Where do I use a channel ID?

In the YouTube Data API, RSS feeds (channel_id parameter), embeds and many third-party analytics tools.

Does the channel ID ever change?

No. The UC… ID is permanent even if the creator changes their handle, name or custom URL.

Can I get subscriber counts?

Where YouTube exposes them publicly, the tool shows subscriber count along with video count and creation date.

Do I need an API key?

No. The finder works without any Google Cloud setup or key.

What's the difference between a handle and an ID?

A handle (@name) is human-friendly and changeable; the ID (UC…) is permanent and machine-readable.

Does it work with old /user/ URLs?

Yes, legacy username and /user/ URLs resolve to the channel ID too.

Can I build an RSS feed with the ID?

Yes: youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UC… returns the channel's uploads.

Completely free with no limits.

Why didn't a detail like country show up?

Some channels don't make every field public, so optional details like country only appear when available.

Analytics

Channel ID Finder

Enter a channel URL, @handle, custom URL or username and get the underlying channel ID (the UC… string) you need for APIs, RSS feeds and embeds — plus public channel details when available.

Quick answers

Straight to the point

How do I find a YouTube channel ID?

Paste the channel's URL, @handle, custom URL or username into the finder and it returns the channel ID — the string starting with UC. You need this ID for the YouTube API, RSS feeds and many embed tools, because handles and custom URLs alone won't work there.

What is a YouTube channel ID?

A channel ID is YouTube's permanent identifier for a channel, always starting with 'UC' followed by 22 characters (e.g. UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx). Unlike a handle or custom URL, it never changes, which is why APIs, RSS feeds and automation tools require it instead of the display name.

Why this tool

What makes the Channel ID Finder useful

Handles and custom URLs are human-friendly but not accepted by most APIs. This tool gives you the machine-readable ID in one step, with no Google Cloud setup.

Any input format

URL, @handle, custom /c/ URL or legacy username all work.

Returns the UC… ID

Get the exact channel ID developer tools and feeds require.

Public details

Surfaces creation date, subscribers, video count and country where available.

Instant & free

No Google Cloud, no API key, no signup.

Step by step

How to use the Channel ID Finder

You paste a reference; the tool normalises it, looks up the channel, and returns the canonical channel ID. Where public data is exposed it also surfaces details like creation date, subscriber count, video count and country.

1
Paste a reference
Enter the channel URL, @handle, custom URL or username.
2
Resolve
The tool looks up the canonical channel.
3
Get the ID
Copy the UC… channel ID it returns.
4
Use the details
Grab public stats like subscribers and creation date too.

What is the Channel ID Finder?

The Channel ID Finder resolves any form of YouTube channel reference — full URL, @handle, custom /c/ URL or legacy username — into the stable UC… channel ID that developer tools require.

Who should use it?

Developers wiring up the YouTube API, creators setting up RSS feeds or automation, and researchers cataloguing channels.

Common use cases

Setting up the YouTube Data API for a channel
Building an RSS feed of a channel's uploads
Wiring channel data into automation tools
Cataloguing channels for research

Pro tips

• Build an RSS feed with the ID: youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UC…
• Save the ID — it never changes even if the creator rebrands.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using the @handle in an API call that needs the UC… ID.
• Confusing a video URL with a channel URL.

Alternatives & related approaches

Use the Video ID Finder for individual videos, the Playlist ID Finder for playlists, or the Channel Logo Downloader to grab a channel's avatar.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Paste the @handle into the finder and it resolves to the channel's UC… ID instantly.

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