> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.socializioz.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# YouTube

> Connect a YouTube channel and prepare videos with destination-specific publishing settings, validation, scheduling, and verified publishing states.

Use the Socializioz YouTube destination to prepare and publish video content through the same workspace, Composer, scheduling, and publishing lifecycle used by other supported channels.

## Connect a YouTube channel

Open **Connections**, choose YouTube when it is available for your workspace, and complete the provider authorization flow.

After authorization, confirm that the intended channel appears as a healthy publishing destination. If the connection needs attention, reconnect it before preparing a publish request.

A YouTube connection remains subject to the current workspace, user authorization, provider scopes, and capabilities returned by Socializioz.

## Create a YouTube post

Open the [Composer](/features/composer) and select the connected YouTube channel.

YouTube publishing requires a video asset. An image cannot be used as the primary publishing asset, although an eligible image can be selected as a custom thumbnail for a standard video.

## Required YouTube settings

Before publishing, complete the required destination settings:

| Setting         | Requirement                                       |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Video title** | Required, up to 100 characters                    |
| **Audience**    | Choose **Made for kids** or **Not made for kids** |
| **Visibility**  | Choose **Public**, **Unlisted**, or **Private**   |
| **Category**    | Select a valid YouTube video category             |
| **Video asset** | A compatible video must be attached               |

The Composer surfaces missing required settings when a publish or scheduling request is validated.

## Additional options

Where available, YouTube settings can also include:

* A YouTube-specific description. Leave it blank to use the main post text where the current workflow supports that behavior.
* Tags.
* Playlist selection.
* Subscriber notifications.
* Embedding permission.
* Synthetic or altered-media disclosure when required by the content.
* A custom thumbnail for eligible standard videos.

Live category and playlist options are loaded from the connected channel where available. If those reads are temporarily unavailable, Socializioz can keep the saved/default values visible while allowing you to retry the options request.

## Custom thumbnails

For an eligible standard video, choose a workspace image as the custom thumbnail.

The current Composer accepts:

* JPEG or PNG.
* Up to 2 MB.

The selected thumbnail must belong to the authorized workspace.

## Shorts

Socializioz does not store a manual “Short” switch. YouTube determines whether the media is treated as a Short from the video itself, including its dimensions and duration.

The Composer can identify media that is likely to follow the Shorts path and adapts the settings shown for that destination. The current workflow does not apply a custom thumbnail through the Shorts path.

## Scheduling and publishing

YouTube uses the normal Socializioz post lifecycle rather than a separate hidden schedule field.

You can prepare the post, complete its YouTube settings, pass validation, then continue through the available workflow such as approval, scheduling, or publish-now.

After execution, verify the returned state in Socializioz rather than treating an accepted request as proof that provider processing has finished.

## Multiple destinations

When you publish to YouTube together with other platforms, each destination keeps its own post state and platform settings. YouTube title, audience, category, visibility, tags, playlist, and other YouTube-specific values do not become global settings for sibling destinations.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                  | What to check                                                                                                      |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| YouTube does not appear as a destination | Confirm the feature is available for the current workspace and that the channel connection completed successfully. |
| Composer asks for a video                | YouTube publishing requires a video as the primary media asset.                                                    |
| Title is blocked                         | Add a title and keep it within 100 characters.                                                                     |
| Audience is required                     | Choose whether the video is made for kids.                                                                         |
| Category or visibility is missing        | Select valid YouTube values before publishing.                                                                     |
| Playlist/category options fail to load   | Retry the live options request and confirm the channel connection is healthy.                                      |
| Thumbnail is rejected                    | Use a workspace JPEG or PNG no larger than 2 MB.                                                                   |
| Publish remains processing               | Wait for the provider result and verify the final Socializioz publishing state before recreating the post.         |
| Connection needs reconnecting            | Reauthorize YouTube from Connections, then retry the post only after the connection is healthy.                    |

## Related

* [Connections](/features/connections)
* [Post composer](/features/composer)
* [Media Library](/features/media-library)
* [Scheduling and calendar](/features/scheduling)
* [Publishing Hub](/features/publishing-hub)
* [Troubleshooting](/features/troubleshooting)