Watch hours are one of the key metrics for YouTube Partner Program eligibility and for understanding how your channel is performing. Here’s where to actually find them.
On Desktop
- Go to YouTube Studio.
- Click Analytics (renamed Insights as of a 2026 update) in the left menu.
- Open the Overview tab, where Watch time is shown as one of the headline metrics.
- Adjust the date range at the top to see watch hours for the last 28 days, 90 days, 12 months, or a custom range — the trailing-12-months figure is the one that matters for Partner Program eligibility.
On the YouTube Studio Mobile App
- Open the YouTube Studio app and tap Analytics at the bottom.
- Watch time appears on the Overview screen, with the same date range options as desktop.
Checking Watch Time for a Specific Video
Open any individual video’s Analytics from the Content tab to see its own watch time and average view duration, separate from your channel-wide total.
How Watch Hours Are Counted
YouTube counts total minutes watched across all viewers and sessions, whether someone watches a video in one sitting or returns to finish it later — both count toward the total. There’s no official way to export this into a spreadsheet automatically; the Studio Analytics dashboard is the authoritative source.
Related: See our guide to YouTube’s Insights rename and how long analytics takes to update.
nnFAQ
Which watch-time figure counts for the Partner Program?
The trailing 12-months total shown in YouTube Studio Analytics.
Can I export watch hours to a spreadsheet automatically?
No official built-in export exists; Studio Analytics is the authoritative source.