What is a YouTube channel ID?
A YouTube channel ID is the permanent identifier YouTube assigns to every channel when it is created. It always starts with UC and is 24 characters long, like UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ. The channel ID does not change when a channel renames itself, swaps handles, or rebrands, so it is the reliable way to reference a channel in the YouTube Data API, in analytics tools, and in RSS feeds.
How to find a YouTube channel ID
Paste any of the following into the box above and Keep returns the channel ID plus a ready-to-use RSS feed URL:
- A channel URL like
youtube.com/@mkbhd - A legacy URL like
youtube.com/c/mkbhdoryoutube.com/user/marquesbrownlee - A channel URL that already contains the ID (
youtube.com/channel/UC...) - A handle on its own, with or without the
@ - A video URL (the tool resolves it back to the uploading channel)
- The raw channel ID (the tool verifies it and returns the RSS feed)
How to find your own YouTube channel ID
If you are signed in to YouTube Studio, you can also find your channel ID at Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings. Your channel ID is listed there alongside your user ID. The finder above is quicker if you already have your channel URL copied.
How to get a YouTube RSS feed
Every public YouTube channel exposes a built-in RSS feed at https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UC.... You do not need to enable anything, and YouTube updates the feed every time a new video is published. The feed includes the title, description, publish date, thumbnail, and video link for the 15 most recent uploads.
Paste a channel URL or handle above and Keep does the substitution for you. The RSS feed is copy-ready in the result card and opens in any feed reader.
Channel ID vs handle vs custom URL
- Channel ID (
UC...): permanent, auto-generated, never changes, works in the YouTube Data API and in RSS feeds. - Handle (
@name): human-readable, unique, can be changed by the creator. Good for sharing, but not stable enough for integrations. - Custom URL (
/c/Name): the legacy form of a handle. Still works for older channels and redirects to the channel. - Legacy user URL (
/user/Name): a pre-2013 identifier. Some channels still have one and YouTube redirects it, but new channels do not get one.
When you'd need a channel ID
- Subscribing to a channel in a feed reader (the RSS feed uses the ID)
- Making YouTube Data API calls for search, video lists, or analytics
- Embedding a channel's latest uploads on a site or dashboard
- Handling rename events without losing the reference to the channel
- Building a content pipeline that reacts whenever a channel publishes
Frequently asked questions
What is a YouTube channel ID?
A YouTube channel ID is the permanent identifier YouTube assigns to every channel when it is created. It always starts with UC and is 24 characters long, like UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ. Even when a channel changes its name or handle, the channel ID stays the same, which makes it the reliable identifier for API calls, analytics, and RSS feeds.
How do I find my YouTube channel ID?
Paste your channel URL or @handle into the box above and this tool returns your channel ID. You can also find it inside YouTube Studio: go to Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings, and your channel ID is listed there alongside your user ID. The tool above is faster and also works for any other channel, not just your own.
How do I find the channel ID from a YouTube video?
Paste the video URL into the box above. The finder loads the video page, pulls out the uploading channel, and returns the channel ID along with the RSS feed. You do not need to visit the channel page first.
Does every YouTube channel have an RSS feed?
Yes. Every public YouTube channel has an automatic RSS feed at https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UC... You do not need to enable anything, and YouTube updates it whenever a new video is published. The feed includes the title, description, publish date, thumbnail, and video link for the most recent uploads.
How many videos are in a YouTube RSS feed?
YouTube returns the 15 most recent uploads in a channel RSS feed. There is no way to extend this from the feed URL, but most feed readers (including Keep) poll the feed often enough that no videos are missed as long as a channel posts less than 15 videos between polls.
Can I get an RSS feed for a playlist or a YouTube user?
Yes. YouTube supports RSS feeds for playlists at https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?playlist_id=PL... and for legacy /user/ channels at https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?user=NAME. The tool above focuses on channel feeds because those are the most useful, but the same base URL works for playlists with the playlist_id query parameter.
What is the difference between a YouTube channel ID and a handle?
A channel ID is a permanent, auto-generated identifier that starts with UC. A handle is the @name a channel chooses, like @mkbhd, and it is human-readable but can be changed. The channel ID never changes, which is why APIs and RSS feeds always ask for the ID instead of the handle.
Does this work for YouTube Music or YouTube Shorts channels?
Yes. YouTube Music artists, Shorts channels, and topic channels all share the same channel ID system as regular YouTube channels, and they all expose the same RSS feed format. Paste the URL or handle and the finder resolves it the same way.
Is this YouTube channel ID finder free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no paywall, and no API key required. The tool resolves channel IDs by reading the publicly available YouTube channel page, so it works for any public channel.
Turn YouTube channels into clean bookmarks with Keep
Keep pulls YouTube channels into your bookmarks as clean, searchable Markdown. Add the RSS feed above once and every new upload lands in Keep, with transcripts, titles, and descriptions ready to read or hand to your AI agent.