YouTube Channel ID Finder
Extract the canonical 24-character UC channel ID from YouTube channel links. All processing happens locally in your browser.
Paste a canonical channel URL (e.g. youtube.com/channel/UC...) or enter a 24-character UC ID directly.
How to use
- Paste a canonical YouTube channel URL into the box above.
- The 24-character UC channel ID will be extracted immediately.
- Click Copy ID to use it in API queries, RSS feeds, or configurations.
What is a YouTube channel ID?
A YouTube channel ID is the unique identifier YouTube uses to identify a channel. In the standard channel URLs used today, it commonly appears as a 24-character value beginning with UC, for example UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw. YouTube uses channel IDs throughout its developer APIs and other channel-related integrations.
A channel ID is different from a channel name or @handle. Creators can change their displayed name and handle, but the channel ID is the underlying identifier associated with the channel and is not something creators edit as part of their profile.
This tool extracts channel IDs from links that already contain the ID, such as youtube.com/channel/UC..., and validates bare channel ID strings. It runs locally in your browser and does not use the YouTube Data API or attempt to scrape YouTube pages.
Important: local validation checks whether the value matches the channel-ID format expected by this tool. It does not contact YouTube to confirm that the channel currently exists.
Channel IDs vs @handles and other YouTube URLs
A YouTube channel can have several different URLs that point to the same channel. Only an ID-based channel URL contains the channel ID directly.
| Identifier type | Example URL | Contains channel ID? | Can the creator change it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel ID URL | youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxx... |
Yes | Not user-editable |
| Channel handle | youtube.com/@handle |
No | Yes |
| Legacy custom URL | youtube.com/c/CustomName |
No | No longer configurable |
| Legacy username URL | youtube.com/user/LegacyUser |
No | Existing usernames cannot be changed |
A handle such as youtube.com/@youtubecreators is a separate public identifier. YouTube allows creators to change their handle, currently up to twice within a 14-day period. Existing legacy custom URLs and username URLs may still redirect to the same channel.
Because the UC... channel ID is not contained inside an @handle, /c/, or /user/ URL, a browser-only parser cannot derive the channel ID from those aliases alone. Resolving an alias to a channel ID requires information from YouTube, such as the YouTube Data API or another YouTube-provided source.
How to find a YouTube channel ID
- Paste a channel URL or ID. Use an ID-based URL such as
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, including supported sub-pages such as/videos, or paste the channel ID itself. - Check the result. The tool extracts the channel ID and validates its structure. This confirms that the text has the expected format; it does not perform an API lookup to confirm that the channel exists.
- Select Copy ID. Copy the extracted value for use in an API request, RSS feed, database, automation, or another service that requires a YouTube channel ID.
If you own the channel, YouTube provides an official way to see the ID. Sign in to YouTube on a computer or mobile browser, open Settings, select Advanced settings, and view the User ID and Channel ID shown for the channel. You must be signed in as the channel's primary owner to see this information.
If you only have another creator's @handle, this tool will not guess or scrape the corresponding ID. Use an ID-based channel URL when available, or use a YouTube-provided lookup method if you need to resolve the handle.
Examples of supported channel links
The extractor works when the channel ID is already present in the URL or when you paste the ID directly:
| Pasted value | Extracted channel ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw |
UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw |
Extracted |
https://youtube.com/channel/UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw/videos |
UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw |
Extracted |
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw?sub_confirmation=1 |
UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw |
Extracted |
UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw |
UC_x5XG1OV2P6uZZ5FSM9Ttw |
Format validated |
https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium |
Not available in URL | Handle requires lookup |
https://www.youtube.com/c/ExampleName |
Not available in URL | Legacy alias requires lookup |
Use cases: what can you use a YouTube channel ID for?
- YouTube Data API requests. YouTube's API uses channel IDs to identify specific channels in requests and returned resources.
- YouTube video feeds. Channel IDs can be used with YouTube's channel video feed URL, such as
https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=CHANNEL_ID. - Automation and notifications. Apps and scripts can store a stable channel identifier when monitoring uploads or connecting a channel to another workflow.
- Database references. Storing the channel ID avoids depending only on a display name or handle that may change later.
If you are working with a video URL rather than a channel URL, use the YouTube Video ID Extractor. For a shareable video link that starts at a particular moment, use the YouTube Timestamp Link Generator.
Privacy and browser-local processing
Channel ID extraction and format validation happen locally in your browser. The tool does not need a YouTube API key and does not need to send your pasted channel URL to YouTube or TryFormatter in order to extract an ID that is already present in the text.
This local-only approach is also why the tool does not automatically convert an @handle, legacy custom URL, or username URL into a channel ID. Those aliases do not contain the channel ID itself, so resolving them would require an external lookup.
If analytics are enabled on TryFormatter, tool-usage events should not include the channel URL, extracted channel ID, handle, or other pasted input.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every YouTube channel have a unique channel ID?
Yes. YouTube uses a unique channel ID to identify each channel. Current YouTube channel IDs commonly begin with UC. The channel ID is separate from the channel name and @handle.
Is a YouTube channel ID always 24 characters?
The standard channel IDs used by current YouTube channel URLs are commonly 24 characters and begin with UC. However, YouTube documentation notes that the ID format is subject to change, so applications should avoid making unnecessary assumptions beyond the format they currently support.
How can I get the channel ID from an @handle URL?
An @handle URL does not contain the underlying channel ID, so this browser-only extractor cannot derive it from the text alone. You need a YouTube-provided lookup, an ID-based channel URL, or the YouTube Data API to resolve the handle to a channel.
Can a creator change their YouTube channel ID?
The channel ID is the unique identifier YouTube associates with the channel and is not exposed as an editable profile field. Creators can change their channel name and handle without changing the ID used to identify that channel.
Can a YouTube @handle change?
Yes. YouTube currently allows a creator to change their handle twice within a 14-day period. The previous handle is temporarily held for 14 days in case the creator wants to switch back.
How do I create a YouTube RSS feed with a channel ID?
YouTube uses the channel ID in its video feed address. Replace CHANNEL_ID in https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=CHANNEL_ID with the channel ID you want to follow.
Why does this tool not automatically resolve @handles or custom URLs?
Those URLs contain aliases rather than the underlying channel ID. Resolving them requires an external YouTube lookup. This tool intentionally limits itself to extracting and validating IDs already present in the input so it can work without an API key or scraping.
Does format validation prove that a YouTube channel exists?
No. The tool can confirm that a value matches the channel-ID format it supports, but confirming whether that ID belongs to an existing YouTube channel requires a network or API lookup.