You’ve edited the perfect video—tight cuts, clean audio, maybe even a killer thumbnail. You hit upload video on YouTube in 2025, sit back, and wait for the views to roll in… but they don’t. Why?
Because in 2025, uploading a video to YouTube isn’t just about hitting “publish.” It’s about knowing exactly how to upload it—from the title and description to the tags, thumbnail tests, and even the hidden settings most creators miss.
The truth is, the way you upload your video on 2025 can be the difference between 500 views and 5 million. It can determine whether your content ends up buried in the void or goes viral on homepages, suggested feeds, and search results.
In this guide, you’ll learn the exact steps and settings to use when you upload a YouTube video in 2025—no fluff, no myths, just real strategies to give your content the edge it deserves.
Let’s make every upload count. Ready?
What are the Best settings to Upload YouTube Video in 2025?
1. Basic Upload a YouTube Video Process in 2025
Uploading a video to YouTube is the first step in getting your content in front of viewers, but there’s a right way to do it if you want to set your video up in 2025 for success. This section covers how to upload your video in 2025 correctly and points out a common myth that many beginners fall for.
To begin, make sure you’re signed in to your YouTube channel. Click the camera icon on YouTube with a plus (+) at the top right of the screen, then select “Upload video.” Choose the video file from your computer, and YouTube will begin uploading and processing it. Once that starts, you’ll be taken to a page where you can enter the key details about your video—this is where things start to matter a lot more.
Let’s clear up one common misunderstanding: the name of your video file does not affect SEO or how your video ranks. Some people think that naming your file something like how_to_edit_video.mp4 will help your video show up in search results. That’s simply not true. YouTube doesn’t use the original file name to decide how to rank or promote your video. You can safely ignore this idea.
What does matter is the information you enter during the upload—especially your title, description, and thumbnail—but we’ll get to those in the next sections. For now, the key takeaway is: the upload itself is simple, but you should ignore advice that focuses on things like file names or other myths. What comes next—starting with your video title—is where real strategy begins.
2. Crafting the Video Title
Once your video is uploaded, the first thing you’ll want to focus on is the title—and this is not something to rush through. Your video title is one of the most important parts of the upload process, and it can make a huge difference in how many people see and click on your video in 2025.
There’s something you should know: not all videos are meant to be found in the same way. This changes how you write the title. Some videos are designed to be found through search, while others get their views from being recommended on the YouTube homepage or in the “Up Next” section. Videos usually fall into one of two categories:
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Search-based (Searchable): These are videos that people are actively looking for by typing keywords into YouTube’s search bar—things like tutorials, how-tos, or instructional content.
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Suggested/Homepage (Clickable): These are videos people come across while browsing their YouTube homepage or watching something else. These rely on curiosity, entertainment, or surprise to get clicks.
For Search-based
If your video is the kind that people search for—like a tutorial—then your title should use the exact words your audience is likely to type in. Keywords are important here.
For example, say you’re uploading a video that teaches people how to get analytics access to a YouTube channel. A good title would be: “How to Get Analytics Access to a YouTube Channel Like a Pro”
This is what people might actually search for, and it’s specific and clear.
You can also tweak the language to match your audience. In the original tutorial, the creator mentioned changing words like “gain” to “get” to make it sound more natural and less formal. Simple language usually performs better.
For Suggested or Homepage Views
Now let’s say your video isn’t something people search for. Maybe it’s a story, a challenge, or something surprising. These videos usually get most of their views from the homepage or the suggested videos section—not from search.
Here’s an example from the original uploader: “I Bought 5 Million YouTube Views – Here’s What Happened”
This video got 2 million views, but only 5% of them came from search. That tells you it wasn’t found through keywords—it was found because the title made people curious.
For this kind of video, keywords aren’t important at all. What matters is making your title interesting and clickable. You want to create a sense of mystery, surprise, or excitement. Titles like:
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“I Spent $80,000 on YouTube Ads – Insane Results”
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“I Tried Posting Every Day for a Month – Here’s What Happened”
These kinds of titles work well because they get attention and make people want to find out what happened.
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If your video teaches something, focus on keywords so it shows up in search results.
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If your video tells a story, shares an experience, or has shock value, forget the keywords and focus on making it as clickable as possible.
To do this right, ask yourself one question before you write your title: “Will people search for this video, or will they just stumble across it?”
Once you know that, you’ll know whether your title needs to be keyword-optimized or click-optimized. Avoid trying to sound too smart or technical. Use simple, clear words that real people would actually type or respond to.
The best titles are usually easy to understand at a glance. You don’t need to be clever—you just need to be clear and engaging.
3. Writing the Description
Start with a Short Text Hook
The very first part of your description should be a short and exciting line that teases what your video is about. Keep it under 95 characters, because anything longer may get cut off on some screens. This little teaser shows up before the “Show More” button, so it needs to grab attention quickly.
If your video is searchable, try to include your main keywords in this section as well. If your video is more clickable, you don’t need to worry much about keywords—just focus on making it catchy and interesting. Example: “Here’s a step-by-step tutorial for the easiest way to get analytics access to a YouTube channel.”
This is exactly 94 characters and uses relevant keywords for a searchable video.
Add Your First Call to Action
Right below the hook, add your first call to action (CTA). This is where you promote something—maybe your product, your service, another video, or even a playlist.
If you don’t have anything to promote, link to another one of your videos. That way, if someone clicks the link, you turn one view into two.
The way you format this matters too. You want the link to show up without users having to click “More” to see it. To do that, keep your opening lines short so the link stays within the visible part of the description.
Use Playlists Instead of Just Video Links
Instead of linking to just a single video, it’s better to link to a playlist that includes the video you’re promoting. Here’s why:
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Playlists hide competitor videos in the sidebar, pushing them farther down the screen.
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When your video ends, YouTube will automatically play the next video in your playlist, keeping viewers on your channel longer.
To do this:
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Go to YouTube Studio → Create → Playlist
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Add a bunch of related videos
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Copy the playlist link and use that in your description
Even if someone clicks the link to watch a single video, they’ll be watching it inside a playlist, giving you better control over what they see next.
Add a “Watch Next” Section
After your first CTA, add a “Videos to Watch Next” section. Here, you can list a few other related videos with links—again, ideally using playlist links. This encourages people to stick around and watch more of your content.
Add a Second Call to Action (Reworded)
Right after that, include another call to action, but change the wording a bit so it doesn’t feel repetitive. This gives you a second chance to get people to click, just in case they skipped the first one. Example: Instead of saying “Want to watch me buy 5 million views?”, try: “I spent $80,000 buying views—watch what happened here.”
You’re still promoting the same video or offer, but phrasing it differently can catch the attention of different viewers.
Below your second CTA, add anything else you want to promote—like:
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Your social media
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Your email list (especially useful for educational channels)
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A personal quote (optional, but can add a nice touch)
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Contact info for brand deals or sponsorships
Use Hashtags (The Smart Way)
At the very bottom, include up to 50–60 relevant hashtags. YouTube allows up to 60 hashtags in the description. When you use them, the first few will show up above your title as clickable links, and your video may appear under those hashtag search pages.
Just make sure your hashtags are actually related to your video. Don’t copy-paste the same ones across unrelated content, as this could violate YouTube’s terms. Even though hashtags won’t get you tons of views, they can help a little—and they don’t hurt.
4. Custom Thumbnails and Testing
Thumbnails are the first visual impression of your video, and often decide whether someone clicks or scrolls past. A strong thumbnail can make or break a video’s performance. Here’s how to handle them the right way on YouTube in 2025.
If you don’t see the custom thumbnail option on your upload screen, your channel may not be verified yet. To unlock this feature:
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Go to Settings in YouTube Studio.
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Click on Channel → Feature Eligibility.
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You’ll see if your account is eligible for custom thumbnails.
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If not, verify your phone number and upload a valid ID if needed.
Once verified, you’ll be able to upload custom thumbnails, create videos longer than 15 minutes, and more.
YouTube gives you a few different options for thumbnails:
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Upload File: Upload a single custom thumbnail.
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Auto-Generate: YouTube picks a frame from the video (usually not ideal).
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Test and Compare: Lets you upload multiple thumbnails and see which performs best.
Use the “Test and Compare” Feature (With Caution)
This tool lets you upload up to three different thumbnails for the same video. YouTube will test them and tell you which one performs the best in terms of watch time or click-through rate.
But here’s the catch: the results aren’t always reliable. In one test, the creator uploaded three identical thumbnails and YouTube still gave different performance stats to each one. Even YouTube’s own developers say the tool is only about 50% accurate, and likely even less.
So what should you do?
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Use the test feature, but don’t trust the results completely.
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If possible, run the test more than once.
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Make sure all the thumbnails you test are high quality — don’t use a bad one just to fill the space.
Even with its flaws, “Test and Compare” is still helpful if you use it wisely. To see how your tested thumbnails performed:
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Go to YouTube Studio → Content.
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Find your video, click the three dots (options).
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Select “View Test and Compare”.
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You’ll see the watch time share and click performance for each thumbnail.
Again, take the data with a grain of salt, but it can still give you a general sense of what works.
5. Playlists and Audience Settings
Add Your Video to Relevant Playlists
Playlists are more than just a way to organize your videos—they can boost watch time and help your content get recommended more often.
To add your video to a playlist:
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In the upload process, scroll to the “Playlists” section.
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Select all the playlists that are relevant to your video topic.
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If needed, click “Create Playlist” to make a new one.
Using playlists helps group your content, so viewers who watch one video are more likely to see the next one. It also increases session time, which the algorithm loves.
Set Your Audience
Under the COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) section, YouTube requires every video to be marked either:
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Made for kids, or
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Not made for kids
Here’s how to choose:
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If your video is clearly targeted at children—like cartoons, nursery rhymes, or educational kids’ content—select “Yes, it’s made for kids.”
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If it’s for general audiences, even if some kids might watch it (like a Marvel movie), select “No, it’s not made for kids.”
Choosing “not for kids” gives you more features, like comments, info cards, and better ad targeting.
Set Age Restrictions (If Needed)
If your video includes adult themes, graphic content, or anything not suitable for younger audiences, you can set an age restriction (18+ only). But in most cases, you probably don’t need to.
For example:
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Normal video game violence is fine and doesn’t need to be age-restricted.
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Explicit adult content, strong language, or graphic material should be age-restricted.
The goal here is to be honest without limiting your video unnecessarily.
6. YouTube Monetization and Promotion Disclosure
Paid Promotion
If your video includes a sponsor or brand deal, you’re supposed to check the “paid promotion” box. This tells YouTube and your audience that the video contains paid content.
While many large creators don’t always check this, it’s best to be honest. If you enable it, a small note will appear at the beginning of your video saying it contains paid promotion.
AI Content Disclosure
If your video uses AI-generated characters or footage that could be mistaken for real people, check “Yes” under this section. Otherwise, leave it as “No”. This helps YouTube be transparent about AI use.
Automatic Chapters and Key Moments
YouTube lets you turn on automatic chapters and key moments, but this feature doesn’t always work well. The creator recommends turning it off, since the AI often guesses incorrectly and might spoil the structure of your video.
If you want chapters, add them manually in your video description using timestamps, but avoid using chapter titles that spoil the content or encourage viewers to skip ahead.
7. Advanced Settings
These are the smaller but still important options to finish setting up your video. Set the video language to match your content and skip the recording date unless it’s relevant.
For license, you can choose between the standard YouTube license, which prevents others from re-uploading your content, or Creative Commons Attribution, which allows re-use if you’re credited. The creator recommends Creative Commons since it can act as free promotion.
Be sure to allow embedding, which lets other websites share your video—again, more exposure for you. Lastly, think about whether to notify subscribers. If your video is in line with your usual content, leave it on. But if it’s completely different, turning it off can prevent YouTube from sending it to the wrong audience and hurting performance.
8. Remix, Category, and Comments
Next, you’ll set up a few final options related to sharing, content type, and viewer interaction.
First, decide if you want to allow Shorts remixing. This lets other creators turn parts of your video into YouTube Shorts. It’s usually a good idea to keep this on, as it can help you reach new audiences with little effort.
Then choose the video category—for example, Education, Gaming, or Entertainment. If you pick Gaming, YouTube will let you enter the specific game title. This helps the algorithm understand your content better.
Finally, check your comments settings. The default, “Allow all comments with basic moderation,” is good for most creators. You can also choose stricter options if you want to manually approve every comment or automatically filter harsh ones. Also, leave the like count visible so your audience knows how others are reacting—it builds trust and transparency.
9. Ad Suitability
If your channel is eligible for monetization, you’ll see the option to turn on ads for your video. Just switch it to “On” to allow YouTube to show ads and earn you revenue.
If your video is longer than 8 minutes, you can also add mid-roll ads—ads that play during the video, not just at the beginning or end. This increases your earning potential.
After that, you’ll go through YouTube’s ad suitability questionnaire. It asks about things like adult content, violence, or strong language. Be honest here—if YouTube finds that your answers don’t match the actual content, they may stop letting you self-rate in the future, which delays publishing and hurts monetization.
So the key: turn on ads if eligible, and fill out the questionnaire accurately to keep YouTube’s trust.
10. Video Elements
This part of the upload lets you add extra tools to improve watch time and engagement.
Start with subtitles. YouTube usually adds these automatically, and the auto-captions are accurate enough for most creators. You can also upload your own if needed, but it’s optional.
Next is the end screen, which appears in the last few seconds of your video. This is where you can promote another video, a playlist, or ask viewers to subscribe. It’s best to keep your end screen simple—too many options can overwhelm viewers. In the guide, the creator suggests featuring just one video, making it large and placing it in the center to keep things focused. Set the timing to around 5–10 seconds near the end of your video, ideally matching the moment when you mention it in your outro.
Finally, you can add cards, which are small pop-ups in the top right corner that link to other videos or playlists. However, these days, cards are rarely clicked, so they’re not essential.
10. Final Checks and Publishing
Before going live, YouTube runs an automatic copyright check. If any issues are found, they’ll show up here. If everything’s clear, you’ll be good to move forward.
Instead of publishing right away, it’s a smart idea to set your video to Unlisted first. This gives YouTube time to finish processing the HD version and complete all checks—like copyright and monetization—before it goes public. Publishing too soon might show your video in low quality or flag issues too late.
Once that’s done, you can choose to publish immediately, or schedule your video to go live at a specific time. Now go to YouTube Studio → Analytics → Audience, and check the chart showing when your viewers are online.
There’s also an option to set your video as a Premiere. This creates a countdown and live chat, which can build hype if you’re releasing a big video. But don’t overuse it—save it for special content so your audience knows it’s something worth showing up for.
Once everything looks good, hit Schedule or Publish, and you’re done!
Wrapping Up
Knowing how to upload video in 2025 the right way can make a huge difference in how your content performs.
Whether you’re writing the perfect title, adding a strong description, choosing the right thumbnail, or setting up monetization, every part of the upload video 2025 workflow matters. YouTube has more tools and settings than ever, and when you know how to use them properly, they can work in your favor. The goal is to help your videos stand out in a crowded space by following best practices that reflect how YouTube works in 2025.
Remember: even the most amazing content can be held back by poor uploading. Treat this process as part of your creative effort—not just a technical step. With consistency and the right approach, you’ll get better with every video you publish.
If you ever need a refresher on how to upload video 2025 style—efficiently, strategically, and with results in mind—just come back to this guide.