handles can be changed by channel owners at any time, which would break external connections. Software integrations, Discord bot alerts, and WordPress video widgets require the immutable 24-character Channel ID to ensure continuous, uninterrupted data syncing.