Where to find the featured video setting
The featured video appears at the top of your YouTube channel homepage, above your uploads and playlists. To change it, you need to go to your channel customization page, which is only available on desktop or laptop — the YouTube mobile app does not have this option.
Sign in to YouTube, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select Create a channel if you have not already, or go directly to your channel. Once you are on your channel page, click the Customization tab near the top. If you do not see it, click the three-dot menu icon and look for Edit channel or Channel customization.
Key Takeaways
- The featured video section is on your channel customization page, accessible only from a computer or tablet, not from the YouTube mobile app.
- You can upload a new video, choose from your existing uploads, or link to any public video on YouTube — it does not have to be your own.
- The featured video appears at the top of your channel homepage and stays there until you change it or remove it.
- Changes take effect when ready, but viewers may see a cached version for a few minutes depending on their browser.
Steps to add or change your featured video
On the customization page, look for the section labeled Featured content or Featured video. Click the pencil icon or Add featured content button to open the editor.
You will see three options: upload a new video, select from your channel uploads, or enter the URL of any public YouTube video. If you choose to upload, the video must be at least 30 seconds long. If you select from your uploads, a list of your recent videos appears — click the one you want. If you paste a URL, make sure it is the full link to a specific video, not a playlist or channel page.
After you choose your video, you can add a title and description that will appear alongside it on your channel. These are optional but recommended — they help viewers understand what they are about to watch. Click Publish or Save when you are done.
What happens after you publish
Your featured video goes live on your channel homepage when ready. Viewers who visit your channel will see it at the top before they scroll down to your other content. The video stays featured until you change it or delete it from the featured section.
If you remove the featured video, your channel will display your channel art and description instead. You can always add a new featured video later by returning to the customization page and repeating the process.
Troubleshooting if the button does not appear
If you cannot find the featured content section, check that you are on the Customization tab, not the Basic info or Layout tabs. Some channels have different customization options depending on their account type or region.
If the customization tab is missing entirely, you may not have channel customization turned on. Go to your channel settings, click Advanced settings, and make sure Enable advanced customization is toggled on. You may need to wait a few hours for the option to appear after enabling it.
Using featured content to promote specific videos
Many creators use the featured video slot to highlight their most recent upload, a popular older video, or content they want viewers to see first. You can also feature videos from other creators if you want to recommend them — this is common in collaborative channels or when you want to credit inspiration.
If you upload frequently, you might change your featured video every week or month to keep your channel fresh. If you upload rarely, you can leave the same video featured for longer. There is no limit to how often you can change it.
Featured video versus channel trailer
YouTube also offers a channel trailer, which is different from a featured video. A channel trailer plays automatically for viewers who are not subscribed to your channel and have not visited before. The featured video, by contrast, appears on your channel homepage for all viewers.
You can have both a channel trailer and a featured video at the same time. The channel trailer is set in the same customization area — look for the Channel trailer section near the featured content section. The trailer should be short (under two minutes) and designed to convince new visitors to subscribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feature a video that is not mine?
Yes. You can feature any public video on YouTube, whether you uploaded it or not. Paste the video URL into the featured content editor and it will appear on your channel. This is useful if you want to recommend another creator or highlight a collaboration.
What if my featured video gets deleted?
If you delete the video from your channel, it will no longer appear as featured. YouTube will remove it from the featured section automatically. If someone else deletes a video you featured, the same thing happens — the featured slot will become empty until you add a new video.
How long does it take for the featured video to show up?
The change is usually live within seconds. However, viewers may see the old featured video for a few minutes if their browser has cached your channel page. Refreshing the page or clearing the browser cache will show the new video when ready.
Can I feature a private or unlisted video?
No. The featured video must be public. Private and unlisted videos cannot be featured because viewers would not be able to watch them. If you want to feature a video but keep it from appearing in search results, use the unlisted setting — but note that unlisted videos still cannot be featured.
Is there a size limit for the featured video thumbnail?
YouTube uses your video's existing thumbnail automatically. You cannot upload a custom thumbnail just for the featured section. If you want to change how the featured video looks, you can change the thumbnail of the video itself in your video details, and the featured section will update to match.