How to Set up and Customize Your YouTube Channel

Add preview trailers, featured videos, channel sections, branding info, and more

By
Gretchen Siegchrist
Gretchen Siegchrist
Writer
  • New York University
  • Suffolk University
Gretchen Siegchrist is a professional videographer who enjoys helping amateurs master the basics of desktop video.
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Updated on January 27, 2022

What to Know

  • Go to YouTube in a browser and sign in to your account. Select your account icon > choose YouTube Studio.
  • In the left pane, select Customization and open each tab to access the customization options.
  • Select Videos to organize or edit information for the videos you've uploaded.

This article explains how to open YouTube Studio in a web browser on a computer to customize the videos you've uploaded.

How to Get to Your YouTube Channel

Your YouTube channel is attached to your YouTube account, so it's easy to access.

  1. Go to YouTube.com in a web browser and select Sign in to sign in to your YouTube account.

    Navigate to YouTube.com via a web browser and select Sign in to sign in to your YouTube account.

  2. Select your profile picture or account icon in the upper-right corner.

    Select your profile picture or account icon in the upper-right corner.

  3. Select YouTube Studio to go to your channel's dashboard.

    Select YouTube Studio to go to your channel's dashboard.

  4. On your YouTube channel's YouTube Studio dashboard, you can modify and edit your channel at any time.

    YouTube channel's YouTube Studio dashboard

How to Set up Basic Channel Customizations

After you create your YouTube channel, there are many ways to customize and edit your channel through YouTube Studio. Here's what to do if you need to change your YouTube channel video order, edit your home page, change your channel description, and more.

When you set up a YouTube channel, you make decisions about the description and other aspects of your channel. It's easy to make changes at any time and customize your channel. Here's how it works.

  1. From the left menu, select Customization.

    From the menu on the left, select Customization.

  2. Under the Layout tab and Video Spotlight section, select Add to add a preview trailer that people who haven't subscribed to your channel can see.

    Under the Layout tab and Video Spotlight section, select Add to add a preview trailer that people who haven't yet subscribed to your channel can see.

  3. Under Featured Video for Returning Subscribers, select Add to add a video your subscribers will see when they return to your channel.

    Under Featured Video for Returning Subscribers, select Add to add a video your subscribers will see as soon as they return to your channel.

  4. Under Featured Sections, select Add Section to further customize the layout of the channel's home page.

    Under Featured Sections, select Add Sections to further customize the layout of your channel's home page.

  5. You can add up to 10 sections for a channel, including Popular Uploads, Past Livestreams, Upcoming Livestreams, and more.

    You can add up to 10 sections for your channel, including Popular Uploads, Past Livestreams, Upcoming Livestreams, and more.

  6. Go to the Branding tab for more customization options.

    Select the Branding tab for more customization options.

  7. Under Profile Picture, select Upload to add or change your channel's profile picture.

    Under Profile Picture, select Upload to add or change your channel's profile picture.

  8. Under Banner Image, select Upload to add a custom banner to the channel.

    Under Banner Image, select Upload to add your custom banner to your channel.

  9. Under Video Watermark, select Upload to add a custom watermark that appears in the right corner of your videos.

    Under Video Watermark, select Upload to add a custom watermark that will appear in the right-hand corner of your videos.

  10. Go to the Basic Info tab to edit the channel name and description. Select Edit Channel Name (looks like a pen) to change the channel name, and then enter a description.

    Select the Basic Info tab to edit your channel's name and description.

  11. Select Add Language to translate the channel description.

    Select Add Language to translate your channel description.

  12. Select a language to translate the description into.

    Select a language to translate your description into.

  13. Under Links, select Add Link to add links to websites your subscribers may enjoy.

    Under Links, select Add Links to add links to websites your subscribers may enjoy.

  14. Under Contact Info, add an email address so subscribers and other interested parties can contact you.

    Under Contact Info, add an email address so subscribers and other interested parties can contact you.

How to Organize Your Videos

After you upload videos, access them any time to edit their descriptions, add filters, and more.

  1. From the menu on the left of the dashboard, select Videos.

    From the menu on the left of your dashboard, select Videos.

  2. Under Uploads, videos you uploaded to your channel appear.

    Under Uploads, you'll see any videos you've uploaded to your channel.

  3. Check the box next to a video to select it, and then select Edit from the menu above.

    From the menu on the left of your dashboard, select Videos.

  4. Select any category to edit the video's titles, tags, description, visibility, and more.

    Select any category to edit the video's titles, tags, description, visibility, and more.

  5. Select Add to Playlist to add this video to a playlist.

    Select Add to Playlist to add this video to a plalist.

  6. Select More Actions to download or delete the video.

    Select More Actions to download or delete the video.

  7. Select Details (pen icon) next to a selected video to edit its details.

    Select Details (pen icon) next to a selected video to edit its details.

  8. Manage the video's details by adding a title, description, and thumbnail, or add it to a playlist, set the audience and visibility, and more.

    Manage the video's details by adding a title, description, and thumbnail, or add it to a playlist, set the audience and visibility, and more.

  9. To reorder the videos in your list, hover over the video and select and hold Options (three dots). Click and drag the video to where you want it on the list.

    To reorder the videos in your list, hover over the video and select and hold Options (three dots).

  10. Select Options to edit the video's title and description, get a shareable link, or download or delete the video.

    Select Options to quickly edit the video's title and description, get a shareable line, download, or delete the video.

Change or Customize Your Channel Settings

Easily change or add various settings to your YouTube channel. Here's a look at some of the basic channel settings.

  1. From the left menu, select Settings.

    From the menu on the left, select Settings.

  2. Select Channel and go to the Basic Info tab to select your country of residence and add basic keywords for the channel.

    Select Channel and the Basic Info tab to select your country of residence and add basic keywords for your channel.

  3. Select Advanced Settings to choose whether you want to set the channel as OK for kids, or review videos on a case-by-case basis for child-friendliness.

    Select Advanced settings to choose whether or not you want to set your channel as OK for kids, or review videos on a case-by-case basis for their child-friendliness.

  4. Scroll down for options to link a Google account, opt for Don't Show Potentially Inappropriate Words in auto-generated captions, and to Disable Interest-Based Ads.

    Scroll down for options to link a Google account, opt for Don't Show Potentially Inappropriate Words in auto-generated captions, and to Disable Interest-Based Ads.

  5. Select Feature Eligibility to learn about more features the channel may support.

    Select Feature Eligibility to learn about more features your channel may support.

    Explore more advanced channel features and settings as your channel gains subscribers and viewers.

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