YouTube Channel ID Finder
Paste a YouTube channel URL, @handle, or custom link to get its permanent UC… channel ID. No account or API key needed.
What is a YouTube channel ID?
A channel ID is the fixed identifier YouTube assigns to every channel. It always begins with UC and is 24 characters long, like UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ. A handle (@name) or custom URL (/c/…, /user/…) is just a friendly alias the owner can change. The UC… ID never changes, so APIs and tools rely on it to point at a channel unambiguously.
Where you need a channel ID
- The YouTube Data API and most third-party YouTube tools, which identify channels by UC… ID
- A channel's public RSS feed (youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UC…)
- Embeds, live-chat widgets, and stream overlays in OBS or Streamlabs
- Comment pickers, giveaway tools, and moderation bots that take a channel ID
- Importing or following a channel in apps like Channel Surfer
How to find a YouTube channel ID
From a channel URL
If the link already looks like youtube.com/channel/UC…, the ID is the UC… part: no tool needed. Most links you’ll actually run into are @handle links, though, which don’t contain the ID. Paste those above and the finder resolves them.
From an @handle or custom URL
Handles (@mkbhd) and older /c/… or /user/… links hide the ID. Paste the full link, or just the @handle itself, into the finder above. Manual route: on the channel’s page, click …more in the description, then Share channel → Copy channel ID.
Your own channel ID (YouTube Studio)
Sign in at studio.youtube.com, then open Settings → Channel → Advanced settings. Your channel ID is listed there. Or just paste your own @handle above like any other channel.
On your phone
In the YouTube app, open the channel, tap Share, and copy the link. Paste that link here: mobile share links are usually @handle links, and the finder resolves them to the UC… ID.
Convert an @handle or username to a channel ID
YouTube replaced usernames with handles in 2022, but the UC… ID stayed the permanent identifier underneath both. The finder accepts every naming era: current @handles, legacy youtube.com/user/… usernames, and /c/… custom URLs. Useful when a tool or API asks for a “channel ID” or “user ID” and all you have is the name people know the channel by.
Get the channel URL, not just the ID
Every channel has one canonical address that never breaks: youtube.com/channel/ plus its UC… ID. Handles and custom URLs can be renamed by the owner; the canonical URL can’t. That’s why the finder shows the channel URL alongside the ID, ready to copy, whenever you look a channel up.
Need the channel’s feed instead of just its ID? The YouTube RSS Feed Generator builds the full feed URL from the same link. And if you’re adding up how long a playlist runs, there’s the YouTube Playlist Length Calculator.
Watch it like TV, not a settings page
Once you’ve grabbed the ID, if you’d rather watch than configure, Channel Surfer turns YouTube channels and your whole subscription list into a retro, lean-back cable-TV experience. Tune in, surf channels, and let it play. It’s free to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is a YouTube channel ID?
A channel ID is the permanent identifier YouTube gives every channel. It always starts with UC and is 24 characters long (for example UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ). Unlike a handle or custom URL, it never changes, so tools and APIs use it to refer to a channel reliably.
How do I find a channel's ID?
Paste the channel's URL, @handle, or custom link into the box above and click Find ID. If you already have a youtube.com/channel/UC… URL, the ID is the UC… part of it. Handles (@name) and /c/… or /user/… custom URLs don't show the ID directly, which is what this tool resolves for you.
Is the channel ID the same as the @handle?
No. A handle (like @mkbhd) is a human-friendly name the owner can change. The channel ID (UC…) is a fixed identifier that never changes. APIs, RSS feeds, and most third-party tools need the UC… ID, not the handle.
Do I need a YouTube account, login, or API key?
No. Channel and /channel/UC… URLs are handled right in your browser; @handle and custom-URL lookups use a quick server request. No login or API key needed either way.
How do I get my own channel ID?
Open your channel, then paste your channel's URL or @handle above. You can also find it in YouTube Studio under Settings → Channel → Advanced settings, where your channel ID is listed.
How do I convert a YouTube @handle or username to a channel ID?
Paste the @handle (like @veritasium) or the old-style youtube.com/user/… or /c/… link into the finder above. It resolves any of them to the channel's permanent UC… ID. This works for legacy usernames from before handles existed in 2022, too.
How do I find a channel ID on my phone?
In the YouTube app, open the channel, tap Share, and copy the link. Then paste that link into this tool. Mobile share links are usually @handle links, which the finder resolves to the UC… channel ID.
How do I get a channel's URL from its ID?
Every channel's permanent URL is youtube.com/channel/ followed by its UC… ID. The finder above shows this canonical channel URL next to the ID whenever you look a channel up, ready to copy. Unlike handle links, it keeps working even if the owner renames the channel.
Can I watch a channel like a TV channel once I have its ID?
Yes. Channel Surfer turns YouTube channels and your whole subscription list into a lean-back, auto-playing cable-TV experience. You tune in and let it play instead of picking each video. Try it free at channelsurfer.tv.