100% Free

YouTube Channel ID Finder

Find any YouTube channel ID instantly from a URL, @handle, video link, or username. Bulk lookup, one-click copy in multiple formats, and CSV export. No signup, no limits.

All URL formats supported Bulk lookup (up to 10) Video ID extraction Works on mobile and desktop Updated for 2026

Accepts: channel URL, @handle, video URL, Shorts URL, /c/ custom URL, /user/ URL, or raw channel ID (UC...)

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A YouTube channel ID is a permanent, 24-character identifier (starting with UC) assigned to every YouTube channel. Unlike handles and custom URLs which can change, the channel ID never changes. This free channel ID finder by CollabPals instantly resolves any YouTube URL, @handle, video link, or username to its underlying channel ID. It also supports bulk lookups for up to 10 channels at once and extracts video IDs from any video URL.

What is a YouTube Channel ID?

Every YouTube channel has two types of identifiers: a public-facing handle (like @MrBeast) and a system-level channel ID (like UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA). The handle is what viewers see and type. The channel ID is what YouTube uses internally to reference the channel in its database, APIs, and infrastructure.

Channel IDs always follow the same format: the letters "UC" followed by 22 alphanumeric characters. The "UC" prefix stands for "User Channel." This format has been consistent since YouTube's early days and has never changed, making channel IDs the most reliable way to reference a specific channel.

Find a Channel ID by Name, URL, or Handle

You can find any YouTube channel ID from a channel name, URL, @handle, or even a video link. Paste the channel URL (youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxx), an @handle (like @MrBeast), a custom URL (youtube.com/c/name), a legacy username (youtube.com/user/name), or any video URL from that channel into the finder above. The tool resolves the permanent channel ID regardless of which format you use.

Why You Need Your Channel ID

API Integrations

The YouTube Data API v3 requires channel IDs for most endpoints. Whether you are building a dashboard, bot, or automation tool, you need channel IDs to fetch channel data, list videos, and access analytics.

RSS Feeds

YouTube's RSS feed format requires the channel ID: youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCxxxxx. This is the only way to subscribe to a YouTube channel in an RSS reader like Feedly, Inoreader, or NewsBlur.

Analytics and Monitoring

Third-party analytics tools (Social Blade, VidIQ, TubeBuddy) use channel IDs to track growth, compare channels, and generate reports. The channel ID ensures the tracking stays accurate even if the creator changes their handle.

Automation Scripts

If you are automating content monitoring, notification systems, or data pipelines, hardcoding a channel ID is safer than using a handle. Handles can be swapped between creators; channel IDs cannot.

Channel ID vs Handle vs Custom URL

YouTube has introduced several naming systems over the years. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right identifier for your use case.

Channel ID (UCxxxxx): Permanent, system-generated, never changes. Required for APIs and RSS feeds. Not human-readable.
Handle (@name): Human-readable, chosen by the creator, can be changed (once every 14 days). Used for URLs, mentions, and search. Introduced in 2022.
Custom URL (/c/name): Legacy format being phased out. Older channels may still have these. YouTube is migrating everyone to handles.
Username (/user/name): Oldest format from early YouTube. Rarely used today. Some very old channels still have one.

How to Find Your YouTube Channel ID Manually

Open YouTube Studio: Go to studio.youtube.com and sign in to your YouTube account.
Go to Settings: Click the gear icon in the bottom-left sidebar to open your channel settings.
Click Advanced Settings: Your channel ID is displayed under "Channel ID" in the advanced settings panel.
Copy the ID: It will look like UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA. This is your permanent channel identifier.

The manual method only works for your own channel. To find someone else's channel ID, use the tool above: just paste their channel URL, handle, or any video from their channel.

Common Use Cases for Bulk Channel ID Lookup

Influencer marketing campaigns: Marketers managing outreach lists need channel IDs to set up tracking and API monitoring for dozens of creators at once.
Data analysis and research: Researchers studying YouTube trends need to collect channel IDs to feed into data collection scripts and APIs.
RSS reader setup: Subscribe to multiple YouTube channels in your RSS reader by generating all the feed URLs at once.
Competitor monitoring: Track competitor channels by their permanent IDs so your monitoring setup never breaks when they rebrand.
Content management systems: CMS integrations that display YouTube content need channel IDs for reliable API queries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a YouTube channel ID?

A YouTube channel ID is a unique 24-character identifier that starts with UC, followed by 22 alphanumeric characters (for example, UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx). Unlike handles or custom URLs which can be changed, the channel ID is permanent and never changes. It is used internally by YouTube and is required for API integrations, RSS feeds, analytics tools, and automation scripts.

How do I find my YouTube channel ID?

Paste your YouTube channel URL, @handle, or any video URL from your channel into the finder above. It will instantly extract your permanent channel ID. You can also find it manually by going to YouTube Studio, clicking Settings, then Advanced Settings, where your channel ID is displayed.

What is the difference between a YouTube channel ID and a handle?

A YouTube handle (like @MrBeast) is a human-readable name you choose for your channel. It can be changed. A channel ID (like UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA) is a permanent, system-generated identifier that never changes. For API integrations and RSS feeds, you need the channel ID because it is guaranteed to be stable.

Can I find a channel ID from a video URL?

Yes. Paste any YouTube video URL into the finder and it will extract the channel ID of the creator who uploaded that video. This works for regular videos, Shorts, and live streams.

What URL formats does this tool accept?

This tool accepts: channel URLs (youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxx), handle URLs (youtube.com/@handle), custom URLs (youtube.com/c/name), legacy user URLs (youtube.com/user/name), video URLs (youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx), Shorts URLs (youtube.com/shorts/xxxxx), live stream URLs, mobile URLs (m.youtube.com), and direct @handles or channel IDs without a URL.

Does this tool use my YouTube API quota?

No. This tool resolves channel IDs using free public endpoints and does not consume any YouTube Data API quota. You can use it as many times as you need without affecting your API limits.

Can I look up multiple channel IDs at once?

Yes. Switch to the "Bulk Lookup" tab and paste up to 10 YouTube URLs or handles, one per line. The tool will resolve all channel IDs simultaneously and display them in a table. You can copy all results or export them as a CSV file.

Why do I need a YouTube channel ID?

Channel IDs are required for: YouTube Data API v3 calls, generating RSS feed URLs (youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCxxxxx), setting up analytics and monitoring tools, automating content workflows, configuring third-party integrations, and creating subscribe links that never break even if the creator changes their handle.

Is the YouTube Channel ID Finder free?

Yes, completely free with no limits. There is no signup required, no CAPTCHA, no daily usage cap, and no premium tier. Use it as many times as you need.

How do I find my YouTube channel ID on mobile?

Open this page on your phone and paste your channel URL or @handle into the finder. It works on all mobile browsers. Alternatively, open the YouTube app, go to Your Channel, tap the three-dot menu, then Share, and copy the URL. Paste that URL into the finder to get your channel ID.

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