One of the most common mistakes new YouTube creators make is uploading videos to their newly created channels without enabling some essential settings. If you want your YouTube channel to grow, gain more visibility, and stay secure, it’s important to configure these settings correctly right from the beginning.
In this article, we’ll walk through nine critical YouTube settings you should enable to unlock additional features, ensure compliance, and build a strong foundation for your channel — even if your channel has been active for a while.
1. Enable Intermediate Features by Verifying Your Phone Number
YouTube automatically provides some basic features when you create your channel, assuming you have no community guideline strikes. However, to unlock intermediate features, which are crucial for creators, you must verify your phone number.
Without enabling intermediate features, you won’t be able to:
- Upload videos longer than 15 minutes
- Add custom thumbnails
- Live stream
How to verify your phone number:
- Go to YouTube Studio
- Click on Settings > Channel > Feature Eligibility
- Under Intermediate features, click Verify phone number
- Select your country, enter your phone number, and click Get code
- Enter the code you receive and complete the verification
Congratulations! You now have access to powerful new tools.
2. Unlock Advanced Features
Advanced features enable monetization and other high-level capabilities. But first, you must already have intermediate features enabled.
There are three ways to unlock advanced features:
- Video verification: Record a 30-second selfie video following the on-screen instructions.
- Valid ID verification: Upload a photo of your passport or driver’s license.
- Build channel history: Remain active on your channel (upload content regularly) for about two months, after which advanced features are enabled automatically.
Recommended:
Use video verification — it’s the quickest method.
After submission, you’ll receive an email with instructions to complete the process.
3. Select Your Country of Residence Correctly
This setting determines legal and policy applications—not where your views will come from.
How to set:
- Go to YouTube Studio > Settings > Channel > Basic info
- Select your actual country of residence
Important: Do not select the U.S. just because you’re targeting a U.S. audience. This won’t affect your video’s reach but could cause compliance issues.
4. Add Relevant Keywords to Your Channel
Channel keywords help YouTube understand what your content is about.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Channel > Basic Info
- Add:
- Your full channel name
- Keywords from your niche (e.g., tech, tutorials)
- Individual components of your channel name (e.g., “Nano”, “Nerd”, “Hub”)
- Competitor or popular creator names in your niche (optional)
5. Set Upload Defaults
This saves time by auto-filling titles, descriptions, and tags for each video you upload.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Upload Defaults
- Set:
- A short channel intro in the description
- Social media links
- Relevant hashtags
- Channel name variants as tags
This helps maintain consistency and efficiency.
6. Turn Off Automatic Chapters
YouTube offers automatic video chapters, but they’re often unreliable.
Recommendation:
- Go to Settings > Upload Defaults > Advanced settings
- Uncheck “Allow automatic chapters”
- Instead, manually add timestamps in your description for better accuracy
7. Use vidIQ for Keyword and Growth Tools
vidIQ is a powerful tool for creators. It offers:
- Keyword research: Find high-search, low-competition keywords to help your content rank
- AI-generated video ideas: Get topic suggestions based on current trends in your niche
- AI Coach: Personalized advice for improving your content strategy
A free version is available, but for full access, consider their Boost Plan. You can get 90% off your first month using a special link in their promotions.
8. Add a Channel Trailer and Featured Video
To make your channel page more engaging:
- Go to YouTube Studio > Customization > Layout
- Add:
- Channel Trailer: For new visitors who haven’t subscribed
- Featured Video: For returning subscribers
This helps you highlight your best content strategically.
9. Enable the “For You” Section (Optional)
You can toggle the “For You” section, which displays personalized video recommendations on your channel homepage based on a viewer’s interests.
Steps:
- Go to YouTube Studio > Customization > Layout
- Choose whether to enable or disable this feature
This can help improve engagement with returning viewers.
Final Thoughts
Enabling these settings will not only boost your channel’s performance but also keep it optimized and secure for long-term growth. Whether you’re a new or seasoned YouTuber, it’s never too late to ensure these configurations are in place.
For more such tips and in-depth guides, bookmark this article and revisit it whenever you’re setting up or auditing your channel.
Tags: youtube channel setup, youtube creator settings, youtube growth tips, verify youtube channel, enable advanced features, youtube customization, upload defaults, vidIQ, youtube keyword research
Hashtags: #YouTubeTips #ChannelGrowth #ContentCreators #YouTubeSettings #vidIQ #YouTubeSEO #ChannelOptimization #YouTubeGuide
