How to Link a YouTube Channel to Google Ads

How to Link a YouTube Channel to Google Ads

Linking your YouTube channel to Google Ads unlocks video advertising campaigns, remarketing lists, and detailed engagement metrics. Here's exactly how to do it.

Why Link YouTube to Google Ads?

• Run video ads — promote your content with TrueView, bumper, and discovery ads
• Remarketing — target people who have watched your videos or subscribed
• Advanced metrics — see earned views, earned subscribers, and watch time from ads
• Call-to-action overlays — add interactive elements to your videos

Step-by-Step: Linking from YouTube Studio

1. Go to YouTube Studio → Settings (gear icon)
2. Click the Channel tab → Advanced settings
3. Scroll down to "Google Ads account linking"
4. Click "Link Account"
5. Enter your Google Ads Customer ID (found in the top-right of Google Ads)
6. Give the link a name (e.g., "Main Ads Account")
7. Click "Link"

Step-by-Step: Linking from Google Ads

1. Open Google Ads → click Tools & Settings (wrench icon)
2. Under "Setup", click "Linked accounts"
3. Find YouTube and click "Details"
4. Click the "+" button to add a channel
5. Search for your channel by name or paste the URL
6. Select the channel and click "Link"
7. Approve the request in YouTube Studio

Verifying the Link

After linking, verify the connection:

• In Google Ads: Tools → Linked accounts → YouTube — status should show "Linked"
• In YouTube Studio: Settings → Channel → Advanced — the account should appear

Key Takeaways

• Linking unlocks video ads, remarketing, and advanced metrics
• You can link from either YouTube Studio or Google Ads
• You need the Google Ads Customer ID to link
• Both accounts must approve the link