YouTube lets you add links directly to your channel page — but the process isn't always obvious, the links don't always appear where you expect, and there are limits on how many you can include.
This guide covers everything you need to know: where YouTube links actually appear, how to add them on both desktop and mobile, what link to put in your bio, and how to make the most of that single most-important link.
Where Does Your Link in Bio Appear on YouTube?
Before you start adding links, it's worth understanding where they actually show up — because YouTube handles this differently from Instagram or TikTok.
On YouTube, your links appear in two places:
1. Your channel banner (the "About" links overlay). When someone visits your channel page on desktop, they see your banner image at the top. Your links appear as small icons in the bottom-right corner of that banner. Visitors can hover or click to see the links you've added. This is the closest equivalent to a "bio link" on YouTube.
2. Your channel's About tab. On both desktop and mobile, visitors can navigate to your About tab to see your channel description, join date, location, and any links you've added. This is less prominent than the banner position, but it's still a place your links are discoverable.
Important note: Unlike Instagram or TikTok, YouTube does not display a single bio link prominently below your profile picture. Links are embedded in the banner or in the About section — which means they're less immediately visible. This is exactly why the link you choose needs to work hard.
How to Add Links to Your YouTube Channel on Desktop
Adding links via desktop through YouTube Studio gives you the most control. Here are the steps:
Step 1 — Go to YouTube Studio
- Sign in to YouTube at youtube.com
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen
- Select "YouTube Studio" from the dropdown menu
- You are now in your channel management dashboard
Step 2 — Open Channel Customization
- In the left sidebar of YouTube Studio, click "Customization"
- This opens your channel customization panel with three tabs: Layout, Branding, and Basic info
- Click the "Basic info" tab — this is where your links live
Step 3 — Add Links in the Basic Info Tab
- Scroll down the Basic info tab until you see the "Links" section
- Click "Add link" to add your first link
- Enter a Link title (this is the label that will display on your channel banner — keep it short, 15 characters or less for best results)
- Enter the URL for the link
- To add more links, click "Add link" again and repeat
- When you're done, click the "Publish" button in the top-right corner to save your changes
Your links will now appear on your channel banner when viewed on desktop. The first link you add can also be set to display prominently on your banner — YouTube gives you the option to choose which link gets featured.
How to Add Links on YouTube Mobile
The mobile process works through the YouTube app on iOS or Android:
- Open the YouTube app on your phone
- Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner
- Tap "Your channel" to go to your channel page
- Tap "Edit channel" (the pencil icon or the button below your channel art)
- Scroll down to find the "Links" section
- Tap "Add link" and enter your link title and URL
- Tap "Done" or the checkmark to save
Note: The mobile editor has slightly fewer options than the desktop Studio. For advanced customization (reordering links, setting a featured link), use the desktop version.
How Many Links Can You Add on YouTube?
YouTube allows you to add up to 14 links to your channel. However, on the channel banner, only the first 5 links are displayed visually. Additional links beyond the first 5 appear in the About tab but not on the banner.
In practice, most creators add between 3 and 6 links. More than that and the interface becomes cluttered. The key is prioritising your most important destinations rather than trying to include everything.
Given that YouTube surfaces these links less prominently than other platforms, the quality of each link matters more than the quantity. A single well-chosen link to a link in bio page will almost always outperform six links scattered across different destinations.
What Link Should You Put in Your YouTube Bio?
Here is where most YouTube creators make a mistake: they add individual links to every platform they're on. One link for Instagram, one for Twitter, one for their website, one for Patreon, one for their merch store.
The problem is that visitors to your YouTube channel don't know which one to click — so they often click none of them.
A better approach is to use one of your link spots (ideally your first and featured link) for a link in bio page that centralises everything. When someone clicks that link, they land on a clean page that shows all your destinations at once: your Instagram, your newsletter, your Patreon, your merch, your other social platforms.
This works especially well for YouTube because:
- YouTube's link display is already limited — you can only show 5 links on the banner, and they're small and easy to miss
- A link in bio page lets you put your most time-sensitive content first (tour dates, a new course launch, a limited merch drop)
- You can update your link in bio page without touching your YouTube settings every time something changes
The second most important link after your bio page link is your newsletter signup. YouTube subscribers are great, but email subscribers are more resilient — they receive your content directly and aren't subject to algorithm changes.
Using One Link in Bio Tool to Centralise All Your Links
If you're a YouTube creator active on multiple platforms, a link in bio tool like Linkmi gives you a central hub that works across all of them simultaneously:
- Your YouTube "About" links can point to your Linkmi page
- Your Instagram bio points to the same Linkmi page
- Your TikTok bio points to the same Linkmi page
- Your X/Twitter bio points to the same Linkmi page
When you have a new video out, a live stream scheduled, or a merch drop happening, you update your Linkmi page once — and that update is instantly live everywhere your audience finds you.
Linkmi also gives you analytics showing which platform is driving the most traffic to your links, which is valuable data for understanding where your audience is most engaged.
Create your free YouTube link in bio page with Linkmi
Here's what to include on your YouTube creator bio page:
- A link back to your YouTube channel (for visitors coming from Instagram or TikTok)
- Your latest video or a featured playlist
- Your newsletter or community signup
- Patreon or membership link (if applicable)
- Merch store
- Collaboration or brand partnership contact
You can embed a YouTube widget directly on your Linkmi page so visitors can watch your latest video without leaving — this is one of the most effective ways to turn profile visitors into subscribers.
Learn how to add a YouTube widget to your link in bio
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- YouTube Widget in Your Link in Bio
- Link in Bio for YouTubers
- Link in Bio Analytics: Track What Works
FAQ
Where is the link in bio on YouTube?
YouTube doesn't have a bio link displayed directly below your profile picture the way Instagram or TikTok do. Instead, your links appear in two places: as small icons in the bottom-right corner of your channel banner (on desktop), and in your channel's About tab (on both desktop and mobile). To add or edit these links, go to YouTube Studio > Customization > Basic info.
How many links can you add to a YouTube channel?
YouTube allows up to 14 links per channel. However, only the first 5 links are shown on your channel banner — the others appear only in your About tab. Most creators add 3 to 5 focused links rather than filling up all 14 slots. Using one of those slots for a link in bio page (which centralises all your other links) is often more effective than adding individual platform links.
How do I add a clickable link in a YouTube video description?
YouTube automatically converts URLs into clickable links in video descriptions. Simply paste your URL (starting with https://) into the description field when uploading or editing a video. You can add multiple links in a description — there's no official limit. Include your most important link near the top of the description (above the "Show more" fold) so viewers see it without having to expand. Many creators put their link in bio page as the very first line of every video description.
What is the best tool to manage links on YouTube?
A link in bio tool like Linkmi is the most effective way to manage your YouTube links. Instead of updating multiple links across different platforms every time something changes, you maintain one Linkmi page and update it once. Linkmi gives you analytics to see where clicks are coming from, lets you embed YouTube content directly on your page, and works across all platforms simultaneously (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and more).
How do I put my YouTube channel link in my Instagram bio?
Go to your YouTube channel, click "Share" under your channel name, and copy your channel URL. Then go to Instagram, tap Edit Profile, and paste the YouTube URL into the Website field — or better yet, paste it as a link on your Linkmi page and put your Linkmi URL in your Instagram bio. The Linkmi approach is more effective because it lets you feature your YouTube channel alongside your other platforms, rather than sending Instagram followers exclusively to YouTube and away from everything else you do.