How to verify your YouTube account, so you can upload videos longer than 15 minutes and customize thumbnails

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It’s easy to verify your YouTube account, which allows you to upload videos that are longer than 15 minutes and change your video thumbnail to a custom image.
Going through the verification process, however, isn’t the same thing as getting a verification badge – those are reserved for channels with more than 100,000 subscribers.
Regardless of your subscriber count, here’s how to get your YouTube account verified and enable you to take advantage of useful features on the video platform.
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On YouTube, verification allows you to upload videos that are longer than 15 minutes and customize your video thumbnails.

Anyone can verify a YouTube account – all you will need is a phone number to prove your identity. But, to be clear, verification doesn’t mean you get a verification badge.

Verification badges are reserved for those with at least 100,000 subscribers, which is when the platform considers a creator to be "established." This kind of badge, however, does not give you access to additional features.

For everyone else, here’s what you’ll need to do to get your account verified and start taking advantage of the perks that come with it.

How to verify a YouTube account

To verify your account, you’ll need to have an internet connection and a phone number. Keep in mind that some countries don’t support the text-message option for verification.

Here’s how to verify your YouTube account:

1. Go to youtube.com, and in the left-hand toolbar, scroll down and click "Settings."