What is a YouTube channel ID?

A channel ID is a channel's permanent identifier, always starting with UC and 24 characters long in total. It never changes, even when the owner changes their channel name or handle.

How do I follow a channel by RSS?

Paste the feed address produced here into any RSS reader, and each new upload appears there. This needs neither a YouTube account nor an API key.

Why do other tools ask for an ID rather than a handle?

Because a handle can be changed by its owner while an ID cannot, so an ID is the only reference guaranteed to keep pointing at the same channel. A tool that stores a handle loses track the moment that handle changes.

Channel Analytics

YouTube Channel ID Finder

Enter a handle, URL or channel name to get its ID, uploads playlist and RSS feed.

Channel URL, @handle or name

What this is

A channel ID is a YouTube channel's permanent identifier, always starting with UC followed by 22 characters. Unlike a handle or a channel name, which the owner can change, an ID never changes for the life of the channel — which is why nearly every tool, feed and integration asks for an ID rather than a handle. This tool also derives two further things from it: the playlist holding every upload, and the RSS feed address.

How it works

The RSS feed is derived straight from the ID using a fixed address shape, with no extra call. That feed is the one way to follow a channel's new uploads with no API key and no account at all — useful for RSS readers, automation, or simply watching a channel without subscribing.

The uploads playlist holds every public video from the channel in a single list. It is useful to any tool that needs to walk a channel's catalogue, because reading one playlist costs far less than searching for videos one at a time.

How to use it

Enter the channel A URL, @handle, ID or channel name all work.
Copy what you need Each row has its own copy button.
Use the ID, not the handle A handle can change; an ID never does.

Common questions

What is a YouTube channel ID?: A channel ID is a channel's permanent identifier, always starting with UC and 24 characters long in total. It never changes, even when the owner changes their channel name or handle.
How do I follow a channel by RSS?: Paste the feed address produced here into any RSS reader, and each new upload appears there. This needs neither a YouTube account nor an API key.
Why do other tools ask for an ID rather than a handle?: Because a handle can be changed by its owner while an ID cannot, so an ID is the only reference guaranteed to keep pointing at the same channel. A tool that stores a handle loses track the moment that handle changes.

Notes

The RSS feed is derived from the ID and works without an API key.