Find any channel's ID.

What is a YouTube Channel ID?

A YouTube Channel ID is the permanent, unique identifier YouTube assigns to every channel. It always starts with the letters UC and is followed by a string of 22 characters, for example UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Unlike a channel's name, handle, or custom URL — all of which a creator can change — the Channel ID never changes for the life of the channel. That makes it the reliable way to identify a channel in tools, APIs, RSS feeds, and integrations, where a name could be ambiguous or out of date.

This finder gives you that ID without any sign-up. For channel links that already contain the ID, it extracts and displays it instantly. For newer @handle links and custom URLs that don't contain the ID, it shows you a quick, reliable manual method, because that lookup genuinely cannot be done automatically from a browser without a paid service.

How to find a Channel ID instantly

If you have a URL in the format youtube.com/channel/UC…, the Channel ID is already part of the link. Paste it into the box above and the tool pulls out the UC ID immediately — no waiting and no extra steps. This is the case whenever you copy a link from the address bar of a classic channel page, and it covers a large share of channel links you'll encounter.

How to find a Channel ID from an @handle

Modern YouTube channels use @handles (like youtube.com/@channelname) and custom URLs (like youtube.com/c/name). These don't contain the Channel ID, and a browser can't fetch it automatically because YouTube blocks cross-site requests. The dependable way to get it takes about twenty seconds:

1. Open the channel's page on YouTube.
2. Right-click and choose View Page Source, or press Ctrl+U (Windows) / Cmd+U (Mac).
3. Use Find (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) to search for channel_id or externalId.
4. Copy the value that begins with UC — that's the Channel ID.

When you paste a handle into the tool above, it opens this guide and gives you a direct button to the channel page so you can follow these steps quickly.

Why you might need a Channel ID

Developers need the Channel ID to call the YouTube Data API, since most endpoints identify channels by ID rather than by name. Anyone setting up a channel's RSS feed needs it — the feed URL is built directly from the ID. Many third-party analytics, moderation, and automation tools ask for the Channel ID to connect to a channel reliably. Even for everyday use, the ID is the unambiguous way to point someone to a specific channel when several channels share a similar name. Because it never changes, links and integrations built on the ID keep working even if the creator rebrands.

Channel ID vs handle vs custom URL

It helps to know the difference. The handle (the @name) is a friendly, shareable identifier a creator chooses and can change. A custom URL (/c/name) is a vanity address, also changeable. The Channel ID (UC…) is the underlying permanent identifier that YouTube uses internally and never reassigns. Handles and custom URLs are best for sharing with people; the Channel ID is best for anything technical that must keep working long-term.

More free YouTube tools

Once you have the ID, check the channel's numbers with the Channel Stats tool, look up individual videos with Video Info, or grab thumbnails with the Thumbnail Downloader. Everything on ThumbRip is free and needs no account.

Frequently asked questions