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.

Who Uses YouTube Channel ID Finder

Developers wiring YouTube channel feeds into apps. Marketers configuring third-party analytics that require channel IDs. Creators submitting their channel to RSS readers or embed widgets. Anyone reverse-engineering a creator's channel from a custom URL where YouTube no longer surfaces the ID.

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 lookups (1 unit each) and only uses name search, which has a much smaller daily allowance, when nothing else matches.
Bring Your Own Key: Use the shared key for occasional lookups, or paste your own free Google API key for a much bigger daily allowance. It is 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 the unique ID YouTube gives every channel. It is 24 characters long and starts with UC, like YouTube's own example UCUZHFZ9jIKrLroW8LcyJEQQ. The channel URL youtube.com/channel/ is built on it, and the YouTube Data API uses it to look up a channel.

Where do I find a YouTube channel ID?

For your own channel, sign in to YouTube, select your profile picture, then Settings, then Advanced settings. You need to be the channel's primary owner. For any other channel, links usually show the @handle instead of the ID, so paste the link, @handle or name into this tool to get the UC channel ID.

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 lookup, which returns the channel ID for that handle. It costs 1 quota unit, plus 1 more to load the channel card.

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. Searches have a much smaller allowance (100 a day per API project by default), 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 with a shared key, limited to 30 API requests per IP a day (about 15 lookups, since most take two requests). For more, paste your own free YouTube Data API key in the API key section. It stays in your browser, and a project gets 10,000 units a day by default.

Is the channel ID the same as the @handle?

No. The @handle is a short, readable name that the owner can change, and YouTube can reclaim. The UC channel ID is the unique ID the channel URL is built on, and it is what the YouTube Data API and many apps ask for.

Are my lookups stored on your servers?

No. With the shared key, what you type passes through our server to Google's YouTube Data API, and only your IP and a daily count are kept in memory for the rate limit; answers may be cached for 5 minutes. With your own key, requests go straight from your browser to Google. Recent lookups are stored only in your browser.

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3-step workflow · a few seconds

A channel ID in three steps

From any link or @handle to the UC channel ID: no sign-up, and no access to the channel needed.

STEP 01
Paste the channel
A channel link, an @handle, a /c/ or /user/ link, a UC ID, or just the channel's name.
The studio shows the route it will use
STEP 02
Find the ID
The tool asks YouTube's official Data API, using the cheapest call that fits your input.
Cancel anytime while it looks
STEP 03
Copy and use
Copy the channel ID or the full channel URL, and check the name, avatar and stats match.
Saved in Recent lookups for 7 days

Guide

How to use this channel ID finder

The better the input, the faster and cheaper the lookup. A link or @handle beats a name every time.

Updated for 2026: handles, custom URLs and the current API search allowance

1
Copy the channel link
Open the channel on YouTube and copy the address from your browser bar.
2
Paste it in the studio
The highlighted row shows the route: UC ID, @handle, /user/ name or name search. Press Enter or tap Find.
3
Check the card
Make sure the name and avatar are the channel you meant. This matters most for name searches, which take the top match.
4
Copy what you need
Copy the bare ID for apps and forms, or the full youtube.com/channel/ link for people and documents.

Guide

Good habits with channel IDs

Four habits that save you from looking up the wrong channel, or the same one twice.

Input

Paste a link, not a name

A link or @handle points at one channel. A name can match many, and the search returns only the top one.

@handle or /channel/ link
Names only as a last resort
/c/ links go through search

Check

Confirm the card

Look at the name, avatar and subscriber count before you copy. Two channels can have very similar names.

Same avatar
Same handle
Open channel if unsure

Storage

Save the ID, not the handle

Owners can change a handle, and YouTube can reclaim one. The channel URL is built on the ID.

Key records by UC ID
Keep the handle as a label
Note when you looked it up

Volume

Use your own key for batches

The shared key has a small daily limit. Your own free key has its own allowance and skips our server.

Shared: a few lookups
Own key: 10,000 units a day
Key stays in this browser

Guide

The four kinds of channel address

YouTube Help lists these channel URLs. The studio reads all four.

Channel ID

youtube.com/channel/UC…

Built on the channel's unique ID. This is the address the studio gives you back.

24 characters, starts with UC
Read straight from the link
1 unit for the details

Handle

youtube.com/@name

Made automatically when a channel picks or changes its handle. Handles start with @.

One handle per channel
Not case-sensitive
Owner can change it

Custom URL

youtube.com/c/Name

An older style of address. YouTube no longer lets channels set up or change these.

Still found in old links
Looked up by search
Check the match

Username

youtube.com/user/Name

A legacy address from when channels had usernames. These links still work.

Old channels only
Looked up by username
1 unit, plus details

Guide

Who needs a channel ID, and why

Plenty of apps and forms ask for the ID rather than the handle. Here is how different people use it.

Developers

API calls

The YouTube Data API looks channels up by ID. Resolve a handle once, then store the ID and use it in every later call.

Typical use: store the UC ID · keep the handle as a display label

Marketers and analysts

Tracking

Tracking sheets and dashboards stay correct when they key on the ID, even if a channel later changes its handle.

Typical use: one row per channel ID · check the card before adding

Curators and newsletter writers

Lists

A list of channel IDs is a clean, unambiguous way to keep track of the channels you feature.

Typical use: save the ID and the channel URL together

Creators

Your own channel

Apps, sponsors and services may ask for your channel ID. YouTube shows it in Advanced settings, or paste your handle here.

Typical use: Settings → Advanced settings · or your @handle here

YouTube's own way

Where YouTube shows a channel ID

You don't always need a tool. Here is where the ID lives on YouTube itself, and where it doesn't.

Your own channel

YouTube Help's steps for seeing your user ID and channel ID.

Sign in to YouTube
Select your profile picture, then Settings
In the left menu, select Advanced settings
Your user ID and channel ID are listed there
You must be the channel's primary owner

What an ID looks like

YouTube Help's own example of a channel URL built on the ID:

youtube.com/channel/UCUZHFZ9jIKrLroW8LcyJEQQ

24 characters long
Starts with UC
Paste it alone, or the full link

Why it's hard to spot

Most links people share don't contain the ID at all.

@handle links hide the ID
/c/ custom links hide it
/user/ links hide it
Advanced settings shows only your own
Someone else's needs a lookup

Privacy

What leaves your browser

Most CleverTools run fully on your device. This one can't: a channel lookup has to ask YouTube. Here is exactly what goes where.

What	Shared key (default)	Your own API key
What you type	Sent to our server, which asks Google	Sent from this page straight to Google
Your IP address	Seen by our server, counted for the daily limit	Seen by Google, not by us
Stored by us	Nothing kept; answers may be cached for 5 minutes	Nothing, our server isn't involved
Your API key	Not used, the shared key is ours	Kept in this browser, sent only to Google
Daily limit	30 API requests per IP, about 15 lookups	Your project's own Google allowance
Channel avatar	Loads from YouTube's image servers	Loads from YouTube's image servers
Recent lookups	This browser only, last 5, 7 days	This browser only, last 5, 7 days

Channel IDs, names and stats are public information on YouTube. The only private things here are what you search for and, if you add one, your API key.

Compare

This tool vs Advanced settings vs reading the link

Three ways to get a channel ID. Each one is the right choice somewhere.

Feature	CleverTools finder	YouTube Advanced settings	Reading the URL
Works for any channel	✓ Yes	✗ Only your own	Only /channel/ links
Works from an @handle	✓ Yes	✗ No	✗ No ID in the link
Needs you signed in	✓ No	Yes, as primary owner	✓ No
Shows name, avatar, stats	✓ Yes	✗ No	✗ No
Sends anything online	Yes, to YouTube's API	✓ You're already on YouTube	✓ No
Recent list kept	✓ 7 days, this browser	✗ No	✗ No

Need your own ID and already signed in? Advanced settings is quickest. Got a /channel/ link? The ID is right there after /channel/. Anything else, use the studio.

Pro tips

Pro tips for quick, cheap lookups

Small habits that keep you inside the free limits and away from the wrong channel.

Prefer the @handle

A handle lookup is a 1 unit call. A name search uses the much smaller search allowance.

Names take the top match

Name search returns one channel, the first match. Check the avatar before you copy.

/c/ links search too

The API has no direct lookup for custom URLs, so they go through name search. Prefer the @handle.

Already have a UC ID?

Paste it to check it. The studio skips the lookup and just loads the channel card.

Copy the right thing

Apps and forms usually want the bare ID. People want the full channel link.

Reuse Recent lookups

Your last 5 channels sit under the result. Tap one to look it up again.

Own key for many

Looking up a list? Add your own free API key so you don't hit the shared daily limit.

Need the thumbnails too?

Grab a video's images with the YouTube Thumbnail Downloader.

Pro tip: resolve once, store forever

Look up each channel once, then keep its ID, handle and name together in your sheet or database. Use the ID for anything a machine reads, and the handle for anything a person reads. If a handle changes, the ID still finds the channel.

Which one

Channel ID or @handle?

Both point at the same channel. One is built for machines, the other for people.

Apps · records · APIs

24characters

Channel ID

The unique ID the channel URL is built on. Hard to read, but it doesn't follow handle changes, so it is the safe key for data.

Best for apps, sheets and API calls

People · links · posts

@handle

Handle

A short, readable name that starts with @. Easy to say and share, but the owner can change it and YouTube can reclaim it.

Best for posts, slides and mentions

DatabasesKey every row on the channel ID.

Posts and slidesShow the @handle.

Forms that askPaste the bare UC ID.

Every timeCheck the card matches the channel.

Verdict: store the channel ID, show the @handle. The studio above turns one into the other in a few seconds.

Use cases

Who uses this channel ID finder

The same lookup, six different jobs.

App builders

Turn the handles users type into IDs your code can store and pass to the YouTube Data API.

Analysts

Build a clean list of channel IDs before tracking growth in a sheet or dashboard.

Creators

Find your own ID fast when a sponsor, app or service asks for it.

Agencies

Check you have the right channel before a campaign, using the name, avatar and stats.

Curators

Keep a tidy list of featured channels that still works if a handle changes.

Researchers

Look up channels in a batch with your own key, 100 name searches and 10,000 units a day by default.

Putting a channel's video on your site? Try the YouTube Embed Code Generator.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about channel IDs, handles, API keys and what this tool sends where.

What is a YouTube channel ID?

Where do I find a YouTube channel ID?

How do I convert a YouTube @handle to a channel ID?

How do I get a channel ID from a custom URL like /c/SomeName?

Do I need an API key to use this tool?

Is the channel ID the same as the @handle?

Are my lookups stored on your servers?

Reviews

What people say

Reviews from people who used this tool.

Loading reviews…

Presets

Popular presets

Jump to a version of this tool already set up for a specific need.

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 lookups (1 unit each) and only uses name search, which has a much smaller daily allowance, when nothing else matches.

Bring Your Own Key: Use the shared key for occasional lookups, or paste your own free Google API key for a much bigger daily allowance. It is 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?

Where do I find a YouTube channel ID?

How do I convert a YouTube @handle to a channel ID?

How do I get a channel ID from a custom URL like /c/SomeName?

Do I need an API key to use this tool?

Is the channel ID the same as the @handle?

Are my lookups stored on your servers?

YouTube tool · Free

YouTube Channel ID Finder: Get the UC ID from Any Link

Paste a channel link, @handle or name and get its UC channel ID, with the name, avatar and stats. Lookups use YouTube's official Data API.

Channel ID Studio

URL or @handle · official API · one-click copy

Official YouTube API Free · No sign-up

Your channel

Channel URL, @handle or name

A channel link, an @handle, a /c/ or /user/ link, a UC ID, or the channel's name. Press Enter to look it up.

How it looks it up

UC ID or /channel/ URL1 unit
@handle or /@ URL2 units
Old /user/ URL2 units
Name or /c/ URL1 search + 1 unit

The highlighted row is the route your input will take. Name search uses YouTube's separate search allowance, 100 calls a day per API project.

API key

Checking API key…

This lookup goes online

With the shared key, what you type goes to our server, which asks Google's YouTube Data API. We count requests per IP for the daily limit and don't store what you type.

Channel ID

Status

Ready

Route

Key

Shared

Paste a channel link, @handle or name, then tap Find. The channel ID appears here.

Recent lookups

Channels you find appear here, saved only in this browser for 7 days.

No sign-up needed Works with @handles Optional own API key History stays in this browser

Characters in an ID: 24
Unit per channel call: 1
Name searches a day: 100
Free units a day: 10,000

Cheapest API routeLinks, @handles and /user/ names use 1 unit calls. Only plain names need a search.

Your key, your browserAdd your own Google API key and lookups go straight from this page to Google.

Full channel cardName, handle, avatar, subscribers, videos, total views and the date it was made.

Recent lookupsYour last 5 channels stay in this browser for 7 days. Remove any of them anytime.

What's next

Put the channel ID to work

Tools that pick up where this one leaves off.

What

Shared key (default)

Your own API key

What you type

Sent to our server, which asks Google

Sent from this page straight to Google

Your IP address

Seen by our server, counted for the daily limit

Seen by Google, not by us

Stored by us

Nothing kept; answers may be cached for 5 minutes

Nothing, our server isn't involved

Your API key

Not used, the shared key is ours

Kept in this browser, sent only to Google

Daily limit

30 API requests per IP, about 15 lookups

Your project's own Google allowance

Channel avatar

Loads from YouTube's image servers

Recent lookups

This browser only, last 5, 7 days

Feature

CleverTools finder

YouTube Advanced settings

Reading the URL

Works for any channel

✓ Yes

✗ Only your own

Only /channel/ links

Works from an @handle

✓ Yes

✗ No

✗ No ID in the link

Needs you signed in

✓ No

Yes, as primary owner

✓ No

Shows name, avatar, stats

✓ Yes

✗ No

Sends anything online

Yes, to YouTube's API

✓ You're already on YouTube

✓ No

Recent list kept

✓ 7 days, this browser

✗ No

YouTube Channel ID Finder - Free Online Tool

A channel ID in three steps

Paste the channel

Find the ID

Copy and use

How to use this channel ID finder

Copy the channel link

Paste it in the studio

Check the card

Copy what you need

Good habits with channel IDs

Paste a link, not a name

Confirm the card

Save the ID, not the handle

Use your own key for batches

The four kinds of channel address

youtube.com/channel/UC…

youtube.com/@name

youtube.com/c/Name

youtube.com/user/Name

Who needs a channel ID, and why

Developers

Marketers and analysts

Curators and newsletter writers

Creators

Where YouTube shows a channel ID

Your own channel

What an ID looks like

Why it's hard to spot

What leaves your browser

This tool vs Advanced settings vs reading the link

Pro tips for quick, cheap lookups

Prefer the @handle

Names take the top match

/c/ links search too

Already have a UC ID?

Copy the right thing

Reuse Recent lookups

Own key for many

Need the thumbnails too?

Channel ID or @handle?

Channel ID

Handle

Who uses this channel ID finder

App builders

Analysts

Creators

Agencies

Curators

Researchers

Frequently asked questions

What people say

Popular presets

More free YouTube tools

YouTube Channel ID Finder - Free Online Tool

Channel ID Studio

Your channel

How it looks it up

API key

Channel ID

Put the channel ID to work

A channel ID in three steps

Paste the channel

Find the ID

Copy and use

How to use this channel ID finder

Copy the channel link

Paste it in the studio

Check the card

Copy what you need

Good habits with channel IDs

Paste a link, not a name

Confirm the card

Save the ID, not the handle

Use your own key for batches

The four kinds of channel address

youtube.com/channel/UC…

youtube.com/@name

youtube.com/c/Name

youtube.com/user/Name