How to Check YouTube Monetization Status and Eligibility Instantly

Understanding Your Video Revenue Indicators

Whether you earn revenue on a video depends on several factors, including copyright claims, revenue sharing, and advertiser-friendliness, which makes understanding your video’s monetization status crucial for every creator. Use this comprehensive guide to learn how to check your monetization indicators effectively, as each monetization icon means something specific about your content’s earning potential and compliance with platform policies.

You can also learn what it means when the monetization icon next to your video changes, since these visual cues provide instant feedback about your content’s revenue eligibility. Note that this article will help you understand what each symbol represents and how to interpret the status updates that appear alongside your uploads, giving you immediate insight into whether your content meets the platform’s requirements for generating income.

How to Check Monetization Status on Different Devices

Android Device Monetization Check Process

Check your video monetization status on Android devices by following this streamlined approach that puts all the information at your fingertips:

1. Open the YouTube Studio app and navigate to the bottom where you’ll tap Content
2. Near the top, tap Monetization to access the filtering options that will show videos based on their earning potential
3. To show videos with green icons, check Monetized for successful content
4. To show videos with red and gray icons, check Not monetized for problematic uploads
5. For content with earning restrictions, to show videos with yellow icons, check Limited
6. Tap Apply to filter your video list effectively

This process gives you instant visibility into which of your uploads are generating revenue, which need attention, and which fall into the middle ground where monetization is partially restricted.

Desktop Platform Status Verification

Desktop users can check video monetization status through a more detailed interface that provides comprehensive info about what each icon means:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio and from the left menu, select Content to access your upload dashboard
2. In the Monetization column, you can find the monetization icons that indicate each video’s earning status
3. You can hover over it to get instant tooltips explaining exactly what the visual indicators represent
4. To filter your video list by monetization status, click the filter bar Monetization
5. Check Monetized for green icons, check Not monetized for red and gray icons, and check Limited for yellow icons
6. Click APPLY to refine your view and focus on specific video categories that need your attention

iPad and iPhone Mobile Access

iPad and iPhone users follow an identical process to Android devices, ensuring consistency across Apple’s mobile ecosystem when you need to check your video monetization status:

1. Open the YouTube Studio app and look at the bottom to tap Content
2. Move near the top to tap Monetization for accessing the same powerful filtering tools
3. Show videos with green icons by checking Monetized for successful content
4. Show videos with red and gray icons by checking Not monetized for problematic uploads
5. Show videos with yellow icons by checking Limited for restricted content
6. Tap Apply to implement the filters and get a clear overview of your content’s earning potential

This unified approach across iOS devices means you can manage your monetization effectively regardless of whether you’re using an iPad for detailed content review or an iPhone for quick status checks while on the go.

Monetization Icon Guide

Use this table to learn what each monetization icon means.

Revenue Status Icon	Monetization Trigger Conditions	YouTube Earnings Impact	Creator Action Steps & Revenue Optimization
⏱ Ad Review Processing	YouTube’s automated systems perform content monetization review during video upload to assess advertiser-friendly guidelines compliance and ad placement suitability.	Zero ad revenue generation during review period. No advertisements display on content until monetization eligibility verification completes.	YouTube’s ad suitability algorithm typically processes within 20 minutes to 1 hour maximum. Upload content as private/unlisted initially for revenue optimization. Wait for green monetization approval before publishing publicly to maximize YouTube earnings potential.
$ Full Revenue Eligible	Content meets all YouTube Partner Program requirements and passes advertiser-friendly content guidelines for maximum ad inventory access.	Maximum earning potential with full ad placement opportunities. Eligible for YouTube AdSense revenue from display, overlay, and video advertisements.	Revenue may fluctuate due to copyright disputes, invalid traffic detection, or seasonal advertiser spending. Monitor YouTube Analytics revenue reports and maintain content quality for sustained monetization performance.
$ COPPA Compliant	Video audience designation as made for kids content under Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) compliance requirements.	Limited to non-personalized advertising only. Reduced YouTube revenue per view compared to standard monetized content.	Kid-friendly monetization generates lower CPM rates. Focus on high-quality educational content and increased viewership to compensate for reduced per-view earnings. Consider creating separate adult-targeted content channels. Learn more about COPPA compliance requirements.
$ Music Revenue Split	Music cover monetization where Content ID identifies copyrighted audio and music publisher agrees to YouTube revenue sharing with creators.	Partial advertising revenue split between creator and music rights holders. Earnings percentage varies by music licensing agreement.	Research covers song monetization policies and revenue sharing percentages. Consider original compositions or royalty-free music for 100% YouTube earnings retention. Learn about Content ID claim resolution processes.
$ Revenue Withholding	Copyright dispute resolution in progress where revenue is held separately during Content ID claim review and appeal process.	Revenue temporarily withheld until copyright claim settlement. Final earnings distributed to appropriate rights holders after dispute resolution.	If you believe the copyright claim is invalid, file dispute or appeal through YouTube Studio. Monitor Content ID dispute status and provide supporting documentation. Learn fair use guidelines for future content creation.
⚠ Restricted Monetization	Content partially violates advertiser-friendly guidelines but isn’t completely unsuitable. Brand safety concerns limit advertiser participation.	Reduced ad revenue potential with limited advertiser pool. Lower YouTube CPM rates and decreased earning opportunities.	Request human monetization review if automated assessment seems incorrect. Review YouTube content guidelines and modify future content strategy. “Ad suitability confirmed” decisions are final and non-appealable for revenue optimization.
⊘ No Revenue Generation	Content severely violates YouTube monetization policies or contains copyright-protected material without proper authorization or licensing.	Complete monetization ineligibility. No advertising revenue possible until content compliance issues are resolved.	For copyright issues: Remove infringing content or obtain proper licensing. For policy violations: Review YouTube community guidelines and edit content accordingly. Request monetization review after corrections. Consider alternative revenue streams like channel memberships.
$ Yellow Dollar – Limited Ads	Content triggers advertiser-friendly concerns but remains partially monetizable. Yellow monetization icon indicates reduced ad inventory due to content sensitivity.	Significantly reduced revenue with limited advertiser participation. Lower YouTube ad fill rates and decreased CPM compared to green dollar status.	Review content against YouTube advertiser guidelines and request manual monetization review. Yellow dollar monetization can be appealed through YouTube Studio. Focus on brand-safe content creation for future uploads.
$ Grey Dollar – Revenue Pending	Monetization status under review or earnings temporarily suspended due to policy violations, invalid traffic detection, or account-level issues.	Revenue generation paused until review completion. Previous earnings may be held pending investigation of YouTube policy compliance.	Monitor YouTube Studio notifications for monetization review updates. Address any policy violations and improve traffic quality metrics. Contact YouTube Creator Support if grey dollar persists beyond normal review periods.
✕ Monetization Disabled	Creator manually disabled YouTube ad monetization for specific content or hasn’t accepted Shorts Fund monetization module in YouTube Studio settings.	Voluntary revenue forfeiture. No advertisements served despite content being eligible for YouTube Partner Program monetization.	Enable video monetization settings in YouTube Studio if revenue generation desired. For YouTube Shorts monetization, accept relevant modules in channel settings. Consider brand partnership opportunities and channel membership revenue as alternatives.

Why Your YouTube Monetization Icon Turns Yellow

Ever noticed your video’s monetization icon suddenly change from green to yellow? This happens because YouTube’s systems continuously scan your content to ensure it meets their advertiser-friendly guidelines.

Even after approval, the status can shift if the AI detects potential issues. From my experience, this process isn’t instant—YouTube works to make it faster and more stable, but manual reviews sometimes slow things down. If your video gets flagged, don’t panic—check for policy violations and adjust if needed.

Recent updates show that YouTube has introduced better systems to reduce the “flip-flopping” between green and yellow icons, including a new grey “clock” icon during the review process to provide more stability for creators.

Handling Monetization Icon Changes on YouTube

Here’s a pro tip from my years managing channels: always upload new videos as private or unlisted first. This lets YouTube’s ad suitability review process work its magic early, ensuring a timely public publish without surprises.

Once live, don’t panic if the monetization status changes – it typically stabilizes within 24 hours, though I’ve seen cases where viewer interactions trigger updates even after this window.

When that frustrating yellow icon appears, remember you’re not powerless. If you’re certain it’s a mistake, request a human review – the policy specialist’s final decision usually sticks, unlike the automated system’s fluctuations.

July 15, 2025 brought important policy updates that now better clarify “repetitious content” as “inauthentic content,” helping creators understand what triggers demonetization. The platform continues to reward original and authentic content while cracking down on mass-produced material.