How to Add a Clickable Link to Your YouTube Channel, Banner, and Video Descriptions

September 4, 2026 · 5 min read

Add a clickable link to your YouTube channel in three places: channel links on the banner and About page, video descriptions, and a pinned comment. Steps for Studio and the app.

Quick answer: YouTube gives you three places to put a clickable link: your channel links (up to 14 as of 2026, with the first one shown right on your banner), your video descriptions, and a pinned comment under each video. Channel links and long-form description links are clickable as long as you paste the full URL starting with https://. Links inside Shorts descriptions and comments are generally not clickable, so treat channel links as your reliable, always-visible spot.

Where can you put a link on YouTube?

Three spots, each with a different job:

• Channel links: shown on your banner and on your channel's About tab. Visitors see these no matter which video brought them in.
• Video descriptions: under each video. Good for links tied to that specific video.
• Pinned comment: a comment you write and pin to the top of the comment section. Handy for a call to action people see while scrolling.

How to add channel links in YouTube Studio (desktop)

Channel links are edited in YouTube Studio, not on the public channel page.

1. Go to studio.youtube.com and sign in with the account that owns the channel.
2. In the left menu, click Customization.
3. Open the Basic info tab.
4. Scroll to the Links section and click Add link.
5. Enter a short link title (what viewers will see) and the full URL, including https://.
6. Drag links to reorder them. The link at the top of the list is the one that appears on your banner.
7. Click Publish in the top right. Changes usually show on your channel within a few minutes.

Labels shift between Studio versions. If you do not see Customization, look for a Profile or Channel settings option, or search Studio's settings for "links".

How to add a channel link in the YouTube app

The mobile app supports channel editing, though the options are more limited than desktop and vary by app version.

1. Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture or the You tab.
2. Tap View channel, then the pencil or Edit channel button.
3. Look for a Links section. Add a title and the full URL, then save.

If the Links section is missing in your app version, open studio.youtube.com in your phone's browser and request the desktop site, or use the YouTube Studio app. The desktop Studio steps above work the same way there.

How to add a link to a video description

1. In YouTube Studio, click Content and select the video (or add the link while uploading).
2. In the Description box, paste the full URL on its own line, starting with https://.
3. Click Save.

In the app: tap the three dots next to your video, choose Edit, and paste the link in the description field. Keep the most important link in the first two lines so it is visible before "Show more".

How to add a link in a pinned comment

1. Open your video and post a comment containing the full URL.
2. Tap or click the three dots on that comment and choose Pin.

You can pin one comment per video. Pinned comments are a good spot for a time-sensitive link, like a sale or a sign-up form.

How many links can I add to my YouTube channel?

As of 2026, YouTube allows up to 14 channel links. Only the first one shows on the banner; the rest sit behind a Links section on the channel page that many viewers never open. Descriptions have no hard link limit, but too many links, especially repeated ones, can trigger YouTube's spam filters.

Are YouTube description links clickable?

Yes for regular videos, on both desktop and mobile, as long as the URL includes https://. A bare "mysite.com" often shows as plain text. Shorts are the exception: since 2023, links in Shorts descriptions and comments are not clickable. For Shorts, use your channel links, or the related link option in the Shorts editor if your channel has it.

Why is my YouTube link not clickable?

• Missing https://. Paste the full address.
• It is a Short. Shorts links are not clickable. Use a channel link instead.
• New or unverified channel. YouTube may show links as plain text until a channel unlocks its advanced features. In Studio, check Settings, then Channel, for feature eligibility and complete phone or video verification if prompted.
• Spam rules. Links to sites YouTube flags, or the same link pasted across many videos and comments, can be held for review or hidden.

Can I change my channel link later?

Yes, any time. Go back to Customization, Basic info, Links, edit or reorder, and Publish. Description and pinned comment links can also be edited any time, but you have to update each video individually, which is the main reason a single stable link works better long term.

Does adding a link hurt reach?

Channel links have no effect on how YouTube recommends your videos. Description links do not hurt reach on their own either. What can hurt is behavior that looks like spam: dozens of links, shortened links to unknown destinations, or the same URL dumped into comments on other people's videos. One clean link in a description and a tidy set of channel links is standard practice for large channels.

YouTube alone vs a link-in-bio page

Can I put my link-in-bio page as the banner link?

Yes, and it is the smartest use of that one banner slot. Add your lit.bio URL as the first channel link, and that single button now opens your shop, socials, newsletter, sponsor codes, latest video, and anything else you want to promote. Paste the same URL at the top of every description and in your pinned comments, and you never have to re-edit old videos when a link changes.

lit.bio is free: up to 10 links, every theme, click analytics, a QR code, no ads on your page, and no fee on links to your own shop or products. Pro is $9 a month or $49 once if you want more, including tips and locked content at a flat 10% and paid subscriptions at 0%. Start free, copy your URL, and drop it into YouTube Studio under Customization, Basic info, Links.