Find any YouTube channel's official UC channel ID from a URL, @handle, custom URL, or channel name. Free, fast, uses the official YouTube Data API.
YouTube Channel ID Finder Features
- Any Input Format — Channel URL, @handle, custom /c/ URL, legacy /user/ URL, plain UC ID, or even just the channel name — all parse correctly.
- Cheapest API Path — Auto-routes to forHandle, forUsername, or id endpoints (1 unit each) and only uses search (100 units) when nothing else matches.
- Bring Your Own Key — Use the free shared key for occasional lookups, or paste your own Google API key for unlimited use — stored only in your browser.
- Full Channel Card — Returns the channel ID plus name, @handle, avatar, subscriber count, video count, total views, and creation date.
- One-Click Copy — Copy the UC channel ID with a single click — ready to paste into RSS readers, embed code, analytics tools, or third-party APIs.
- Recent Lookups — Last five resolved channels are saved locally so you can re-run or copy them without re-pasting the URL.
How to Use YouTube Channel ID Finder
Resolve any YouTube channel reference into its official UC… channel ID in three steps using the official YouTube Data API.
- Paste Anything — Drop a YouTube channel URL, @handle, custom URL, legacy /user/ link, or just the channel name into the input.
- We Resolve It — We detect the input type and call the cheapest matching YouTube Data API endpoint to fetch the official UC… ID.
- Copy & Use — Copy the channel ID for embeds, RSS feeds, analytics tools, or any integration that needs the canonical YouTube channel identifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a YouTube channel ID?
A YouTube channel ID is a 24-character string starting with UC (e.g. UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) that uniquely identifies a channel on YouTube. Unlike @handles or custom URLs, the channel ID never changes and is what most APIs, RSS feeds, and embed widgets actually require.
Where do I find a YouTube channel ID?
YouTube no longer shows channel IDs in the URL bar — most channels now display @handles instead. Paste any channel URL, @handle, custom URL, or channel name into this tool and you'll get the underlying UC channel ID instantly.
How do I convert a YouTube @handle to a channel ID?
Paste the @handle (e.g. @MrBeast) into the tool. We call the YouTube Data API's forHandle endpoint, which returns the canonical channel ID for that handle — costs only 1 quota unit.
How do I get a channel ID from a custom URL like /c/SomeName?
Custom /c/ URLs don't map directly to channel IDs through the API, so we fall back to a search query. This costs 100 quota units, so prefer the @handle or full URL where possible. The tool warns you when a search is required.
Do I need an API key to use this tool?
No — it works out of the box using a rate-limited shared key (30 lookups per IP per day). For unlimited use, you can paste your own free Google YouTube Data API key in the settings panel; it stays in your browser only.
Is the channel ID the same as the @handle?
No. The @handle is a human-friendly alias that creators can pick (and sometimes change). The UC channel ID is the permanent, non-editable identifier YouTube uses internally — it's what you need for RSS feeds and most third-party integrations.
Can I get a YouTube channel's RSS feed from the channel ID?
Yes. Once you have the UC channel ID, the channel's RSS feed lives at https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx — paste the ID into that URL.
Are my lookups stored on your servers?
No. When you use the shared key, only your IP and daily count are tracked for rate limiting. When you bring your own key, requests go directly from your browser to Google. Recent lookups are stored only in your browser's localStorage.
Related: youtube channel id finder, youtube channel id, find youtube channel id, get youtube channel id, youtube channel id lookup, youtube channel id from url, youtube channel id from handle, youtube handle to channel id, youtube username to channel id, youtube custom url to channel id