Guide
youtube mid-roll adshow to enable mid-rollsyoutube monetizationyoutube studio 2026Enable YouTube Mid-Roll Ads 2026: [Step-by-Step] Guide
Enabling YouTube mid-roll ads in 2026 takes under 2 minutes in YouTube Studio, but you must first meet two requirements: your video must be 8 minutes or longer, and your channel must be in the YouTube Partner Program. This step-by-step guide walks you through the exact process.
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Step-by-Step Guide
Confirm your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program and your video is 8:00 or longer
Go to studio.youtube.com and click 'Content' in the left sidebar
Click the video you want to edit and select 'Monetization' from the left panel
Under 'Ad formats,' check the 'During video' box to enable mid-roll ads
Select 'Automatic' placement to start, then switch to 'Manual' after reviewing where YouTube places the breaks
Requirements Before Enabling Mid-Roll Ads
Before you can enable mid-roll ads, confirm two things
- 1Your channel is enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program — this requires 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.
- 2Your video is 8 minutes or longer. Both must be true. If your channel is not yet in YPP, mid-roll options will not appear regardless of video length. If your video is under 8 minutes, mid-roll options will not appear regardless of YPP status.
Step-by-Step: Enable Mid-Roll Ads on an Existing Video
Go to YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com). Click 'Content' in the left sidebar.
Find the video you want to monetize and click its title or the pencil edit icon. In the left sidebar of the video editor, click 'Monetization.' Under 'Ad formats,' you will see checkboxes for 'Before video,' 'During video,' and 'After video.' Check 'During video' to enable mid-roll ads.
Choose 'Automatic' to let YouTube place breaks, or 'Manual' to set break points yourself. Click 'Save' in the top right.
Changes apply within a few minutes.
Automatic vs Manual Mid-Roll Placement
Automatic placement: YouTube analyzes your video and places ad breaks at points where it predicts viewer retention will remain highest. This is the easiest option and often performs well.
Manual placement: You watch your own video and place a break marker at each spot you want an ad. This gives you control to avoid breaks mid-sentence or during tense moments.
For most creators, start with automatic placement and switch to manual if you feel ads are landing at disruptive points. For videos between 8-12 minutes, YouTube typically places 1-2 mid-rolls automatically.
Enabling Mid-Roll Ads on Upload for New Videos
When uploading a new video, the Monetization step appears in the upload flow. Click 'Monetization' in the left sidebar during upload.
Select your ad formats — check 'During video' for mid-rolls. If your video is under 8 minutes, 'During video' will be greyed out.
Once you choose automatic or manual placement, click 'Next' to continue uploading. YouTube processes mid-roll placement in the background after the video finishes uploading.
Mid-rolls are live as soon as the video is published and processing is complete.
Pro Tips
- Enable mid-rolls on all your existing 8+ minute videos retroactively — go through your back catalog and turn them on for an immediate RPM boost
- For manual placement, watch your video and mark breaks at points where viewers naturally pause — between major sections or after completing a thought
- Check YouTube Studio's Revenue tab one week after enabling mid-rolls to confirm RPM has increased
- If mid-roll ads are not showing as an option on an 8+ minute video, check for active community guideline strikes on your channel that may restrict monetization
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