Your YouTube channel is more than just a place to upload videos — it is one of the most powerful traffic-driving tools available to creators, businesses, and brands in 2026. And one of the most underused features on the entire platform is the ability to add clickable links directly to your channel profile.
Adding channel links helps convert casual viewers into subscribers, leads, or customers — all from your main YouTube profile. Whether you want to send viewers to your website, your online store, your WhatsApp Channel, your Instagram profile, or your newsletter signup page, YouTube gives you multiple places to place clickable links — and knowing how to use all of them effectively can make a significant difference to your traffic and revenue.
In this complete guide, we cover every place you can add links on YouTube in 2026, step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile, how to add links to your video descriptions, how to use cards and end screens, the rules you need to know about external links, and pro tips for getting the most out of every link placement.
Where Can You Add Links on YouTube?
YouTube surfaces clickable links in more places than most creators realise. Everywhere you can put one in 2026:
- Channel profile links — up to 14 links displayed near the Subscribe button on your channel homepage
- Video descriptions — unlimited text field under each video; any URL starting with https:// becomes clickable automatically
- Community posts — text posts to your subscribers; URLs become clickable
- Pinned comments — a comment you pin to the top of a video’s comment section; URLs are clickable
- Cards — clickable panels that pop up during a video (requires YouTube Partner Program for external links)
- End screens — clickable elements in the final 5 to 20 seconds of a video (YPP required for external links)
- YouTube Shorts descriptions — text field under a Short; URLs become clickable
Understanding all of these placements helps you build a complete linking strategy across your entire channel — not just the profile page.
Method 1: Add Links to Your YouTube Channel Profile (Desktop)
This is the most important link placement on your entire channel. Channel profile links appear prominently near the Subscribe button on your channel homepage and are the first thing many viewers look at when they want to learn more about you.
<cite index=”36-1″>You can add up to 12 links with descriptive titles</cite> — and newer sources indicate this limit has been expanded to up to 14 in 2026. Each link includes a custom title you choose, so instead of showing a raw URL, viewers see a clean label like “My Website,” “Shop Now,” or “Follow on Instagram.”
Step 1: Open your browser and go to studio.youtube.com. Sign in to your Google account.
Step 2: In the left-hand sidebar, click Customization.
Step 3: Click the Basic info tab at the top of the Customization page.
Step 4: Scroll down until you find the Links section.
Step 5: Click Add link.
Step 6: Two fields will appear:
- Link title — type a short, clear label for the link (e.g., “My Website,” “Shop,” “Instagram,” “Free Download”)
- URL — paste the full URL including https:// (e.g., https://www.mokubetech.com)
Step 7: To add more links, click Add link again and repeat the process. You can add up to 14 links in total.
Step 8: Once you have added your links, scroll down to the Links on banner section. Here you choose how many of your links appear overlaid on your channel banner image — you can display up to 5 links on the banner.
Step 9: Drag and reorder your links to set their priority. <cite index=”36-1″>Put your most important link first because YouTube gives that first link the strongest placement on your channel profile.</cite>
Step 10: Click Publish in the top right corner to save all changes.
Your links are now live on your channel profile. Visit your channel homepage to see how they appear to viewers.
Method 2: Add Links to Your YouTube Channel Profile (Mobile)
Step 1: Open the YouTube Studio app on your Android or iPhone. If you do not have it, download it from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Step 2: Tap your channel profile picture or tap Your channel to navigate to your channel management screen.
Step 3: Tap Edit Channel or the pencil/edit icon.
Step 4: Scroll down to find the Links section.
Step 5: Tap Add link.
Step 6: Enter your Link title and URL in the fields provided.
Step 7: Tap the checkmark or Save to confirm the link.
Step 8: Repeat for additional links, then tap Done or Save to publish your changes.
Tip: While mobile works for adding links, managing multiple links and setting banner display options is significantly easier on desktop. If you are adding more than two or three links, switch to desktop for the best experience.
Method 3: Add Links to Your YouTube Video Descriptions
Your video description is one of the most powerful and flexible places to add links on YouTube. Any URL starting with https:// becomes clickable automatically. There is no limit to the number of links you can include in a video description.
Best practice for description links:
The first three lines of the description show above the “Show More” fold, so priority links go there. When viewers see your video on desktop or mobile, only the first few lines of the description are visible without tapping “Show more.” Place your most important link — your website, your lead magnet, your featured product — within those first three lines so it is always visible without any extra click.
How to add links to a video description:
Step 1: Go to studio.youtube.com and click Content in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Find the video you want to edit and click the pencil/edit icon next to it.
Step 3: In the Description field, type or paste your links directly. Include a brief label before each link so viewers know what to expect:
🌐 Visit our website: https://www.mokubetech.com
📱 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mokubetech
💬 Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/...Step 4: Click Save in the top right corner.
Using Default Upload Descriptions:
If you want certain links to appear automatically in every new video’s description without having to add them manually each time:
- Go to YouTube Studio → Settings (bottom of left sidebar)
- Click Upload defaults
- Add your standard links in the Description field
- Click Save
Every new video you upload will automatically include these links in its description.
Method 4: Add Links Using Cards (During Videos)
Cards are small, clickable panels that pop up in the corner of the video player during playback — a subtle but effective way to direct viewers to additional content or external pages.
Important rule for 2026: In 2026, cards only support external links — to sites you do not own — if your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which requires 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. Non-YPP channels can only card-link to other YouTube content: videos, playlists, and channels.
If your channel is in YPP, here is how to add cards:
Step 1: Go to YouTube Studio → Content → click Edit on the video you want to add cards to.
Step 2: Click the Cards tab in the video editor.
Step 3: Click Add card.
Step 4: Choose the card type:
- Video or Playlist — links to another YouTube video or playlist
- Channel — links to another YouTube channel
- Link — links to an external website (YPP only)
Step 5: Enter the URL or select the content to link to.
Step 6: Drag the card marker on the video timeline to set exactly when it appears during playback.
Step 7: You can add up to 5 cards per video. Click Save.
Method 5: Add Links Using End Screens
End screens are clickable elements that appear during the final 5 to 20 seconds of a video. They are one of the most effective tools for keeping viewers engaged after a video ends — directing them to another video, your channel, a playlist, or an external website.
The same YPP rule applies: External website links in end screens require YouTube Partner Program membership.
Step 1: Go to YouTube Studio → Content → click Edit on your video.
Step 2: Click the End screen tab.
Step 3: Click Add element and choose from:
- Video — links to a specific video (great for directing viewers to related content)
- Playlist — links to a playlist
- Subscribe — a subscribe button overlay
- Channel — links to another channel
- Link — external website link (YPP only)
Step 4: Position and resize the elements on the video preview as desired.
Step 5: Set the start time for when end screen elements appear (within the last 20 seconds of the video).
Step 6: Click Save.
Pro tip: Always pair an end screen subscribe button with at least one video recommendation. Viewers who finish your video are in the best possible mindset to watch another one — do not let them leave without a suggested next step.
Method 6: Add Links in Community Posts
Community posts are underused because most creators forget they exist between uploads. They are the closest thing YouTube has to an email newsletter for your audience, and the CTR on a good community post can rival a dedicated video.
If your channel has subscribers, you can post text updates, polls, images, and links directly to their home feed through Community posts.
Step 1: Go to studio.youtube.com → click Create (the camera+ icon at the top) → select Create post.
Step 2: Type your post text and paste any URLs directly into the text field — they become clickable automatically.
Step 3: Add images, polls, or video links as desired.
Step 4: Click Post to publish to your subscribers’ feeds.
Community posts with links work particularly well for:
- Announcing a new blog post or article
- Sharing a limited-time offer or promotion
- Directing subscribers to your other social platforms
- Sharing a resource or free download
Method 7: Add Links in Pinned Comments
Pinning a comment to the top of your video’s comment section is a simple, often overlooked way to add a clickable link that every viewer sees.
Step 1: Go to the video’s comment section on YouTube (not Studio).
Step 2: Leave a comment on your own video — write a brief call to action with a link, for example: “👇 Get the free guide mentioned in this video: https://mokubetech.com/category/how-to/“
Step 3: Click the three dots next to your comment → select Pin comment.
Step 4: Confirm the pin. Your comment will now appear at the top of the comment section for all viewers.
Pinned comments are particularly effective because they appear immediately below the video player — one of the first things viewers see after finishing the video.
What Links Can You Add to YouTube? Rules and Restrictions
Before adding links, understand YouTube’s current policies:
External links require verification for some placements: For cards and end screen external links, YouTube requires YPP membership. Channel profile links and description links are available to all channels.
All links must follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines: Links to spam, phishing sites, adult content, malware, or content that violates YouTube’s policies will be removed and can result in channel strikes or termination.
Affiliate links are allowed: YouTube permits affiliate links in descriptions and channel profile links. However, you must clearly disclose affiliate relationships in your video and/or description to comply with FTC guidelines and YouTube’s policies.
URL shorteners have mixed support: Some shortened URLs (bit.ly, etc.) work in descriptions but may not be accepted in all link placements. Using full, direct URLs is always the safest approach.
Links in Shorts: YouTube removed clickable links from YouTube Shorts and tightened requirements about adding external links between 2023 and 2025. In Shorts descriptions, URLs appear as text but clickability varies by placement and device. Do not rely on Shorts description links as your primary traffic driver./p>
Pro Tips for Getting the Most From Your YouTube Links
Use a link-in-bio tool for multiple destinations. If you want to direct YouTube viewers to multiple pages — your website, Instagram, Twitter, newsletter, and shop — consider using a tool like Linktree, Beacons, or a custom landing page. Put this single page as your first channel profile link and your first description link, then list all your destinations there.
Mention your links verbally in the video. Viewers who hear you say “link in the description” are far more likely to click than those who see it silently. Reference your key link at least once early in the video and once at the end.
Use descriptive link titles. Instead of labelling a link “Website,” use an action-oriented title like “Free Guide,” “Shop Our Products,” or “Book a Call.” Action labels outperform generic labels in click-through rate.
Put your most important link first because YouTube gives that first link the strongest placement on your channel profile. Think carefully about which destination is most valuable for your channel goals — subscribers, sales, email signups — and make sure that link is first.
Audit your links regularly. Broken links are one of the most common and easily preventable mistakes on YouTube channels. Set a reminder to check all your channel profile links and your top video description links every three months.
Use UTM parameters to track your YouTube traffic. Add UTM tracking parameters to your links (e.g., ?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=profile) so you can see exactly how much traffic comes from each link placement in Google Analytics.
Troubleshooting Common Link Issues
My link is not showing as clickable in my video description
Make sure the URL starts with https:// — links without the protocol prefix do not become clickable. Check that there are no spaces within the URL. Try copying and pasting the URL directly from your browser’s address bar rather than typing it manually.
I cannot find the option to add links to my channel profile
Make sure you are accessing YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com) rather than the regular YouTube interface. The Customization → Basic info path is only available through YouTube Studio. If you are using the YouTube app rather than the Studio app, switch to YouTube Studio.
My card or end screen link option is greyed out for external websites
This means your channel is not yet in the YouTube Partner Program. External website links in cards and end screens are restricted to YPP channels. To qualify, you need 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days.
My link was added but is not appearing on my channel
After adding or editing links in YouTube Studio, always click Publish in the top right corner. Changes are not saved or visible to viewers until you publish. If you published but still do not see the links, clear your browser cache and refresh your channel page.
YouTube removed one of my links
YouTube automatically removes links that violate its Community Guidelines or spam policies. If your link was removed, review YouTube’s external link policies. Links to certain categories of content — including adult sites, gambling, firearms, and others — are not permitted on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many links can I add to my YouTube channel?
YouTube allows up to 14 links on your channel profile in 2026, each with a custom title. You can choose to display up to 5 of these links directly on your channel banner.
Do I need a certain number of subscribers to add links to YouTube?
No minimum subscriber count is required to add links to your channel profile or video descriptions. However, adding external links to cards and end screens does require YouTube Partner Program membership (1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views).
Where do channel profile links appear on YouTube?
Channel profile links appear on your channel’s About tab and near the Subscribe button on your channel homepage. The first link you add receives the most prominent placement.
Can I add affiliate links to YouTube?
Yes, affiliate links are permitted on YouTube. You must disclose affiliate relationships clearly in your video and/or description to comply with FTC guidelines and YouTube’s own policies.
Why are my links not clickable in YouTube Shorts?
YouTube removed reliable clickable link support from Shorts descriptions between 2023 and 2025. Links in Shorts descriptions may appear as plain text rather than clickable URLs depending on the viewer’s device and YouTube interface.
Can I add links to YouTube on mobile?
Yes. You can add and manage channel profile links through the YouTube Studio mobile app on both Android and iPhone. Video description links can be added through the app when uploading or editing videos.
What is the best link to put first on my YouTube channel?
Put the link that best serves your primary channel goal first. For most creators, this is either their website homepage, a lead magnet landing page, or a Linktree/Beacons page that consolidates all their important links in one place.
Can viewers see my links without subscribing?
Yes. Channel profile links and video description links are visible to all viewers — subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Cards and end screen elements are also visible to all viewers who watch the video.
How do I track how many people click my YouTube links?
Add UTM parameters to your links and monitor them in Google Analytics. Alternatively, use a link shortening tool like Bitly that provides click tracking built in.
Can I add a WhatsApp link to my YouTube channel?
Yes. Add your WhatsApp Channel link, WhatsApp Business link, or a WhatsApp click-to-chat link (wa.me/yournumber) as one of your channel profile links or in your video descriptions.
